Golden Oldie Reads

For those of you eagerly awaiting November’s ATK Reads on the first Friday of the month, my apologies—it’s a little late! Unfortunately, I got a bout of food poisoning and was out of commission for most of last week, so I’m a bit behind.

For November, I’m focusing on Golden Oldie reads. These aren’t classic books I’m revisiting, but rather books with kick-ass older female protagonists, a trend I’ve noticed lately. Much like the rise in menopause novels and Hollywood actresses embracing their 50s, and my new favourite Facebook Group, GenX Women are Sick of This Shit, older people seem to have a moment. Not necessarily in the spotlight, but not fading away into the background either. And I’m not the only one who’s noticing this shift.

Anyway, back to the books. The protagonists in these stories are all Boomers who, I like to think, serve as fictional role models for those of us coming up behind them. Each of these older women is delightful in her unique way. They prove that age is just a number, that it’s never too late to make a fresh start, and that the wisdom we accumulate through life is still valuable. 

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley
If you’re a fan of Elizabeth from the Thursday Murder Club series, then I think you’ll find Daphne, the protagonist of How to Age Disgracefully, right up your alley. Her 70th birthday has her reflecting on her (dark) past and resolving to engage with the world more. She joins the local community centre’s Senior Citizens’ Social Club, which is run by a 50-year-old woman going through menopause and marital problems. The club includes a kleptomaniac and a Banksy-style knitter, amongst other quirky characters. When the community center faces closure, the group teams up with a daycare center, a teen single dad, and a mangy dog to save the day. I like to imagine a world where Daphne is in charge. I’d also like her to be my stylist. 

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. SutantoIn Vera, Sutano has created a strong-willed (and sometimes irritating) character working hard to keep loneliness and old age at bay. When a man is found dead in Vera’s dusty, little-frequented tea shop, she decides she can do a better job than the police at solving the crime. She assembles a motley crew of people who are all somehow connected to the dead man, and together, they try to figure out what happened. Even though Vera initially considers them all suspects, they become a chosen family, and she hopes she won’t have to turn any of them over to the police. Not only will you wish Vera could brew a cup of tea just for what ails you, but this book will make you very hungry, thanks to Vera expressing her love for those in her life by cooking amazing meals for them. 

Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford
Fans of The Great British Bakeoff and women reinventing themselves later in life won’t be able to resist this delightful novel about 77-year-old homemaker Jenny Quinn, who secretly enters to be a contestant on Britain Bakes. When she makes it onto the show, her life is upended. She meets new people – like all these novels, this book has a great cast of characters – experiences newfound independence and meaning in her life, and relives and reveals, through baking, a secret from her past. It was fun to get insight into what it’s like to be a contestant on a baking show. Another highlight was Jenny’s relationship with her husband of almost 60 years, Bernard. It is deep and loving, and her independence is for herself, not from her relationship, although she is worried her big secret may be too much for him to handle. Here’s a gift link to the NYT review of the book. 

Honourable Mention: While recovering from my bout of food poisoning, I finished Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourne —a fun caper about a team of four 60-something female assassins targeted by the very organization they used to work for. They need to fight back, and it’s kill or be killed!

A Little Something Extra: Are there any Jilly Cooper fans here? If you enjoyed her “bonkbusters” back in the day, you’ll want to check out Rivals, based on her novel, on Disney+. It’s campy, fun, and juicy—everything you’d expect from Jilly Cooper (and there’s a lot more sex than you'd expect from Disney+). I watched part of the series with a friend who had read her books and I’m watching the rest with my husband, who hadn’t – and we all enjoyed it. It’s so ‘80s, the hair, the fashion, the soundtrack! haven’t dived into all the think pieces about it, including how the series differs from the book yet, but I’m looking forward to doing so once I’ve finished the series.

Stay tuned for something fun for November’s Half Time Show email!