There are plenty of reading lists touted as the top books that everyone should read. But if we aren’t in high school anymore, should we have books forced on us that aren’t of interest to us? Perhaps it’s a good idea. As many of our residents at Discovery Village at Palm Beach Gardens retirement community in Florida have found, the mind stays sharper when we do challenging things. Reading and savoring a classic such as To Kill a Mockingbird by Lee Harper, for example, is bound to be packed with benefits. Many people never discover the joys of reading because their lives are so busy. What better time than retirement to take advantage of the countless highly rated books available to read today?
What is Your Favorite Genre?
Books aren’t just divided into categories fiction and non-fiction, of course. There are many genres of books. The great thing about a genre is that it helps you pick up a book with confidence that you know it’s a type of story that interests you. The amount of interest a genre holds is a matter of individual taste. The following are some of the many genres of fiction and non-fiction books to choose from: Art, adventure, biographies, comics, cookbooks, crafts, drama, fantasy, historical fiction, horror, math, mystery, poetry, prayer, religious, romance, satire, science fiction, self-help, travel, and western.
Historical Fiction
There is not much that can compare with a book that is a wholly satisfying read, and that is what readers find with All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and an instant New York Times bestseller, this historical fiction novel takes place during World War II. The paths of a German boy and a blind French girl collide in this masterful story. This deeply moving book has beautiful metaphors and astounding physical detail. Like all books recommended here, the book is available in all formats, including hardcover, paperback, and audio.
Romance Novel
Anyone who likes romance books and hasn’t read Jane Austen’s novels is missing out. Since her books are so well-known, here is a different recommendation of a romance novel to read. It is listed as one of the best of all time. Admittedly a book comparable to the works of Austen, Frederica by Georgette Heyer is a wonderful romance set in 1818 England. There are no elements of descriptive sex in the book. Frederica is most of all a story about a 24-year-old girl who had considered herself beyond marriageable years when love sneaks up on her while the family is in London during the glittering social season. This story is complete with a wealthy English Lord.
Mystery
Many say that A Coffin for Dimitrios by Eric Ambler, like all of Ambler’s books, is a mystery that is a cut above other mysteries. The story involves a thrilling trek across Europe and begins when a mystery writer decides to delve into the life of recently deceased villain Dimitrios. It is considered a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery.
Satire
Now, granted, satires are the types of books required by high school English teachers everywhere. But these books are worth reading without compulsion. Arguably the most well-known satires of all time are Animal Farm by George Orwell, Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, and Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five. Perhaps you have not read The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. The book, popular with millions, is a wild ride but circles around to the basic truth that futility is not something to embrace.
Travel – Fiction
If you enjoy both traveling and reading fiction, the travel fiction genre may be perfect for you. There are many books in this genre to recommend, among the most famous being Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Try William Dean Howells’ A Hazard of New Fortunes, set largely in New York. The classic provides an unforgettable portrait of an era and is also profoundly moving in the study of human relationships.
Adventure – Fiction
The Call of the Wild by Jack London is a classic that has been a favorite for millions of readers. Other unforgettable adventure novels include Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island and Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss. Beloved Mark Twain wrote Roughing It about his own adventures through the Old West. Though Twain claimed his stories are true, they are accepted as having definitely been embellished; and the book has always been considered fiction. It is exciting from start to finish.
In a world that has changed in absolutely unbelievable ways in the past 100 years, books provide a wonderful way to escape to more familiar times, before emails replaced stamped, hand-written communications. This is just one of the reasons that many of our residents at Florida retirement community Discovery Village at Palm Beach Gardens take advantage of the countless books at their disposal.
Discovery Village at Palm Beach Gardens offers a variety of senior living programs to keep seniors healthy and active. Learn about our senior living options and amenities today when you contact us at 561.801.7301.
