First things first. I haven’t moved houses or switched dog food brands. My hoomans are all fine. The neighborhood powder puff – that yappy little furball on four legs – is still around. So annoying. Her Momness and I have just been running around all over the place. Seems like we just wrapped up summer and now we’re halfway through winter.
Squirrel!
Wait. Where was I? Oh yeah. Halfway through winter.
Speaking of “halves,” the resident older-than-dirt-hooman and I have been thinking about midlife reading lately. You know. Like just about the time your face clears up, your brain starts getting fuzzy?
Yabba Dabba Gag Me
Well. If you Google “best books for Midlife readers” you’ll get a lot of titles on midlife crises and such. Which made us laugh our heads off. Why is eye witness to the parting of the Red Sea status qualify anyone for “crises” mode?
So not lookin for that.
Seasoned & Twinkling
When it comes to older-than-dirt-books wrest from the local archaeological dig or dusting off the cobwebs on the ‘ole cerebral hard drive – hi, Mom – we’re looking for books with solid writing that stand the test of time. Stories that are well-seasoned, mature, and insightful or inspiring. We’re done either that sappy, syrupy kid stuff. Bonus points for stories told with a twinkle. And a generous dose of dry humor. Think Atacama Desert. In short, were picky and particular. Were not interested in shallow, immature writing that wastes our time and sounds like the powder puff.
So when somebody recently posted a list of 10 Great Books to Read at Midlife, we took one look at the list and were like: Yabba-dabba-gag-me.
So Mom and I put together our own list of Top 10 Favorite Reads for Midlife. Then we got to thinking, what’s up with that? Why limit the list to “midlife”? A good read is a good read, right?
Ten
So rather than list titles, Mom and I decided to settle on some favorite authors. Like, ten. Aka: The micro-short list.
So if you’re looking for some peppy, vivacious wintry reads by some top-notch authors who deliver heaping helpings of inspiration, hope, and grace and have some fun while you’re doing that midlife thing – or whatever – here ya go (in no particular order):
We’re big Mitford fans. Jan does uplifting, inspirational reads about three-dimensional characters who are as eccentric as they are lovable and authentic. Besides. Who can resist a main character with a dog as big as a Buick?
‘Max is a preacher with a storyteller’s gift — a pastor’s heart and a poet’s pen. Max’s message is simple: God loves you; let him.’
A master storyteller whose beautifully crafted, gentle love stories always include one essential element: Hope. He typically releases a new title every year in the fall. See my tail wagging?
If you enjoy outdoor adventures, you’ll love this guy. What else would you expect from a dog lover and a one-time Iditarod competitor?
Mom says Anna’s a great “get real” writer with lots of insight. I don’t know what that means. But it sounds good. Does it come with milk bones?
Laura published her first little house book at age 65. ‘Sides. I like her dog Jack. Bet we could’ve been buddies.
Don’t make me explain this.
8. Betty Smith and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. There’s so much going on with the adults in this book that Mom either missed or didn’t appreciate when she first read it in sixth grade. Like, 100 years ago.
9. Joy Adamson
Author of Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds and two other nonfiction books about Elsa the Lioness. Mom first read these books in the fourth grade. She recently re-read them. Born Free remains as powerful and poignant as it was back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Maybe moreso.
10. Charles Dickens
This is one author who’s unlikely to be appreciated by young pups. The richness and depth of Great Expectations, Little Dorrit, A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Martin Chuzzlewit and Bleak House, etc. are better appreciated with years and experience. The same can be said of Jane Austen.
Who would you add?
Pages & Paws 