We spend a lot of time talking about YA books, and they are indeed a great genre! And, in addition, this is a time when we are seeing a parallel of interesting books about older women. I think it’s the “women” part that is new; “older men who still do interesting things” have been a mainstay in literature.

All of this growth of characters who look more like real people, who do cool and exciting things, and have adventures we probably won’t have in real life – all of it is great for readers! We are so fortunate to be book people at a time when books are developing and growing in diversity, so we can all have a better variety of stories to enjoy.

This week we are giving you an excerpt of an article from Book Riot. You can read the whole thing here, with all the books they share. And here are a few, with their descriptions, to get you started on this fun genre:

• Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn The deadliest quartet of assassins in a secret organization have been given a cruise as their retirement celebration. But all is not as it seems, and when it becomes clear that someone at The Top has ordered their demise, they won’t take permanent retirement lying down. [Mary’s note: I loooove this author, and buy everything she writes – including this one! I’m saving it for an upcoming vacation, so I will have time to enjoy it.]
• An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten Maude has lived in her apartment in Gothenberg rent-free for the last 70 years thanks to a small clause in her father’s contract with the building. She has no family left, no real friends, and very few — if any — qualms about a little bit of murder to keep it that way. [Mary’s note: Another great one! I think we’ve talked about it on the podcast. It’s a pretty short book, if you want to enjoy it all at once.]
• Dot & Ralfie by Amy Hoffman Dot and Ralfie have been together for 30 years, but as they get older together, their stable relationship begins to show some signs of age. This is a beautiful look at elder care in the LGBTQ+ community, and how difficult it can be to grow older outside of a heteronormative relationship structure.
• Two Old Women by Velma Wallis In the Upper Yukon River Valley region of Alaska, Athabaskan women have passed the story of two old women from mother to daughter for generations. The women were abandoned by their tribe for complaining more than they contributed, and now must work together to survive the brutal winter. [Mary’s note: we’ve talked about this on the podcast also! Are you subscribed? Do it today!]
• Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley Iona Iverson commutes from Hampton Court to Waterloo Station every day, and sees the same people. The rules of commuting are simple: no one talks to anyone else. But the rules are challenged when Smart-But-Sexist-Manspreader chokes on a grape and nearly dies but for the intervention of Sanjay, a nurse.

Check out the rest of these books! And enjoy this fun genre, as you make plans to be an active and interesting person – regardless of your age!