San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Older adults flock to books for entertainment
What do Trayvon Martin, the history of Russia in World War II and a small village in Quebec have in common?
That’s easy. They are all aspects of books that are enthralling readers of all ages, but especially older adults.
In this era of Netflix, Amazon Fire TV Sticks and a 24-hour news cycle, it would seem logical that most aging boomers and those older would flock to television. After all, it can sometimes be easier to watch a story than read it.
Many Bay Area booksellers — and their customers — disagree.
“I think older adults enjoy discussing books with small groups of friends,” said Elaine Petrocelli, owner of the popular Book Passage stores in Corte Madera and in the Ferry Building in San Francisco.
She has especially noticed that book clubs are more popular than ever.
“My book club started over 45 years ago and we are now more devoted than ever,” she said. “It’s a chance to be with dear friends and delve into some literature that we might not have read without the book club.”
That doesn’t mean older adults are eschewing technology altogether. Although Petrocelli said that many people with diminishing vision prefer large-print books, audio books are also extremely popular.
“My grown children and I enjoy audio books too,” Petrocelli said. “The audio readers have become celebrities.”
Her favorite is Libro.fm, which she calls a wonderful audio company that shares profits with independent booksellers and doesn’t invade privacy.
“More and more older adults are unhappy with companies who data-mine,” she said, echoing a theme that crosses all generations.
So what are older adults reading — or listening to?
“We have varied interests, but what we don’t like are books that speak of people over 65 as if they were old, decrepit and without importance,” said Petrocelli, who herself is older than 70. “If I am reading a novel that portrays a character that way, I have to stop myself from throwing it across the room.”
Mysteries, thrillers, biographies, history, contemporary issues, romance and even Young Adult books are very popular with older adults, said both Petrocelli and Jessica Tsang, co-owner at San Francisco’s Russian Hill Bookstore. And classics always have a place on the bookshelf.
“We have many people who may have read classics back in their college days but are now going back and really appreciating them,” Tsang said.
Of course, those books are still just as heavy now as they were then, and sometimes a good mystery, romance or piece of contemporary fiction is what soothes the soul, “as long
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“We have varied interests, but what we don’t like are books that speak of people over 65 as if they were old, decrepit and without importance.” Elaine Petrocelli, owner of Book Passage
as it’s well-written,” said Petrocelli.
Older adults tend to enjoy “series” books, such as Louise Penny’s immensely popular Inspector Gamache series, Tsang said. Set mostly in the idyllic fictional village of Three Pines, near Montreal, readers love following not only the mysteries the inspector solves, but the quirky and loveable characters who populate Three Pines.
In that same vein, Tsang said older mysteries, like Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot books, are gaining in popularity again. And many older adults are rediscovering noir books, like Dashiell Hammett mysteries.
There is a sense, Tsang said, that older adults like the “softer” mysteries, and not violent thrillers. She also said romance novels, too, are always popular, as long as they’re well-written, like those by Colleen Hoover. Biographies and history are popular too, even historical fiction like that of such authors as Madeline Miller, Natalie Haynes and Sally Rooney.
Surprisingly, graphic novels aren’t as popular among older adults as Tsang thought they would be.
As for Petrocelli, she has her own favorites, of books on her shelves as well as from sneak peeks of books yet to be released.
One of her favorite series — and one that resonates with many of her older readers — is the Thursday Murder Club series, set in a retirement home. A group of savvy residents take it upon themselves to solve cold case and sometimes newer crimes.
“The books are enthralling,” Petrocelli said. “They’re great fun.”
For science — and nonscience — geeks, she recommends author Mary Roach, who writes fun books like “Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex,” and “Fuzz:
When Nature Breaks the Law.”
Some of the new fiction and non-fiction books that have either just arrived or will be arriving are Isabel Allende’s “Violeta,” based on a true story about a woman born in the pandemic of the early 20th century, and her recollections of the events of the last 100 years. She died in the middle of the latest pandemic.
Petrocelli also said that there are many older readers who are interested in different points of view and diverse writers.
“We’re so lucky we have that perspective now,” she said.
One of the most compelling books that will be released is “The Trayvon Generation,” by poet-turned-prose author Elizabeth Alexander about how the Trayvon Martin killing impacted our whole society.
“With non-fiction, there is so much to discuss,” Petrocelli said. “With critical race theory and banning books, good honest literature is so important.”
Still, readers like what they like.
“One person’s favorite may be another person’s junk,” Petrocelli said.
Both Book Passage and Russian Hill Books offer online author discussions, events and book clubs, with Book Passage opening its doors to in-person events as well.