Reader discussion: The Old Wives' Tale

A book celebrating the beauty of ordinary life

By rainmole

I don’t really have anything to compare this to, because I can’t think of anything I’ve read or watched that feels similar. I’m basically hoping for something that’s not packed with huge adventures or super extraordinary people, but more about a regular person actually noticing and appreciating the small stuff we usually ignore. It’d be nice if it made me look at my own life a little differently—like, maybe give myself some credit for just being an ordinary human. And honestly, I think that’s why I want that vibe. Even though I love adventure stories and “wow” moments, I sometimes end up kinda bummed when I’m reading about something amazing I’ll probably never experience. Something more close to home would feel like a fresh kind of reading experience.

Looking for a book to make me feel better about aging

By wrenfield

I’m turning 52 tomorrow, and I don’t know if it’s my age or just this time of year, but I’ve been weirdly reflective about everything that’s already happened. I keep thinking about old friends and certain faces that I haven’t seen in forever. It’s mostly the usual “what if I’d done this instead?” and the sense that I missed chances. I want to get some real hope back, like that feeling of possibility and being alive again, not just stuck looking backward. Does anyone have book recommendations—fiction, non-fiction, essays, whatever—that might help me look at this part of life like an adventure? I guess I’m trying to treat this time of sadness and mourning for my old self as something that comes before a new (hopefully exciting) chapter. And just to be clear, I’m not depressed. More like a little gloomy. I’ve got a loving family and a great wife and all that. I just keep getting pulled into the past, and I’d love some perspective on what’s ahead.