{"id":8295,"date":"2025-12-08T08:11:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T13:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.silvercentury.org\/?p=8295"},"modified":"2025-12-08T08:11:02","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T13:11:02","slug":"books-to-give-or-keep-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/78.142.243.82\/~silvercentury\/2025\/12\/books-to-give-or-keep-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Books to Give or Keep, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Silver Century regularly recommends books\u2014fiction, nonfiction and memoirs\u2014that reflect our mission by portraying aging in a positive light or offering insights from thought leaders in the field of aging. Here are some of our favorites for holiday giving or to read in the winter months ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Correspondent<\/b><\/p>\n

By Virginia Evans \u2013 <\/span>Crown<\/span><\/i>, 2025
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Sybil Van Antwerp, a sharp, witty woman in her 70s, begins each morning with a letter\u2014quiet, thoughtful missives to her brother, her best friend, even her favorite authors. But the letters that matter most never leave her desk. A former lawyer, mother, wife and now grandmother, Sybil is endlessly curious and unafraid to speak her mind, especially on the page. When an unexpected letter from her past arrives, she\u2019s pulled back into a chapter she\u2019d hoped was closed, forcing her to confront old wounds with the same honesty and intelligence that shape her days. This beautifully crafted novel explores forgiveness in its most authentic form\u2014slow, reflective and chosen\u2014with Sybil\u2019s unforgettable voice at its heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lula Dean\u2019s Little Library of Banned Books<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Kirsten Miller \u2013 William Morrow<\/em>, 2024<\/p>\n

In the charming town of Troy, GA, midlife widow Lula Dean is on a mission to protect her local library from what she sees as inappropriate content. Believing she\u2019s doing a good deed, she sets up a free library in her yard filled with books she considers more suitable, even though she hasn\u2019t read them herself. However, her well-meaning efforts spark unexpected reactions. Someone cleverly adds banned books to her free library, disguising them first by replacing their covers with the covers of more mundane books. This leads to wonderful discoveries for many residents, who uncover hidden talents and forge new connections through their reading journeys. Ultimately, Lula experiences her own transformation, making this story both timely and delightfully relatable.<\/p>\n

Mrs. Quinn\u2019s Rise to Fame<\/b><\/p>\n

By Olivia Ford \u2013 <\/span>Pamela Dorman Books, <\/span><\/i>2024<\/span><\/p>\n

Jenny Quinn, 77, is happily married and childless by choice but feels something\u2019s missing. Hoping to leave a legacy\u2014and shake up her routine\u2014she secretly applies to the hit show <\/span>Britain Bakes<\/span><\/i>. When she\u2019s accepted, she\u2019s swept into the chaos of competitive baking and reality TV, confronting her all-too-relatable anxieties and stubborn self-doubt. After she confesses her secret application to her sweetly supportive husband, an old buried secret bubbles up. What makes this coming-of-(older)-age tale shine is Jenny herself. She finds new passions, welcomes new people into her life and bakes her way straight into readers\u2019 hearts. And yes\u2014every tempting recipe is included.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife<\/b><\/p>\n

By Anna Johnston \u2013 <\/span>William Morrow, <\/span><\/i>2024<\/span><\/p>\n

Lonely, 82-year-old Frederick Fife gets an unexpected second shot at family when a wild case of mistaken identity lands him in a nursing home as the late\u2014and notably grumpy\u2014Bernard Greer. Suddenly, Fred has a warm bed, warm meals and warm friends\u2026as long as no one discovers his little switcheroo. Denise Simms, a caregiver juggling a shaky marriage and her daughter\u2019s health issues, grows suspicious of Fred\u2019s surprising kindness\u2014so unlike the Bernard she knew. Author Anna Johnston blends humor with heartfelt insight into aging and our need for connection, making this a charming, uplifting read for when you need a boost.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships<\/b><\/p>\n

By Nina Totenberg \u2013 <\/span>Simon & Schuster<\/span><\/i>, 2022<\/span><\/p>\n

NPR correspondent Nina Totenberg reflects on her nearly 50-year friendship with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, tracing their bond from Totenberg\u2019s early days covering the Court and Ginsburg\u2019s rise as a legal scholar to decades of shared support, laughter and personal challenges. Offering a warm portrait of Ginsburg as witty, driven and deeply caring\u2014right into her 80s\u2014the book also highlights the ups and downs of Totenberg\u2019s own career and the family, friends and colleagues who sustained her. It\u2019s a heartfelt tribute to a lifelong connection and the enduring power of friendship.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Silver Century regularly recommends books\u2014fiction, nonfiction and memoirs\u2014that reflect our mission by portraying aging in a positive light or offering insights from thought leaders in the field of aging. Here are some of our favorites for holiday giving or to…<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Books to Give or Keep, 2025<\/span> ›<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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