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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.

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Original poster
KurriKurri · 22/06/2012 18:53

thank you all. It sound as if a Kindle might be able to withstand her abuse then, if it had a leather cover Grin - I'll definitely think about getting one.

Julie - my mum can't work the remote control either, and my nephew is always having to go round and adjust her telly because she's fiddled with the controls and it's all gone green. She also pulls the back off cameras and yanks the film out to 'see if it's in properly' - she's got a digital one now though so can't do that. It's not an age thing - she's always felt compelled to fight with machinery Grin

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 21/06/2012 14:27

My Mum is 78 and can't even work the remote control. My DSister bought DM a kindle for her birthday and she is fine with it. It's linked to my account so I get her any books she asks for and make sure she can see them in her list. Not that robust though, you may want to get her a decent kindle cover.

bluehorizon · 21/06/2012 14:13

Hmm - re the Kindle. DP was saying def don't get it as she is so non-technical - always has been, and we have been amazed at how well she got to grips with it. Just goes to show she can do it when she wants to! She wouldn't have done it if she didn't need to though - her eyesight was getting too poor for large print books. We bought a leather case with it - I think it would be reasonably robust....

Original poster
KurriKurri · 21/06/2012 14:06

ninjanurse - I have read Henrietta Lacks, and have already passed it on to her - so good suggestion, she enjoyed it. Do read it, it's a fascinating and moving book.

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Original poster
KurriKurri · 21/06/2012 14:04

That's a great site julie - thank you Smile

bluehorizon - thank you - some great suggestions, The Patrick Gale and Michael Byers ones sound her sort of thing, and the Laurie Graham ones too.

I'd love to get her a Kindle, she's hoping to move into a sheltered apartment and won't have a lot of space for books. But she's hopeless at anything technical, (despite the scientific background! - she just gets cross with things if they won't work and takes them to bits) Are Kindles fairly robust? - she often falls asleep and drops whatever she's reading on the floor

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ninjanurse · 21/06/2012 14:03

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks would cover your science and strong women angles. Havent read it myself yet, but it is on my TBR pile and has good reviews.

bluehorizon · 21/06/2012 13:48

Ok - these are my recommendations - my 85 year old mum has liked these,

Wolf Hall and Bring up the bodies by Hilary Mantel, anything by Laurie Graham, though maybe not the 10 oclock horses, The Fry Chronicles by Stephen Fry, Joanne Trollope books, Tracy Chevalier books, Jane Smiley books (maybe need to check the themes as I don't remember them all) the Tractors in Ukranian one (can't remember title) The Help, Notes from an Exhibition by Patrick Gale. The unfixed stars by Michael Byers is fab and very memorable but has the most graphic account of mental illness (not dementia) that I have ever read so you might want to preread.
I bought my mum a Kindle which she finds easier to hold and to read with the larger fonts so we 'share books as i read them on my kindle app as well.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 21/06/2012 13:37

Not read any of those sorry so can't be of much help but have you tried What should I read next?. Its a great little website Smile.

Original poster
KurriKurri · 21/06/2012 13:00

meant to say thanks in advance - clicked too quickly!

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