Are you looking for a few great reads to take to the beach, lake, or campground this summer? Thanks to our Brightview Senior Living community book clubs, our residents have compiled a list of novels and memoirs to check out. Happy reading!
"A Man Called Ove" by Frederik Backman
This novel was recommended by three of our communities: Brightview Randolph, Brightview Fallsgrove, and Brightview Lake Tappan. From Brightview Fallsgrove: "This is the story of a man coming back to life with the help of a pregnant housewife, two kids, an odd assortment of neighbors, and a half-frozen cat. Ove believes there is a proper way to do everything, even when it comes to trying to die. Luckily, he fails, and the result is a book that is both heartwarming and hilarious."
Brightview Randolph adds, "You don't want to root for him in the beginning, but he pulls on your heartstrings."
"The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek" by Kim Michele Richardson
From Brightview East Norriton, "What makes a person human? Race? Gender? Education? After reading this novel by Kim Michele Richardson, these were some of the discussions we had. Based on the fascinating blue people of Kentucky and the packhorse library project, this was as inspirational as it was educational."
Brightview Randolph adds, "A story of the dedication of one woman to her people. It shows books can change how we see the world."
"The Silent Wife" by Kerry Fisher
From Brightview Danvers, "A gripping emotional page-turner with a twist that will take your breath away."
"The Great Alone" by Kristen Hannah
From Brightview Lake Tappan, "It is the story of a dysfunctional family settling in the wilds of Alaska. It tells about the terrible tragedies and beautiful happiness that this new life offers them."
"The Giver of Stars" by Jojo Moyes
From Brightview North Andover, "This is a book about a group of women who become horseback librarians in the Kentucky Mountains during the 1930s. You find yourself very emotionally involved with them as they face the challenges of landscape, weather, love, marriage, and even prejudice. One of the women in our group actually had a grandmother from Kentucky who did something very similar. It was the first book that everyone agreed was one of the best books we have read."
"The Water is Wide: A Memoir" by Pat Conroy
From Brightview Fallsgrove, "It's the late 1960s, and an idealistic, Southern white teacher decides he wants to make a difference and moves to a small island in Georgia to become one of two teachers there. Once there, he finds a school of African American students who have been largely ignored, both by the school board and by the world away from their island. Conroy shares the challenges and joys of his classroom and of slowly learning how to function in a community totally foreign to him."
"American Dirt" by Jeanine Cummins
From Brightview Danvers, "This is an empathetic story of an immigrant mother and son and their struggle to flee cartel violence and settle in America."
Brightview Senior Living builds, owns, and operates award-winning vibrant senior living communities in eight states along the East Coast: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. We offer senior Independent Living, Assisted Living, Enhanced Care, and Wellspring Village™, a specialized neighborhood for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Schedule a personal visit to experience our communities firsthand.
