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Original poster

Can anyone suggest a book for my 90yr old mum

34 replies

KurriKurri · 21/06/2012 12:59

Not sure why I put her age - its not really relevant, but I wouldn't want to give her anything with explicit sex scenes or excessive bad language (she's not a prude though and can handle a bit of swearing)

She's very with it mentally, used to be a scientist so enjoys scientific themes, likes strong women characters, like a bit of humour -- books I've given her recently which she's enjoyed have been Remarkable Creatures by Tracey Chevalier, Solar by Ian McKewen, and Deaf Sentence by David Lodge, she enjoyed Mark Haddons Curious Incident too.

I'd prefer to avoid anything that deals with widowhood, losing your spouse or dementia, as we lost my Dad a few months ago.

OP posts:
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ajandjjmum · 27/06/2012 18:05

Just to say my 86 year old DM is coping really well for the Kindle we bought at Christmas - and it's much lighter for her to hold when she reads in bed.

She is enjoying the Victoria Hislop novels at the moment.

Original poster
KurriKurri · 27/06/2012 17:57

Thank you both for those suggestions, - I will add them to my list for what to get her next time, - I've already posted her something for her birthday tomorrow - in the end I went for The Uncommon reader, This Thing of Darkness and Notes From an Exhibition, which I'm sure she'll enjoy.

I've kept a note of all the ideas for future presents, - hope there's a few useful suggestions here for other looking for ideas too Smile Many thanks all Thanks

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yellowraincoat · 27/06/2012 17:44

Not related to science, but how about anything but Alice Munro?

Just because I love her and recommend her to everyone, but also because she's an older female writer.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 27/06/2012 17:40

Not really science based but would second the Help and how about Rules of Civility by Amor Towles?

bouncysmiley · 22/06/2012 21:13

Kurri - yes they are - also available in large print!

aliasjoey · 22/06/2012 20:10

Guernsey Potato Peel Society
Anything by Billy Bryson (just reading his 'Down Under' now)
Agatha Christie (she worked as a chemist & there is some science... usually poison)
Joanne Harris - 3 quarters of the orange
Never let me go (cloning and sciencey stuff)

Viviennemary · 22/06/2012 20:09

For variety, more lighter stuff she might like are M C Beaton's Agatha Raisin series, and Alexander McCall Smith the ladies Detective agency series.

Emphaticmaybe · 22/06/2012 20:06

Yes KurriKurri naff has it's place too,Smile

Gilberte · 22/06/2012 20:05

This Thing of Darkness- Very long, no women in it but, gripping unputdownable, historical fiction (though drawn from fact)- account of Robert Fitzroy's captaincy of the Beagle and friendship, gladitorial relationship with Charles Darwin- lots of science

Original poster
KurriKurri · 22/06/2012 20:02

No problem Emphatic - thank you for answering anyway (I like a bit of Catherine Cookson myself if I'm in the right mood, naff isn't necessarily a bad thing Smile)

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Emphaticmaybe · 22/06/2012 19:58

Oops just read the OP properly - sorry your mum is nothing like my grannyBlush - please carry on with all your sensible suggestions.

Original poster
KurriKurri · 22/06/2012 19:58

thank you amillionyears - I'm still a bit under the weather but out of bed now, how sweet of you to ask Smile

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amillionyears · 22/06/2012 19:56

KurriKurri,on a diversion to your thread,cant think of the right words for that,
I was very impressed a few days ago by your thread where anybody could ask you questions,while you were laid up in bed
Some of your answers were hilarious,and many many were very knowledgeable and informative.

Are you feeling better now?

Emphaticmaybe · 22/06/2012 19:52

My 93 year old granny loves Catherine Cookson - very safe and generally heartwarming, (okay and a little bit naff)Grin

SerenaJoy · 22/06/2012 19:50

I was going to recommend The Uncommon Reader too OldGreyKnickerTest (great nickname by the way!) I've recommended it to both DM and MIL and they both loved it.

What about Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks, or The Remains Of The Day by Kazuo Ishiguro? Or something by Margaret Atwood? I enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale, and Alias Grace.

BikeRunSki · 22/06/2012 19:47

I was about to suggest The Uncommon Reader too. As recommended to me by my MiL 's book club.

FoofFighter · 22/06/2012 19:46

Fifty Shades of Grey?

Tripped · 22/06/2012 19:42

Iris Murdoch novels?

Original poster
KurriKurri · 22/06/2012 19:41

Dowager - I've heard good things about Major Pettigrew and I think she'd like it by your description, - but maybe I'll leave it a little while - although I think mention of widowhood is fine as long as its not the main theme of the book.

The one about Rosalind Franklind she would love - she's one of her heroines, along with Marie Curie. Off to look that up now.

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Original poster
KurriKurri · 22/06/2012 19:37

I like the look of The Hundred Year Old Man ViKing - I haven't heard of it before. (might get it for myself!)

The Alan Bennett I'm sure she'd like.

She's read the Guernsey Literary and Potato peel Society and I gave her the Bill Bryson a little while ago - she liked them both - so you are on the right tracks.

Bouncy - is Maeve Binchy romantic type of thing? - not sure that's her cup of tea, but thanks for the suggestion - I'll look them up on Amazon Smile

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DowagersHump · 22/06/2012 19:36

This might be a bit soon for her, given her recent loss but I would recommend Major Pettigrew's Last Stand which is about an elderly retired widowed major (funnily enough!) and the elderly widow who runs the village shop (Mrs Ali). It's very lovely and gentle but also slyly undermines stereotypes in a really good way).

If she is interested in science and strong women, she might like the Dark Lady of DNA which is about Rosalind Franklin (the not terribly feted contributor to the discovery of DNA)

bouncysmiley · 22/06/2012 19:23

My Nan (90) laps up anything by Maeve Binchy.....

Dollydowser · 22/06/2012 19:19

I loved The Uncommon Reader (disclaimer, I am not over 80) and it was one of the few books I think all of my book club actually liked. Also The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was good too.

oldgreyknickertest · 22/06/2012 19:02

Very funny, The uncommon reader by Alan Bennett. Short and beautifully written. My 86 year old mother loved it.

Bill Bryson's book on the house , can't recall its name. She'll recognise lots of stuff from her youth. And if she hasn't read it his short history of everything , best science I've read for a time.

None if these new I'm afraid.

BikingViking · 22/06/2012 18:59

Well for something humourous, I'd recommend The 100 year old man who Climbed out of the Window and Disappeared I couldn't put it down and it's bloody hilarious but written in quite a dry tone.