Some context for the target demographic – my (28f) grandma (82f) just lost her husband of 64 years. He suffered for a few weeks before an ultimately peaceful passing, and I believe he was ready to go. When I showed up to say goodbye the night before he died, and gave my grandma a big bear hug, she just said “64 years.” I can’t imagine figuring out how to make your own life after so long with your partner, although I hope the burden of caregiving being over will be good for her.
I’m posting because my grandma loves reading, so I would love to bring her some books to help her get through this time. The thing is, she’s not really a person who likes to directly confront death and other dark things, she’s more of a “what can you do?” and “I don’t want to think about that” kind of person… not how I like to approach life but I want to respect it!
So, does anyone have any recommendations of books that aren’t directly about grief, or super heartbreaking, that might bring some comfort and support but in a lighthearted way? It would be nice to bring something that can be a distraction but also a bit sentimental, if that makes sense. The best thing I can think of is Before the Coffee Gets Cold, although those did make me cry. She loves fiction, Colleen Hoover type books, or also uplifting memoirs, especially ones about pioneering women.
Comments
True Grit, Charles Portis
East of Eden
See if she wants to go on a trip or a museum. & not talk about it
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
Long but fleet. Funny yet substantive. Beautiful writing.
Collections of short stories are good when your mind is elsewhere. You don’t have to recall anything when next you pick up the book. I love these authors short stories: Raymond Carver, Abby Geni, Kurt Vonnegut.
All Creatures Great and Small
For me, it had always been the Anne of Green Gables series. Little House on the Prairie is a close second. The reason is that they are about family and set in an era we have tended to romanticize now that we are on this side of it, but were both series written by women, about young women, both of whom are strong in nature and character, and both authors wrote them in the era in which they were set. They are fairly light and harken back to an era we are only acquainted with from the future.
So this past year I underwent treatment for breast cancer and my mom died unexpectedly simultaneously. Belive it or not what helped the most was watching episodes of call the midwife. I could watch babies being born and cry with happiness or sadness. It helped so much. 🫶🏽
My mom LOVED the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series when she was in her 80s. I’d get her the books as they came out and she devoured them, then we would talk about them.
Mind you, she hated the mystery genre so wasn’t pleased when my SIL and I bought the first few for her.
If she’s not already a reader, does she like to read? Some are just not / no longer readers.
I Iove Jodi Picoult fiction. She researches her subjects beautifully and is an amazing writer.
James Herriot was a country veterinarian and he wrote short stories about his life and vet medicine. Later on he wrote about his marriage and children. Wonderful stories.
When I need an escape from the real world I turn to Diana Gabaldons Outlander series. Takes me away. The books are massive so if that seems to much there’s a TV series also, which is pretty good. But to me the characters feel like old friends. I’m glad your grandma has you❤️
I’ve loved EF Benson’s Lucia novels, about the small dramas and intrigues in two small English villages in the 1920s. They’re really funny and light.
The narrator in the audio version is outstanding, if you think she’d prefer an audiobook.
Hugs to you and your grandmother.
I find long episodic Victorian novels about the highs and lows of life in a small town to be very cathartic. I’d recommend George Elliot’s Middlemarch or Elizabeth Gaskell’s Cranford.
There are also two great series based on Cranford that I love to watch when I’m feeling sad or overwhelmed–I end up bawling my eyes out one episode and ecstatically happy the next. I think both are available on Britbox. Middlemarch is also a series and also on Britbox I believe.
Everything Nicholas Evans ever wrote is good.
Redwall!!!