Did you know the 70% of seniors list reading as something they enjoy?
We found books that will make your aging loved one laugh, feel intrigued and get lost in a story. No one is too old to be drawn into a novel. While seniors might have trouble seeing small print, there are many assistive devices that allow seniors to enjoy a good book. There are also audio books when assistive devices don’t suffice.
We hope you and your loved-one enjoy one of the books below!
Miss Marple Series
The Miss Marple series of mystery novels follows the story of Jane Maple, the protagonist of Agatha Christie’s famous crime novels. As a spinster and amateur detective, Marple uses her keen intellect to solve a variety of mysteries over the course of a dozen books. Her wit and aged experience have made her a favorite for generations of readers.
I Feel Bad About My Neck, by Nora Ephron
This memoir by Nora Ephron (acclaimed screenwriter of “Sleepless in Seattle,” “You’ve Got Mail” and many other movies) is a humorous and poignant collection of essays about the lessons she learned from life after 60, everything from how to choose the right hairstyle to how to cope with the death of good friends. Sadly, this was one of Nora Ephron’s last published works, as she died in 2012 at the age of 71.
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
It’s first the story of two women in the 1980s, of gray-headed Mrs. Threadgoode telling her life story to Evelyn, who is in the sad slump of middle age. The tale she tells is also of two women — of the irrepressibly dare-devilish tomboy Idgie and her friend Ruth, who back in the thirties ran a little place in Whistle Stop, Alabama, a Southern kind of Cafe Wobegon offering good barbecue and good coffee and all kinds of love and laughter, even an occasional murder.
Life of Pi
Life of Pi is a fantasy adventure novel by Yann Martel published in 2001. The protagonist, Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel, a Tamil boy from Pondicherry, explores issues of spirituality and practicality from an early age. He survives 227 days after a shipwreck while stranded on a boat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.
The Chronicles of Narnia
Journeys to the end of the world, fantastic creatures, and epic battles between good and evil—what more could any reader ask for in one book? The book that has it all is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, written in 1949 by Clive Staples Lewis. But Lewis did not stop there. Six more books followed, and together they became known as The Chronicles of Narnia.
Send Yourself Roses: Thoughts on My Life, Love, and Leading Roles by Kathleen Turner
From her film debut as the sultry schemer in Body Heat to her award-winning role as Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, actress Kathleen Turner’s unique blend of beauty, intelligence, and raw sexuality has driven her personal and professional life. Now, in this gutsy memoir, the screen icon tells us of the risks she’s taken and the lessons she’s learned-sometimes the hard way.
The Measure of My Days
Florida, also in her 80’s, takes a deep, unvarnished dive into the meaning of her life in old age and re-emerges triumphant. A Jungian analyst, Florida writes: “Age puzzles me. I thought it was a quiet time. My seventies were interesting and fairly serene, but my eighties are passionate. I grow more intense as I age.” There is a shadow side to this, as Florida writes “We also find that as we age we are more alive than seems convenient, or even bearable.” Ultimately, Florida shows us the way to become “fierce with reality.”
The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 by John Bishop
Told in the style of 1940s melodramas, this book is an excellent mystery with a touch of comedy. It’s a great read-out-loud book, as you and your loved one will share lots of laughs.
Disrupt Aging: A Bold New Path to Living Your Best Life at Every Stage by Jo Ann Jenkins
Written by AARP CEO, Jo Ann Jenkins, this book changes the conversation about age. Jenkins focuses on three areas: health, wealth and self, and inspires people to live each year to the fullest.
Rules for Aging: A Wry and Witty Guide to Life by Roger Rosenblatt
Commentator on PBS’s NewsHour, Roger Rosenblatt gives practical advice through a wry sense of humor for those wishing to live longer, fuller lives.