Uplifting book for an Octogenarian?

[TinyMouseTheatre]

Looking for a book for DFIL who is a Widower and slightly grumpy.

He's enjoyed David Jason's autobiographies in the past and I'm looking for something similarly uplifting.

Does anyone have any recommendations please?.

And Away - (Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse go fishing)
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams one of the best books I’ve read in ages

One of the most engrossing books I have read is 'The Skeleton Coast' by John Marsh. A true story, I think it is now only available second-hand.

If you can't get that, there is another based on the same incident called 'Dead Reckoning' by Jeff Davidson. DON'T READ THE INTRODUCTION! - it spoils the nail-biting story!

Uplifting in a different sort of way...!

N.B. There is a version by John Marsh AND Lyman Anson, where they have turned it into a 'sort of novel' with dialogue, etc. and it loses all the impact of the original book. IMO

Gosh, I'm going to have to go and read it again now - and I know the ending!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions so far.

Alfie's anyone else have any suggestions?

Would 'A man called Ove' be too on the nose?!

Has he read anything by Bill Bryson? I love them all but A Walk in the Woods may be my favourite even though it’s years old.

He loved that book. We did have to confiscate it when we realised he was contemplating using the methods as a "how to".

Yes he's read a lot of Bill Bryson already. He was in a Nursing Home for a while following an illness and I think he read most of them then.

Any suggestions for something similar would be gratefully received

What about things with people his own age, like the Tuesday Murder Club, the 100 year old man who went for a walk etc

He's read both of those ones too. It's difficult isn't it? I bought him the sequel to the 100 year old man during lockdown.

Danny Baker’s autobiographies are very good (and very funny)

I always recommend The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre to practically everyone as it's such a gripping read. It felt quite uplifting to me!

If he likes Bill Bryson what about

Round Ireland with a Fridge

Not Tonight Josephine

Not from round here

Narrow boat at large and others in the series

Ticket to Ride

Rambling Man by Billy Connolly

And if he's open to a bit of satire disguised as fantasy, what about a bit of Terry Pratchett?

"An Elderly Lady is up to no good" by Helene Turston might be good, if he liked the 100 year old man etc.

The excitements by CJ Wray

They're old, but still a cheerful engaging read - the James Herriott vet series. Kept me going during lockdown when everything felt very grim.

Similarly, Alexander McCall Smith's Scotland Street series. Written as a newspaper column originally; a light read, episodic and very entertaining.

The Ascent of Rum Doodle by W E Bowman. Very, very funny. Kind of like Three Men in a Boat. Or what about the Jeeves and Wooster books? Or if he’s broad minded, Chris Brookmyres books. I was introduced to them by an 85 year old superfan. But they don’t pull their punches!

'Between a Rock and a Hard Place' by Aron Ralston.

True story, Aron Ralston got trapped between some rocks in a canyon and ultimately cut his arm off to escape. Sounds awful but he now gives motivational talks..

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aron_Ralston