People don’t read as much as they used to. In 2023, only half the country had read at least one book.
Reading is incredibly important for mental health and acuity, especially in one’s twilight years. Unfortunately, it’s a lot easier said than done to start a book club at senior communities – especially with so many books to choose from! Which book club books should be at the top of the list?
There’s an ocean of literature out there, but today, we’ll make a shortlist of the best book club books. We’ll tackle titles in all genres, making sure your senior has something they’ll love to read in their Oklahoma City community.
The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre
Some people assume reading has to be like arts and crafts, artistic expression solely for appreciating the craft above all else. But sometimes, a book is just a wild, thrilling ride worth marking on your activity calendar.
Ben Macintyre’s The Spy and the Traitor falls into the latter camp. It is a gripping, true-story account of Cold War espionage. To establish some bona fides, the author’s books have been made into movies.
Plot Summary
Oleg Gordievsky was a KGB spy who fell in love with American culture. In the book, he makes a deal with MI6 to give them classified Soviet information. In exchange, they pull off a daring heist to extract him from deep within Mother Russia.
Seniors living in the community are going to go head over heels with this book. There’s so much to discuss: duty, isolation, betrayal, and the price people pay for their actions. The story is especially powerful because it all really happened.
Book Club Recommendations
For senior book clubs, this one will appeal to a broad audience. There’s no need to break it up into a smaller group because of a content warning. Participants should overview Cold War history to get a better feel for the book.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
No book club community would be complete without some historical fiction. Consider this our top recommendation of book club books for hardcore history nerds – and everyone else. Ken Follett is a legendary author who has sold 190 million copies of his novels.
Plot Summary
This novel centers around the rise and fall of the Kingsbridge Cathedral and its priory. It tells the story of a handful of characters over the course of their lives in the area and how their stories intersect. Meanwhile, the novel touches on real historical events, such as a Civil War called the Anarchy.
Book Club Recommendations
Again, this one will appeal to a wide audience. As a trigger warning, there will be some graphic descriptions of violence and sexual intercourse, with occasional profanity. It may be best if the book club learns about the historical events underpinning the novel in the process.
The Martian by Andy Weir
Some seniors may have seen the movie The Martian starring Matt Damon. Now, they can read the book that it was based on and get perhaps uncomfortably close to the science.
Plot Summary
Mark Watney is a botanist participating in a Mars mission when a storm forces the team to evacuate. After an accident, Watney is stranded alone and must survive on a hostile planet with limited resources. Although fictional, the story uses real science to depict a plausible marooning in a near-future world.
Book Club Recommendations
This one is fairly PG, with only a few swear words and some disturbing imagery. Many senior hobbies involve an avid interest in science, so perhaps those participants could help discuss the parts that are hard to understand. Everyone will love learning about orbital maneuvers and botany.
Dune by Frank Herbert
Before Star Wars, there was Dune. In fact, author Frank Herbert almost took George Lucas to court for stealing so much of his work. Dune is a sweeping sci-fi epic that feels like a fantasy story set in space.
Plot Summary
Paul Atreides and his house are sent to the harsh desert planet, Arakkis, by order of the emperor. It turns out to be a setup, and the Atreides family is wiped out in an ambush. Only Paul survives.
The story describes how Paul inspires an uprising in the native Arakkeen and fulfills his destiny. Dune is one of the original Chosen One stories, the inspiration behind countless copycats we see today.
Book Club Recommendations
There’s a lot to unpack here, considering this is only book one in a massive sci-fi saga. Senior readers may enjoy discussing the parallels with Star Wars. It shows just how influential Dune was at the time, and how influential it still is.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Some of the best book club books are dark mirrors of the future. Warnings of what could happen if we don’t change course. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is about an authoritarian future where women are subjugated by men.
Plot Summary
Offred is a handmaid, a woman whose only purpose is to give birth to powerful men’s children. The story depicts the silent terror of living in a society where women have no rights. However, a chance presents itself for her to do something about it, and that’s where the novel jacks it up to 11.
Book Club Recommendations
This is a heavy novel, make no mistake. The real discussion is not so much about the events of the book but rather how they reflect real life. It’s an excellent chance to have a sit-down between genders and discuss the ways that sexism rears its ugly head.
Find More of the Best Book Club Books
The best book club books range from historical fiction to sci-fi to dark speculative fiction. Books like The Spy and the Traitor and The Pillars of the Earth will be fun reads that appeal to everyone. Others, like The Handmaid’s Tale, will be quite unsettling and provoke deep conversations.
Dorset Senior Living in Oklahoma City is a home away from home for your beloved senior. Seniors will love our beautiful community, friendly staff, and wide range of activities to keep them busy. Take a look at our beautiful community and then schedule a tour to see it for yourself.
