Can anyone suggest a book for my 90yr old mum

[KurriKurri]

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.

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

Yes KurriKurri naff has it's place too,

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.

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)

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

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

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.

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 Many thanks all

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.