November in the Library: Perspectives on Aging

As 2023 winds down, some literary perspective on getting older seems appropriate.  One of the first things I heard after moving to the Manor in 2015 was “getting old isn’t for sissies.”  Pushing nine years on, I have to agree.  All of us have witnessed examples of bravery, fortitude, and wisdom.   We also see our fellow residents enjoying life and seeking new experiences and knowledge just as often.

What I did not expect was how many books in our library reflect these outlooks and events.  Although this  month’s display will focus on aging, it also will showcase a wide range of genres, including literary fiction, memoirs, mysteries, and non-fiction.

Although our library’s collection is primarily recreational reading, it contains a number of books about caregiving, dementia, and facing death.  Although these are difficult topics, not all of our other books are stressful reading.

Some of our residents have written memoirs about their fulfilling lives, including the late Jim Stocker, Jean Dunham, and Nils Nilsson.  Highly respected authors have written novels that have older characters at the forefront, such as Joan Didion, Jhumpa Lahiri, Julian Barnes, and John Updike. Biographies of Alan Alda, Jimmy Carter, and David Sedaris will be included.

And finally, not all sleuths have to be young and fit.  There are several series whose detectives are well into retirement.  Besides Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club mysteries have been a hit.  The protagonists live in a retirement community that occasionally sounds reminiscent of RVM and keep busy solving crimes.

There should be a book for all tastes in this month’s display.

Pictured below:  Patron Steve Harris checks out a Thursday Murder Club mystery.