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Reading suggestions for an elderly gentleman?

12 years ago

Recently, I have been ordering Talking Books for my father-in-law, who is 91 and legally blind. I'm having a little trouble selecting titles he likes. If anyone has an elderly gentleman in their family, please ask his suggestions for titles and pass them along. One note: He does not care to read about WWII, as he says he had enough of that when he was a soldier himself.

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Comments (21)

annpan
12 years ago
What kind of books has he liked? You can track similar authors and see if they are available on audio books.
kathy_t
Original Author
12 years ago
That's what I've been trying to do, Annpan, but it hasn't worked out too well yet. He loved Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove, but when I've ordered a couple of other less-well-known McMurtry novels, he didn't care for them nearly as much. And he enjoyed John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, but again, other Steinbeck novels have not been so much to his liking. I seem to be presenting him with the author's best work, then letting him down with follow-ups.

That's why I'm looking for new ideas. For example, my father suggested Horatio Hornblower books (which I would not have known about from my own reading), and I think my FIL would like those, but they are not offered by our state's talking-books library. (The talking books are not CDs, but arrive in a different digital format and fit into a machine that has very large, colorful buttons that a sight-challenged person can deal with.)
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veer
12 years ago
Kathy I had a similar problem when my elderly Mother, who having lost most of her sight, moved in with us.
We too ordered 'talking books' which in the UK came free from the Royal National Institute for the Blind (not in regular cassette format). A very long list of titles was regularly posted to us.
I think it is easier to choose for a female rather than a man!
Thinking of Hornblower could you get the series by Patrick O'Brian; the best known one is Master and Commander, which was made into a film a few years ago?
Or how about travel/discovery/adventure books.
Many men are interested in bios of 'famous' men be they generals/admirals/statesmen etc. or even movie stars/actors (not the stupid vapid air-head types).
Perhaps stuff by/about politicians might put his blood pressure up . .. I have noticed on other sites here, many Americans seem to seriously lose their cool when the subject is mentioned and hold views SO far apart I wonder blood is not drawn on a regular basis (maybe it is!).

Anyway I hope this helps a bit.
annpan
12 years ago
Are you able to get a list of those authors/titles available so that you can check on the contents?
My audio books have come in either CDs or cassettes. I bought a few for when I had eye problems.
Would he be interested in the classics or has he read Dickens, Thackeray etc.? Authors whose works were written to be read aloud, I believe.
I am trying to think of what my late husband read, apart from science fiction! Alistair MacLean, Tom Clancy and Sue Grafton, I can recall.
I hope that your local librarians would know more modern authors!
I can have a look at the "checked out" register at our Retirement Village library and see what the preferred books are for the male residents but it won't tell me if they enjoyed them, of course!
georgia_peach
12 years ago
I don't know if it's available as a talking book, but "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" is pretty good (about an unlikely friendship between an English widower and a Pakistani shopkeeper).

Do you think any of Bernard Cornwell's books would appeal? He's fairly popular with male readers.

This post was edited by georgia_peach on Mon, Jul 28, 14 at 11:25
kathy_t
Original Author
12 years ago
Veer - Thank you. Patrick O'Brian is a great idea! Alas, I was let down a moment ago when I searched for his books in the library's catalog. (I can search online.) They do have several, but only in a downloadable format. Some of my problem is that this is only a state-wide library and books are sometimes not available in all formats. And Veer, you are correct about the topic of politics here in the U.S. It hasn't always been quite so polarized as now. It's unfortunate.

Annpan - a few checked-out titles might be helpful, if that's not a lot of trouble for you. I will follow-up on the authors you suggest. He might like them.

Georgia peach - Major Pettigrew is a great idea! I just found it listed and ordered it for him. I will follow-up on Bernard Cornwell possibilities also.
carolyn_ky
12 years ago
Kathy, my city has a School for the Blind that has a lot of resources. Does your state have something like that?

I'm sorry I don't have any suggestions. My husband is not a reader. My brother likes books on tape for car trips, and he likes mysteries. I suggested James Lee Burke to him, and he said he likes the stories but where in a book you can sort of read over the bad language, on tape you have to listen to every word!
annpan
12 years ago
Kathy, the checkout register wasn't helpful after all! Only titles were written in and initials for the first name of the reader so I don't know the gender of the borrower!
Do you have an online list of the books available? It would help if I knew which authors are available so I could make suggestions.
If there are any mystery writers, I could make a selection if your FiL likes them.
I understand about his aversion to war stories. I lived in London during the Blitz and don't want to read those kind of books either!
colleenoz
12 years ago
Major Pettigrew is a great choice! I got it for Book Club and enjoyed it very much, now it's working its way through the extended family. SisIL and 84yoMIL both enjoyed it and now MIL has passed it to her 86yo brother who she feels will also enjoy it. One of these days it should come back so Dh can read it :-)
If your FIL likes humour, the Garrison Keillor books are a hoot.
kathy_t
Original Author
12 years ago
Carolyn - I don't know whether Missouri has a school for the blind with a lending library. I'm not unhappy with the library we're using (Wolfner). My problem is more about figuring out what my father-in-law might like. He was never much of a reader before, so he's not able to suggest what he'd like.

Annpan - You are so kind. Thank you for looking at the checkout register. The Wolfner Library does not offer a list of authors, but has a full-fledged online card catalog. (Do they call it a "card" catalog when it's online? I suppose not.) I've provided a link in case you're curious about it. It's interesting to hear that you lived in London during the Blitz. That must have been frightful.

Colleenoz - Garrison Keillor is a great idea! I will follow up on your suggestion.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wolfner Talking Book and Braille Library
annpan
12 years ago
I had a quick look at the link. The Wolfner Shelf seems to list a lot of downloads, judging by the first page which I accessed.
I can honestly say that I thought that living in wartime London was normal. It was the only life I knew as the war started when I was about two years old. Food rationing, sleeping in a dugout air raid shelter and knowing that I must never, ever, pick up anything from the street as it might be an anti-personnel device that could blow off your fingers was part of a usual day and night.
I still don't pick up anything in the street! I was so indoctrinated!
User
12 years ago
For anyone looking for "talking books" or audio books for free--- check out Librivox.org . They have audio of thousands of titles that are in the public domain. So they are older books, usually classics, but they are excellent and a good free alternative to what may be found in your local library.

It is available either online through the website or on an app through your smartphone. While it might be difficult for a 91 year old, it is very easy to use and set up if you can help him with that. I have greatly enjoyed Mark Twain's "Innocents Abroad" from there, it is quite funny and entertaining. Maybe that would be a good suggestion.

Here is a link that might be useful: Librivox
annpan
12 years ago
Although I said I don't like war stories, I notice that there is "King Rat" by James Clavell in the Wolfner library listings. That was one war story that I did read and found gripping. The movie was good too.
Has your FiL read that one?
kathy_t
Original Author
12 years ago
Ninkasi - Thank you for the information about librivox. Unfortunately, my father-in-law stopped using his computer a couple of years ago due to his near blindness. (Prior to that, his computer kept him well occupied.) He's now in a nursing home.

Annpan - I have not explored James Clavell novels yet. I'll give that one a try. Thank you again.
carolyn_ky
12 years ago
I've read a couple of David Rosenfelt's mysteries set in New Jersey where he is a topnotch attorney, an avid sports fan, and a dog lover. They are pretty good. It's a series best read in order, and audio books are available.
norar_il
12 years ago
How about Jeff Shaara's books about the Civil War? My DH is in his 70's and really enjoys that series -- fiction based on fact.
kathy_t
Original Author
12 years ago
Carolyn and Norar - Thank you for your suggestions. I am not familiar with David Rosenfelt or Jeff Shaara, so I appreciate learning about them. I will investigate these possibilities for my father-in-law. -- Kathy
mylab123
12 years ago
My elderly MIL loved the book "How Green Was My Valley" which was also a beautifully made movie of long ago, when the main character was played by the deceased actor, Roddy McDowell, who was just a boy himself at the time the movie was made.. Perhaps with luck this has been put in audio form.

How about Agatha Christie? I'm pretty sure many of her books were made in audio form as well, if this is anything he would be interested in for lighter fare.

It strikes me that audios of Mark Twain's works would, indeed, be winner s also, Perhaps reminding him of books he loved as a young adult?
J C
12 years ago
I don't see Louis L'Amour suggested - do you think he might like those books? There are dozens. I know many people of both sexes and all ages who adore them.
lemonhead101
12 years ago
How about James Herriott books? They are shortish chapters with complete stories in each chapter, so good stopping places. Plus gentle, humorous...
kathy_t
Original Author
12 years ago
Mylab123, Siobhan, and Lemonhead - Good ideas all! I have a lot of avenues to pursue now. Thanks for your thoughtful replies - very helpful.

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