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?

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.

Bob mortimers trilogy is a good easy read..

Tom Sharpe maybe?

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.

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

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

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

There's many who totally understand!

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

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.

Alan Coren essays. Short and lol funny.

I agree