I loved to read when I was little and devoured books at any chance. Picking my favorite spot in the kitchen on the floor, stretched out under my mother’s workspace. It was a bit dark but private to read undisturbed. My favorite books had, of course, a hero and stories from faraway lands that seemed so exotic and different than the life I was leading.

I grew up in the country, helping farmers work the fields or racing down the street with my best friend on our scooters. For a few years, I put my books aside and found more pleasure in exploring the world. This changed again as I had kids. You guessed right: “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” was one of the books on my reading list. Summer doesn’t have to be over; there is always a good book to read.

What Is The Beauty Of Reading A Novel Or Good Book

The beauty of reading a novel or a good book for women over 50 is multilayered, offering both personal and intellectual enrichment:

1. Mental Stimulation: Reading engages the mind, providing mental stimulation that can help delay cognitive decline. It encourages analytical thinking, improves focus and concentration, and expands vocabulary.

2. Emotional Resonance: A good book can elicit a powerful emotional response, helping women to understand their own feelings and experiences better.

3. Expanded Perspectives: Novels often present diverse characters, cultures, and philosophies. This can broaden perspectives and foster empathy, providing valuable insights into the experiences of others.

4. Relaxation and Stress Relief: Reading is a peaceful and restorative activity. It offers a form of escape from daily routines and can help reduce stress levels.

5. Learning Opportunities: Whether it’s a historical novel, a science fiction book, or a biography, reading can offer new knowledge and insights, fostering lifelong learning.

6. Connection and Conversation: Books can form the basis for social connections and stimulating conversation, whether in a book club or informal discussions with friends and family.

7. Self-Reflection: Novels often explore universal human experiences and challenges. They can provide a mirror for self-reflection, helping women over 50 to explore and understand their own life experiences.

Reading can be a source of joy, comfort, and enlightenment, contributing to a rich and rewarding life for women over 50 and beyond.

Summer Reading Doesn’t Have To Be Over!

My kids grew, and I focused more on my business, and I developed a hunger for business-related books that showed me how to grow my business. I love what I do, and it’s hard to pull myself away from work, but  I found a new way to devour my favorite novels.

My newfound passion is listening to books instead of reading an actual book or from an electronic device. I was surprised by how many books I could enjoy this summer. In no specific order, here is my summer reading list, review, and summary for each book.

Share your summer read with me too!

Love your day,
Heike

My any-time of the year reading list!

Twisted Family Values, Novel

By V.C. Chickering

V.C. was also a guest on my podcast and shared her story. You can listen here.

This was a racy and sexy book sharing the 50 years of a WASPy family from New New Jersey. The story has many characters, and it’s a little confusing at first to separate them. As each scandal unraveled, you had to smirk and wonder what they would do now to solve the next dilemma. This book “tells” what others might think. (This was the only actual book I read)

Daisy Jones & The Six, Novel

By Taylor Jenkins Reid

This was an unexpected find, and I loved it. Based on the true story of the rise and fall of the rock band The Six in the 70s. Daisy is a strung-out rich kid bored and ignored by her family. Daisy sneaks out at night and goes to Jazz clubs, drinks, and smokes rather than going to school. She is beautiful, a gifted singer, and a free spirit. But the rock and roll scene takes a toll on her, particularly when she meets The Six. Billy, the band leader, meets Daisy, and the spark ignites to make one of the greatest albums of that time. I found one of their songs on YouTube. I loved that each character had their voice on the audio.

Before We Were Yours, Novel

By Lisa Wingate

I could not put my earbuds down for this book. Based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals in which Georgia Tann kidnaps kids from low-income families and sells them to wealthy families. This is the story of Rill and her four siblings stolen from their family’s shanty boat on the Mississippi River. Made believe that they will return home soon, they must undergo unbelievable cruelty, loss, heartbreak, and triumph.

The Deep, Deep Snow

By Brian Freeman

This is a slow-moving but captivating mystery. The story of a small town and the secrets everybody keeps is unraveled by the death of a kid named Jeremiah. As the deputy, Shelby Lake, named after the nearby lake, herself an abandoned baby, is the one who must solve the mystery around Jeremiah’s death. A secret that might be buried under the deep snow forever.

Evidence Of The Affair

By Taylor Jenkins Reid

It’s a short book but so worth it. Writing to a stranger you never met and telling him your husband has an affair with his wife takes guts. This story is told through letters in which two strangers are comforting each other and sharing the affair’s painful details.

City Of Girls, Novel

By Elizabeth Gilbert

I have never used this word for any book, but The City of Girls is salacious! The story is set in New York City theater during the 1940s with glamour, sex, and adventure of a young woman discovering herself. Raised by affluent parents, Vivian is bursting to leave the boring home of her parents. She is sent to her Aunt Peg, who owns a crumbling midtown theater called the Lily Playhouse. Viv experiences the cosmopolitan theater life of New York, and it turns her life upside down. She is finally telling her story at eighty-nine, and I love it.

I hope you enjoyed my summer reading list and might share some of your favorites by responding to this email.