Easy to follow book for older man in palliative care.

[SleafordSods]

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?

How about some James Herriot, like All Creatures Great and Small.

Of Mice and Men

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

Roald Dahl short stories for adults?

Books of short stories might be good, in a couple of different genres, from Asimov to Frederick Forsyth to Saki to Maeve Binchy.

You might have to check first. Some do involve death.

How about Adrian Mole. Very funny, easy to read and if he has read it before it might have been some time ago.

I don’t think it’s necessarily banned, I just don’t want it to be a major part of the book.

gervase phinn , all set in Yorkshire and very warm , easy .
any Michael Palin travel books .

Jeeves and Wooster?

It’ll be fine then. Since they’re short stories, if one doesn’t appeal then the others might. They do tend to have twists and unexpected turns and a wicked sense of humour. But they are fun and short.

How old?

He’s in his eighties.

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

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.

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.

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

Bill Bryson is gentle and funny.

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.

Great idea.

Seconding Jeeves & Wooster and James Herriot.

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.

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.

💡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.

Gah! Actually, yes I did! Whoops 😬

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