Books Keep You Smart
I just read a news item that said reading slows the onset of dementia. I'm here to help.
Grab a pen and paper. There will be a quiz at the end.
I just finished a terrific book, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, by Kim Michele Richardson. It's set in 1936 Kentucky during the Depression, and revolves around the Pack Horse Literary Project. This was a WPA (Works Progress Administration) program that hired mostly women to travel miles each day to bring books to isolated people. The featured librarian was one of the Blue People. I'd never heard of either.
Another favorite is And After the Fire, by Lauren Belfer. It follows the (fictional) score of an anti-Jewish masterpiece by Johann Sebastian Bach, from its first appearance in 1783 and it's affect on the generations of the family who owned it. Near the end of WWII, it was picked up in an empty mansion by an American GI as a souvenir. It finally landed in the hands of the modern-day woman who had to decide what to do with it. A fascinating blend of fact and fiction and timely thoughts on prejudice.
The Gown, by Jennifer Robson, is set in 1947 post-WWII England. Life was bleak and recovery slow and Princess Elizabeth's wedding was a bright spot in the dreariness. The story follows the lives of two young women who did the intricate embroidery on the wedding gown. The author did such an amazing job of blending fact and fiction that I had to do some research when I finished to make sure these characters weren't real.
I always found my history classes unbearably boring. Every single one. Dates, treaties, wars, basically lists of facts. When I started reading historical fiction, my whole perspective changed. History became fascinating when I was able to see people experiencing it all. History came to life. All of the above books fall into that category.
My last suggestion is a story about a grouchy old man and his neighbors and their effects on each other. A Man Called Ove (oo-vah, he's Swedish), by Fredrik Backman is funny and bittersweet. We listened to it on a recent road trip and thought it was great. I came to love all of the characters and I'm looking forward to reading it so I can soak it in at my own pace.
There now--don't you feel sharper already?
And relax--I was joking about the quiz.