Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Easy to follow book for older man in palliative care.

36 replies

SleafordSods · 17/12/2025 19:49

Elderly relative is on end of life care but amazingly is still reading.

He was reading Harry Potter but has finally admitted that it’s a bit too complicated to follow.

He has enjoyed Bill Bryson in the past but I think he has read all of those whilst recovering from the initial major operation.

So what can we get that is easy to follow, entertaining and does not talk about death?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Rocknrollstar · 20/12/2025 13:04

SheilaFentiman · 17/12/2025 21:25

Michael Palin audio travel books ( read by him) are gently amusing and easy to follow

I agree

MrsSkylerWhite · 20/12/2025 13:00

Alan Coren essays. Short and lol funny.

Original poster
SleafordSods · 20/12/2025 12:57

Lovelyview · 19/12/2025 23:29

Non fiction can be very soothing - less of a plot to follow. I found Chris Stewart's Driving over Lemons series an easy escapist read and Tim Moore's I Believe in Yesterday about battle re-enactment was fun.

Both good suggestions. He has previously read Driving Over Lemons but it would be about 20 years ago so he may want to reread it.

OP posts:
Lovelyview · 19/12/2025 23:29

Non fiction can be very soothing - less of a plot to follow. I found Chris Stewart's Driving over Lemons series an easy escapist read and Tim Moore's I Believe in Yesterday about battle re-enactment was fun.

Pancakeflipper · 19/12/2025 07:22

SleafordSods · 19/12/2025 06:43

Unfortunately I’ve tried him with one when he was less ill and he said he couldn’t stand the man and wouldn’t even open the book.

Show quote history

There's many who totally understand!

What about the Andy Weir book - Project (forgotten rest of title)...

Original poster
SleafordSods · 19/12/2025 07:08

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. My first thought was PG Wodehouse, they are like a complete tonic. Not sure he would appreciate them, he can be a bit of a funny old sod Smile

Will have a look at some of your other suggestions as well.

OP posts:
Whatsthatsheila · 19/12/2025 06:46

SleafordSods · 17/12/2025 19:49

Elderly relative is on end of life care but amazingly is still reading.

He was reading Harry Potter but has finally admitted that it’s a bit too complicated to follow.

He has enjoyed Bill Bryson in the past but I think he has read all of those whilst recovering from the initial major operation.

So what can we get that is easy to follow, entertaining and does not talk about death?

Is there a particular childhood fave he’d love to revisit?

I loved famous five books as a child and i still revisit them from time to time

Original poster
SleafordSods · 19/12/2025 06:43

Pancakeflipper · 18/12/2025 21:23

Does he like Jeremy Clarkson? If so his Diddly Squat books might be a distraction?

Unfortunately I’ve tried him with one when he was less ill and he said he couldn’t stand the man and wouldn’t even open the book.

OP posts:
eurochick · 18/12/2025 22:49

Tom Sharpe maybe?

Peachee · 18/12/2025 22:43

Bob mortimers trilogy is a good easy read..

Dappy777 · 18/12/2025 22:32

Pinkieandthebraintakeovertheworld · 17/12/2025 19:59

Jeeves and Wooster?

Yes, that would be my recommendation too. Stephen Fry wrote that P. G. Wodehouse is the most frequently borrowed author in psychiatric hospitals. And there’s a reason for that. He is (to quote Fry), “a remarkable balm for hurt souls.”There is nobody else like him. Evelyn Waugh once said he re-created Eden. And Douglas Adams said the same (that Wodehouse succeeded where Milton failed).

There is no pain or death or illness in his books. No darkness. His language is a miracle - more like exquisite poetry than prose. Someone else said reading him is like “swimming in champagne.”

Actually, M R James read nothing but Wodehouse when he was old and ill as well.

Pancakeflipper · 18/12/2025 21:23

Does he like Jeremy Clarkson? If so his Diddly Squat books might be a distraction?

ElizabethVonArnim · 18/12/2025 21:15

Aposterhasnoname · 17/12/2025 19:53

Did you miss the part about not talking about death!!

Show quote history

Gah! Actually, yes I did! Whoops 😬

ChangeIsDue · 18/12/2025 12:04

💡He might enjoy the Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser?

My dad enjoyed being read Bill Bryson when he was in a nursing home. He had asked for something “pithy”. But he hugely enjoyed the Flashman novels at an earlier stage in his life.

mimbleandlittlemy · 18/12/2025 11:09

Does he like food writing? Stanley Tucci's Everything I Ate In A Year is very short chapters and an easy read. He's a bit of a name dropper and it's very first world problems, but it takes no great effort.

Does he like poetry? There are some lovely Poem A Day sort of books.

BrandyandGinger · 17/12/2025 23:01

Did he read the Just William books or Agatha Christie when he was younger? It might be easier to re-read something familiar that read something new.

PermanentTemporary · 17/12/2025 22:52

Great idea.

Seconding Jeeves & Wooster and James Herriot.

Scout2016 · 17/12/2025 22:43

Roddy Doyle The Van or maybe Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha
Lissa Evans Crooked Heart - an older male I know loved the very earnest lad who is a central character and says he'll miss him now the trilogy is done. Small Bomb At Dimberly is great too.

Elizabeth Taylor's short stories are very good. Or Claire Keegan.

Diary Of A Nobody is a light but worth while read.

Depending on his humour there is a book called The Time Waster Letters by Robin Cooper which is basically lots of daft /petty letters of complaint /advice / praise.

I recently learned there are graphic novels of books such as Ragged Trousered Philanthropist and Sherlock Holmes, depending on whether he would be open to that?

Sorry you are facing this loss OP.

MonGrainDeSel · 17/12/2025 21:37

Bill Bryson is gentle and funny.

SheilaFentiman · 17/12/2025 21:25

Michael Palin audio travel books ( read by him) are gently amusing and easy to follow

Soony · 17/12/2025 21:22

My dad read almost to the end but it did get more difficult. He tried audio books for a while after he found reading too tiring.

PaperBlueCornflower · 17/12/2025 21:01

Would any funny books from younger years appeal? Molesworth, The Goons, Biggles? Roald Dahl can be fun.

The Secret Garden, The Little White Horse if children's adventure good.

Cathy Rentzenbtink's Dear Reader on audiobook might give some ideas (she does touch on death/bereavement in some chapters but its a tour through many genres Narnia to Nora Ephron. Heartburn is very funny and not hard to follow. No death I don't think.

There's a beautiful wordless series of pictures books Journey, Return - Aaron Becker.

Boy, Mole, Fox, Horse and Big Panda, Tiny Dragon are gentle and meditative.

The beautiful illustrated Hogwarts at Christmas might be a satisfying way to finish his Harry Potter journey.

Terry Pratchett? I've just finished the Johnny Maxwell trilogy with DS.

I hope you find something that fits the bill.

SoManyDandelions · 17/12/2025 20:53

My older male customers enjoy...

LJ Ross (cosy crime)
Jack Sheffield (writes about being a teacher)
Gervaise Phinn
Nicholas Rhea (the constable books)
Bernard Cornwell (either Sharpe or Uhtred)
Conn Iggulden
Wilbur Smith

Original poster
SleafordSods · 17/12/2025 20:17

Graciously · 17/12/2025 20:09

How old?

He’s in his eighties.

OP posts:
Graciously · 17/12/2025 20:09

How old?