As the warm balmy days of spring, turn into those hot days of summer, everyone searches for the perfect activity to take advantage of the pleasant days ahead. Although there are many activities for Cincinnati seniors from which to choose, sometimes it just makes sense to escape with a good book.

And this spring, it’s the season of the senior. Below, you will find 3 great books about your fictional peers.

The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules

Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg’s over the top tale, The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules, is both compelling and hilarious. In this story, seventy-nine year old Martha and four of her friends rebel against the system. Their existence at the Diamond Retirement Home, filled with strict rules, tasteless meals, and rising costs is not what they had planned at this stage of their lives.

After watching a documentary about Swedish prisons, they come to believe that life in a prison would be preferable to the life they are enduring in this particular senior living facility. So they pack their bags with a plan to escape into a relaxing stay in a "minimum security institution". Of course, not all goes as planned.

If you enjoy reading a humorous yet thought-provoking tale, or if you enjoy a good old-fashioned crime story, The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules is an enjoyable and uniquely different story. It will leave you cheering for the elderly rebels who find themselves on the wrong side of the law as they plan to “grow old disgracefully”.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Rachel Joyce’s national bestseller, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, can be described as a poignant story of hope and transformation. Having recently retired, Harold finds his life mundane, and his wife, Maureen, seems to be irritated at every single thing he does. One morning, a life-changing letter comes in the mail. Harold learns that Queenie Hennessy, a woman who he hasn’t had any contact with in 20 years, is under hospice care and is writing to say her final farewells.

Although Harold writes a hasty reply, on his way to the mailbox, he realizes he has unfinished business with Queenie and decides he must personally visit her to deliver his message.

Join Harold on his 600 mile journey of faith and hope… one that he believes must be walked, because as long as he walks, he is convinced Queenie will live.

As he journeys to see Queenie, Harold meets many fascinating people who have an impact on him, unlocking his spirit and a sense of hope… things he had somehow lost through the years. As he traverses the miles, he relieves many memories that allow him to come to terms with his life’s losses and regrets. During his absence, Maureen finds that she actually misses her husband for the first time in many years.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a novel that is charming, humorous, and provides an insightful look into the feelings and thoughts we all hide deep within ourselves.

Where River Turns to Sky

In his novel, Where River Turns to Sky, author Gregg Kleiner introduces us to eighty-year-old George Castor. George had promised his best friend Ralph that he would never let him pass away alone at the nursing home where they both lived. But when Ralph passes away while he is on a fishing trip, George finds himself dealing with the guilt of a broken promise that he can never make right.

Seeking redemption from his guilt, George makes an unusual choice… he purchases a dilapidated mansion located in Looking Glass, Oregon. After painting the exterior bright red, he begins a new journey with new promises. Gathering together a ragtag bunch of aging strangers, George decides to make their final days on this earth exciting and worth living.

Where River Turns to Sky is a powerful tale about a man looking for redemption and determined to make an impossible dream come true for himself and others.

Senior Living Offers New Choices and New Beginnings

After reading these stories, hopefully you find yourself rethinking what it means to be a senior. These stories truly show that senior living does have to be mundane and boring. If you allow yourself, there’s still time to dream, to learn, and to truly live. The choice is yours!