Any good book ideas for 80 year old mother in law?

I recommend The_Guernsey_Literary_and_Potato_Peel_Pie_Society.

It takes place in WWII.

That’s a good suggestion and another good one is Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand .

That’s incredible. I gave her The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society last year, and she loved it. Likes the Channel Islands, too. I’ll explore Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand.

Also, anything by Rosamund Pilcher or Maeve Binchey should be a pleasant read and quite light.

Readers Digest big print. Its at all the stores.

Any of Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt novels. There is adventure, history, government, and a team of NUMA scientists whose abilities rival that of much more prestigious agencies such as the FBI or the CIA.

If she wants something a bit more cerebral than that.. how about anything by J.D. Salinger in big print.

What does she enjoy reading, @joanieWK, besides light history?

The entire series of the Miss Julia books by Ann B. Ross Make sure to start with the first one, Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind

Fannie Flagg’s Standing in the Rainbow Probably the best book I’ve ever read. It’s about ordinary people living extraordinary lives. And another book by Fannie Flagg that is tender and warm and heartfelt is A Redbird Christmas

I will also reccomend a wonderful book about an older lady, who has lived an exciting and bustling life in London, then she packs it all in to retire to a small village in rural England and then for reasons that I won’t divulge, she ends up moving to another rural village in Scotland. She learns a lot about herself and people and love. I can’t believe that this book has not been made into a movie starring Judy Densch. I would go to see it in a heartbeat. Anyway the book is called Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher. Another good one by the same author is The Shell Seekers

The entire series of “Hot Flash” books by Nancy Thayer, starting with The Hot Flash Club Do not be put off by the title, these books are a funny and poignant look at the lives of several women of a certain age, who despite their very different backgrounds, come together at a party and realize that they have formed an incredible bond. Each story is about the women and their lives and feelings dealing with marriage, widowhood, empty nest syndrome and sexuality (nothing raunchy, mostly romantic) in the lives of older people. Each story also involves a Sherlock Holmes-style mystery that the women get caught up in. I ate up these books like they were hot fudge sundaes.

And the entire series of “Lumby” books by Gail Fraser, starting with the first one, The Lumby Lines

I forgot to add Alice’s Tulips and The Persian Pickle Club especially if she has any interest in quilting and/or period pieces. The first one is set during the civil war and the second one is set during the depression. Funny, moving stories about strong women, persevering against multiple difficulties, whilst cultivating warm friendships with other women. Excellent “regional” period dialogue in both stories, plus you’ll learn a thing or two about quilting and might even be tempted to try it.

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Alexander McCall

My Grandmother loves the Cadfael series by Ellis Peters (AKA Edith Pargeter).

I was also going to suggest Alexander McCall Smith, but I prefer his 44 Scotland Street series to the others.

I just finished reading Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand as recommended by @janbb. Uplifting, great descriptions and interactions, wonderful story and quite believable all in one book. I loved the whole darn book. And I will second her suggestion of Maeve Binchy’s books.

I would consider ‘The Shakespeare Thefts’!
Written by Professor Eric Rasmussen, (from Reno, Nevada,) it tells the stories, or most of them, about the First Folio editions, (232 of them) first printed in 1623, and what has become of them.
Hairaising!