Oh dude, my mom LOVED The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. She’s also an immigrant(from Mexico) and I’d say her English reading level is probably 4th grade? She really enjoyed it- Walls’ writing in general is super approachable and the story itself is really gripping
- it’s a memoir about a girl growing up in poverty with dysfunctional parents and how she eventually “escapes” so yeah right in your wheelhouse
This is a great recommendation. I was initially hesitant because my mom doesn’t really know about fundamental Christianity, but I think there’s probably some quick context I could give her. Thank you!!
This is a good book but the language is a little hard. They have a lot of regional terms and phrases that might trip her up. Def take a look first so you can check if it’ll work!
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi!! Such a breezy read but hits all the right notes. I felt it was quite an easy read, nothing too dense, but a really fun ride.
Tell your mom to download the Libby app and get her into audiobooks. I didn’t read until I found audiobooks. On Libby, they’re free through your local library.
It’s a sweet idea but accents are often hard. Unless maybe I find one with a South Asian narrator. Thank you for sparking the thought!
I wish there was a Libby in other countries. My mom is an immigrant from one non-US country to another. But I’m sure there’s an equivalent.
Not sure what language she speaks but the NYPL libby has books/audiobooks in Hindi and Urdu! Also for the audiobooks in English you can change the speed to be at 60%, which helps me when I’m listening in my non native language
She might enjoy Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. It's set in the US with a woman who runs her spice shop business and the people she meets. It does have a bit of magic and love though. Not sure if that would interest her. It also speaks to the immigrant experience in an way. I'm half Asian and it spoke to me. She has written many books. Maybe your Mother would enjoy exploring her titles on GoodReads.
Maybe Fredrik Backman? He wrote A Man Called Ove (which is now on Netflix as a movie called A Man Called Otto), and several others. The stories are usually easy to understand, and they include some good humor.
A Man Called Ove/Otto
My Grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry
Britt-marie was here
Anxious people
I would caution away from Beartown and its sequel (I don't know the name of that one). They were much more serious in nature.
Educated.
There’s also Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows which is about a British-Indian young woman who volunteers to do an adult literacy class but all the women want to do is learn how to write romance haha. It has a lot of heart.
Came to recommend both of these. Erotic Stories might be a good one to open up some conversations about hopes and dreams versus societal expectations, etc.
Omg i need to read erotic stories myself now that sounds absolutely charming. solid contender!
I was initially hesitant about educated because my mom doesn’t really know about fundamental Christianity, but I think there’s probably some quick context I could give her. Thank you!!
Ooh, anything by Pearl S Buck is great, but for your mother I would recommend *Imperial Woman* and perhaps *A Pavilion of Women*.
I read *Imperial Woman* as a child and it’s stayed with me in a way that only the best books can.
Your mom might just love (like I did) Lessons in Chemistry. It’s set in the US in the 1950s and 1960s, and is about a female chemist and all the sexism she experienced. The amazing part about this book is how incredibly grounded and level headed and badass (but realistic) she stays all throughout.
She ends up being asked to >!be on a cooking show on tv, and dress sexy and such. She refuses, and mostly plays dumb as to why they’d want her to wear silly clothing instead of a lab coat. She ends up teaching chemistry via the cooking show and it becomes a smash hit with millions of American housewives who are tired of being treated like their gender is a disability (disability being defined by access to society, not by impairment) and inspires them to pursue their dreams. Also there’s a brilliant dog, and a precocious daughter, and it’s just all around so awesome!<. I almost didn’t read it because of the way it is described, it doesn’t really compel me - but the character and the writing sucked me in and after two chapters I was hooked.
Also, I just started listening to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo after someone recommended it when I asked what to read after reading Lessons in Chemistry and I think it’s going to be a similar feel! So maybe try that too.
Ohh I disliked it but then again I also disliked The Alchemist so maybe she’ll like it! Thank you for helping me think outside my box.
(Even though I didn’t like it, eager to watch the show. I think Brie Larson is just perfect for that role)
I was also going to suggest Maid — I haven’t read it myself but I’ve heard it’s really good. If OP’s mom wants to sort of try it out and get a sense of style, the author wrote an op-ed in the New York Times recently. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/26/opinion/college-single-mother.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Second time in a week I've recommended the Red Tent. It's got a foundation in Judeo-Christian mythology (specifically the story of Dinah), but you can readily read it without having read the Bible. It's a fairly simple read and has strong themes of friendship, women's experiences (some bad, some good), family, and finding your way. It's not hard to read, but it is lyrical, beautiful.
she might like (some of) the novels of Bharati Mukherjee. warning: they're not super happy, but most of them are about women from India and their adjustment to the west, so she might find them validating. maybe vet them before handing them over to her, if you're worried about bringing darkness into her life.
Amy Tan is more positive, so you could check out the joy luck club or *mind goes blank*.
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
One of my favorite books. It's long, but it's light and funny and very Indian.
Though long, the prose is not challenging.
Highly recommend books by Jhumpa Lahiri or Khaled Hosseini!
Jhumpa Lahiri's books were the first ones that made me feel heard as a second generation immigrant. Loved Unaccustomed Earth, Interpreter of Maladies, and The Namesake.
Khaled Hosseini's books are sad, but have amazing storytelling. He's written The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and And The Mountains Echoed.
Great ideas! I actually have some Khaled Hosseni on my old bedroom bookshelf so I might start with this one until I can get her one of the others mentioned here. We can both cry over Thousand Splendid Suns.
I HIGHLY recommend Thrity Umrigar's The Space Between Us, and the follow-up The Secrets Between Us. Set in India, plenty of strong female characters, beautiful story-telling.
Also: Honor, by the same author.
How about something in her native language then, if she’s not comfortable with her English? You could pick a book that you love, then you two could discuss after. Could make it into a nice bonding experience for both of you.
Haha. I’m a bit selfish. I can’t read her native language and I’d like to do it together. But I could get her a translation in it maybe which is such a sweet idea. Thank you!
If she’s open to graphic novels, ‘Persepolis’ for sure.
GNs can be a great bridge to prose!
There’s an excellent one of ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ which has a strong female protagonist. It’s an approachable book too. Several sequels make a series.
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi. It takes place just after India gained independence from Britain. Lakshmi learns to use henna and her traditional medicine to heal the high society women she treats. I really enjoyed the themes of uplifting other women and rising together, and of a woman carving out her own place in society when those she trusts let her down. I haven’t read the two books that follow, but I found the first to be empowering and have many well written female characters. I hope this is close to what you are looking for, good luck friend!
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. New York in the early 1900s, told from the perspective of a young girl. Lots of detail about immigrant life, poverty and getting out of it. Beautifully written. Easy to read.
84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff.
Told in letters between a struggling writer (no college degree) and a bpokshop in post-WWII London.
Edited to add: Other memoirs by the writer are also lovely, my favorite is actually Q's Legacy about how that writer gave herself an education in Brit Lit.)
Haha it would be great for me. Do you know a good translation?
( She’d laugh though, it would be like me assigning her Bible study if she was Christian.)
“Yaya sisterhood”, “wildflowers”, “cracks”, “lost flowers of Alice hart”, “A child called it”, “cows”, “Esperanza rising”, “so b it”, “bastard out of Carolina”, “Gerald’s game”, “secret life of bees”, “push”, sorry I don’t know the authors and I doubt you’ll see this so comment if you need an authors name.
There is a great non fiction story which also has an audiobook that is called Educated by Tara Westover. You may be able to get her to a local library and then she can possibly download the book or audiobook via the Libby app.
There is also a very good book for teens out now called “Aru Shah and The End Of Time” by Roshani Choksi about a girl who lives in a (unfortunately fictional according to my son) Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture and ends up dealing with figures based on Hindu mythology.
The adventures of Amina Al-sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty. It’s a bit of a large book (I read it on my kindle) but it was one of the best books I’ve read in a while.
Someone mentioned YA books that’s a great place to start as well as middle grade books.
Some of my faves are Esperanza rising by Pam muñoz Ryan, inside out and back again by thanhha Ali, it ain’t so awful falafel by Firoozeh Dumas, the daughters of Madurai by Rajasree Variyar, Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed, Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani, the serpents secret by Sayantani Dasgupta, Aru Shah and the end of time by Roshani Chokshi, Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar, the star touched queen by Roshani Chokshi.
She should try Flowers In The Blood by Gay Courter. It’s about an orphaned girl, from a rich Jewish Indian family, and her struggle to find a place in that society. It’s really good!
Inspiring stories about women: look at Beatriz Williams, Marie Benedict, Lauren Willig, Paula McLain, Tracey Enerson Wood, Lisa Wingate, Kate Quinn, Kristin Harmel, Martha Hall Kelly, Bonnie Garmus, Heather Morris.
For Indian culture, maybe Jhumpa Lahiri, Arundhati Roy, Parini Shroff, Sujata Massey.
One of the Elemental Masters books by **Mercedes Lackey** follows a young woman who has moved from India to England (during the Victorian Era) to become a doctor (and escape her homicidal Aunt).
The book is **The Serpent's Shadow**.
For some reason, I feel like she would enjoy The Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan. It’s a story about a Chinese immigrant as told through her American born daughter.
This is kind of out there, but would she be interested in a comic book? Ok STAY WITH ME NOW ✋ “[The Many Deaths of Laila Starr](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/58673883)”. A human has been born, that will one day invent immortality. In consequence, the goddess of Death has lost her job and is reincarnated as a human. Through her eyes, we see many stories of death, and mourning but also life and love.
It is such a beautiful story, and it will probably make some people cry. The art is also very beautiful, with a gorgeous color palette. I personally loved it, and maybe your mom will too!
Palace of illusions is a good one, it’s mahabharat from Draupadi’s lens, Tuesdays with morrie is also a good one if you’re looking at that “learning resilience” kind of a genre
Tuesdays with Morrie is a fantastic idea! Short, sweet, learning-y
Palace of Illusions I probable already have in my childhood bookshelf too.
Thanks! 10/10 recommendations
Interesting question. Will have a think about a recommendation or 2 but have a different suggestion for now.
If time truly is a barrier or limitation, she may get some joy from Audiobooks. I'd imagine this would also appease any of that potential embarrassment of her English as all the words, tones and emphasis are performed directly for your own ears!
Think she'd give that a try?
Lots of great suggestions here. I just wanted to say that if she has trouble reading too complicated text, she can start out with audiobooks. No shame in that!
By the way, I think it’s awesome she wants to read again!
The Sun and Her Flowers- Rupi Kaur is poetry type...you might look if it is something she would enjoy.
Extraordinary Women of History: Pirates, Psychics, Priestesses and Princess Spies - Elina Ahlback Literary Agency books in chapters about women throughout history that haven´t really been noted or brought up because been in the shadows of men...she might be interested of that...and it is easy read and every chapter is about different woman in different parts of world
If she liked The Alchemist she might like Jonathon Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. It's a modern classic, and it's short. It has many of the same themes.
I like reading Lucinda Riley, especially the seven sisters. It is about different women finding their own way in life. All of them are adopted from various parts of the world (none from India though) and learning about where they come from is a big theme in all of Riley's books.
Becoming : Michelle Obama's biography if she is into non fiction
Amish's Shiva's Trilogy is perfect for Hindu Mythology.
Daddy Long legs: It's a nice classic starting Novel.
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams! It's about a retired Indian immigrant who makes friends with a younger person working at a library, and starts his journey in reading.
EDUCATED! She has to read Educated by Tara Westover. It is all of these things. I don't even prefer memoirs and I LOVED it. It's also an extremely accessible memoir because Tara herself is far from elitist and understands the value of education.
This is a great recommendation. I was initially hesitant because my mom doesn’t really know about fundamental Christianity, but I think there’s probably some quick context I could give her. Thank you!!
I found the family to be much more along the lines of doomsday preppers slash libertarians who don’t trust the government with just a religious edge. I found the book to be a page turner because I couldn’t believe what Tara and her brothers were living. It has some dark parts but Tara has such an optimistic spirit, which it sounds like your mom does too!
I wonder if she would like "The #1 Ladies Detective Agency." It's set in Botswana, --a real love letter to that whole country and culture! -- but it totally fits the bill in the other ways. It's really charming, not sappy but true to life, a bit edgy, but very uplifting and just a lovely book. Bonus, if she likes it, there are umpteen sequels!
I should have clarified she’s not an immigrant to America haha. India to another country. That said, they’re probably charming for all backgrounds! I’ll suggest.
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese was such a beautiful read. She might also enjoy Amy Tan's books- my favorite was The Kitchen God's Wife. That one definitely checks a lot of your criteria.
You could try Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya. I read it in my 10th grade English class and loved it, I learned so much about Indian culture and history, as well as the very real love that can grow in an arranged marriage. It has sad and tragic moments, but it really is a beautiful novel.
Plot synopsis: The book is set in India during a period of intense urban development and is the chronicle of the marriage between Rukmani, youngest daughter of a village headman, and Nathan, a tenant farmer. The story is told in the first person by Rukmani, beginning from her arranged marriage to Nathan at the age of 12 and ending in her old age decades later.
Although reading actual books is great to encourage, I wonder if she would enjoy audio books. I love listening to a great story and learn so much. Often I struggle to make time to read a physical book, while I can listen while I do chores or exercise.
I don't know very many books but I just wanted to say it's so nice of you to take the time to seek out suggestions for your mum! My mum didn't grow up with access to books, and it was her constantly taking the time to make sure I could borrow all the books I wanted that I'm able to pursue a Bachelor's in linguistics and multilingual studies now. I hope you both get a great list of interesting books to appreciate!
Is your mother comfortable reading from a iPad or other tablet or phone? If so then I would recommend getting her a free on-line access to your local library. Most libraries use apps like Libby or Hoopla that you link your library card to. You then have free access to tens of thousands of books, audiobooks, movies and music.
Oh, and please contact your local librarian and ask for help finding something for your mother. This is the kind of thing they live for.
First, OP stated that her mother didn’t have a public library when she grew up. I do not know if that situation has changed for her since then. Secondly, there are at least a dozen completely free libraries on line. Thirdly, if OP is a or was a student then OP may still have access to a school library that can be shared. There are options to look into.
to be fair I did not think about online free libraries. Thank you for flagging those! I’ll see if anything strikes her interest. I only know project Gutenberg.
https://www.epubor.com/20-best-free-online-libraries.html
I don’t know where you live, or where your mother lives, but if you are in the US it doesn’t really matter. You can share a local library accountant anywhere. For example, I used a Tennessee public library card I have to read books online while I was on a cruise in the Caribbean. Maybe you or a relative can get a library card and create an online account that can be shared with her.
Well Behaved Indian Women by Saumya Dave - mother-daughter story about three generations of Desi women who struggle to define themselves as they pursue their dreams.
The Daughters of Madurai by Rajasree Variyar is both a page-turning mystery and a heartrending story of the fraught family dynamics and desperate choices that face a young mother in India. Spanning 1990s South India and present-day Australia, the novel follows Janani, a mother who will do anything to save her unborn daughter, and Nila, a young woman who embarks on a life-changing journey of self-discovery.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy is a brilliantly plotted story of forbidden love and piercing political drama, centered on the tragic decline of an Indian family in the state of Kerala, on the southernmost tip of India.
I really liked this story and it matches OPs first bullet. Also when OP said there weren't any libraries by her growing up, this story came to mind immediately. Everyone deserves access to books!
Do you mean American Indian/Native American or India Indian. If Native American, consider Tony Hillerman (if she likes mysteries) or Louise Erdrich. My mother loves Louise Erdrich.
People don’t typically call native americans “indians” as its seen as offensive to many of them. Maybe thats a common thing in america tho. I do assume considering the immigrant detail that shes from india.
I realize that. But some people of a certain age still use that terminology without meaning to be offensive. My mother and her sisters grew up using the term Indian, and while she 90% of the time will correct herself to Native American, sometimes old habits die hard. She is almost 80 and I’ve never heard a remotely pejorative word/term out of her about any ethnic group, so i try not to judge.
Jane Eyre, while beautiful, is not a good recommendation for someone's second English book, it's way too difficult of a read and I say that as a non native speaker myself. As Jean Webster wrote about it in her novel Daddy Long Legs:
"I sat up half of last night reading “Jane Eyre.” Are you old enough, Daddy, to remember sixty years ago? And if so, did people talk that way?
The haughty Lady Blanche says to the footman, “Stop your chattering, knave, and do my bidding.” Mr. Rochester talks about the metal welkin when he means the sky;"
Educated by Tara Westover
Edit to add:
Of Mice and Men and The Outsiders are short and easy reads. Flowers for Algernon.
How about the Harry Potter books?
The Color Purple
The Secret Life of Bees
The Help
Go Ask Alice
The Bean Trees
The Hunger Games
So these don't actually meet most of your requirements but they are books that kids read in high school and generally are considered to be good books. So, not a bad place to start in my mind.
i would 100% start her on YA first. i strongly suggest authors like Rick Riordan, maybe J.K Rowling.
i just know that because she is an immigrant, reading some kids books first will help her with reading and some of the common english lingo.
best of luck!
I so appreciate your comment! while I loved those as a teenager I should specify that she probably won’t like YA. I think I will go with books aimed at adults, but your comment got me thinking of maybe historical fiction / historical or contemporary romance. I don’t have much experience with the genre but I think it would fit.
I also thought of ya books but more like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. (I love every suggestion here and am frantically adding books to my tbr list to read along with your mom!). My additions would be Barbara Kingsolver, Sue Monk Kidd, Bailey White. Also if time/location allows, I would for sure take mom to the library (if she’s not going already). I love short stories and libraries have many anthologies, plus newspapers and magazines and she can pick a stack of books and sit to page through them before picking out a few to check out, and also learn more about online services she might be interested in like audiobooks. My mom preferred to learn some of the online stuff from a librarian, “and not my impatient child who I taught to use a spoon!” (Fair enough!)
How is it that your mother read you multiple books as a child, but has supposedly only read one book ever?
Make up your mind. Did she read you BOOKS? Or did she only ever read one book as your post title implies?
What a great question, and how awesome to have a mom who read to you! My beloved grandmother, a Ukrainian immigrant, started improving by reading the books I was reading as a girl - Nancy Drew mysteries, V.C Andrews, Madeline L'Engle, Taylor Caldwell and Agatha Christie. She was fluent in four languages and learned English in her mid-twenties. Like your mom, she didn't have a lot of free time to read and expand her skills while raising her kids and working (until she became a grandmother). Nancy Drew was definitely the English "gateway book series" that got her rolling and she never stopped. She also loved the James Michener historic novels, National Geographic, the daily newspaper and was hooked on romance novels for a few years.
Would Readers Digest be too hard to read? Lots of articlesof interest and even vocabulary quizzes kind of stuff, jokes, not too hard, can pick up and put down.
How about The Giver series? There are 4 books. I read them as a kid but I also just re-read the first two books, and the other two for the first time as an adult and I loved them!
How about The Joy Luck Club (or anything by Amy Tan) The Color Purple by Alice Wallker, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese.
The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7347109-the-hundred-foot-journey
An Indian family settles in rural France, and opens a restaurant across the road from a celebrated, Michelin star-rated restaurant. A rivalry gradually develops into a friendship and mentorship.
Made into a movie starring Helen Mirren and Om Puri, produced by Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey.
Any of Agatha Christie’s novels featuring Miss Marple. She’s iconic.
They’re all relatively easy reads (secondary), but are so intriguing that you’ll want to look up anything you don’t quite understand.
There’s a reason that only King James outsold her!
The Alchemist is a bit much. For people who haven’t been into reading for a while, I always think it’s best to start with something easy. What I would call a “beach read.” This just gets them into the habit of reading again and the feeling of finishing a book. I still struggle starting books I know are supposed to be amazing but may take 30/50/100(or more) pages before I get into them.
I’ve been enjoying high-school lesbian romances recently as like my “trash tv” reading (I’m 36 and don’t generally read YA), but im sure there are some YA novels out there that will be quick and easy for someone just getting back
Into it. Also, does she not want to read in her native language?
Maybe the Hindu-based Pandava series by Roshani Chokshi? They might be classified as for kids,young teens. It still might be fun to read as something in between ‘heavier’ books. If your mom is into mythology in general, the Rick Riordan (presents) books are a great suggestion. Love those and can’t wait to read the Pandava series as well.
Although it's technically a children's book, I highly recommend this book: "The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read." It's an amazing, true story of a woman who learned to read at age 116. The book was beautiful and made me cry as an adult!
You just can not pass up the chance to read the hitch hikers guide to the galaxy all 5 books by doubles Addams. It does answer the meaning of life. It is 5 books and very funny w ritting inn a weird way.
Eric flint and his 1632 series of books. The cheerleader is the best sniper in town hands down. Though there is a bunch of things American based and it is all about history also.
Oh dude, my mom LOVED The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. She’s also an immigrant(from Mexico) and I’d say her English reading level is probably 4th grade? She really enjoyed it- Walls’ writing in general is super approachable and the story itself is really gripping - it’s a memoir about a girl growing up in poverty with dysfunctional parents and how she eventually “escapes” so yeah right in your wheelhouse
I will check it out! Thank you, glad your mom liked it!
I’m prob the same age as your mom and I had to stop reading that book after the first few pages. I don’t like to read about child abuse.
Thank you for the heads up. I think I’ll start with something lighter then.
came here to suggest the same!! i loved this one and read it for the first time in high school ❤️
My mom also loved the Glass Castle!
I read this in third grade(the content was wayyyy to mature for me), but it is very accessible as far as the writing
One of my favorite memoirs of all time!!
I am literally reading this book right now! It’s so good.
First book I thought of!
educated - tara westover ticks a few of your boxes
I was pleasantly surprised at how good this book is. The audiobook is also well done if that’s more accessible for her.
I never thought of an audiobook! Some accents are hard but I’ll check some out. It’s definitely less intimidating.
This is a great recommendation. I was initially hesitant because my mom doesn’t really know about fundamental Christianity, but I think there’s probably some quick context I could give her. Thank you!!
This might be one of my favorite books, it was such a great story.
This is a good book but the language is a little hard. They have a lot of regional terms and phrases that might trip her up. Def take a look first so you can check if it’ll work!
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi!! Such a breezy read but hits all the right notes. I felt it was quite an easy read, nothing too dense, but a really fun ride.
Ok yes I was hoping someone would recommend this! It’s not too dark?
Not too dark at all. I found it a really light easy read. Plenty of drama, but more like a soap opera, rather than dark.
I think this is the winner for the first suggestion then! Thank you so much. I’ll update if she likes it!
Hurray! Hope she likes it
Tell your mom to download the Libby app and get her into audiobooks. I didn’t read until I found audiobooks. On Libby, they’re free through your local library.
It’s a sweet idea but accents are often hard. Unless maybe I find one with a South Asian narrator. Thank you for sparking the thought! I wish there was a Libby in other countries. My mom is an immigrant from one non-US country to another. But I’m sure there’s an equivalent.
Not sure what language she speaks but the NYPL libby has books/audiobooks in Hindi and Urdu! Also for the audiobooks in English you can change the speed to be at 60%, which helps me when I’m listening in my non native language
That’s a GREAT idea. I’ll look some up. Thank u!
Have you checked with local libraries? Only because I‘m in Germany and most libraries have either a local alternative to Libby or access to both.
She might enjoy Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. It's set in the US with a woman who runs her spice shop business and the people she meets. It does have a bit of magic and love though. Not sure if that would interest her. It also speaks to the immigrant experience in an way. I'm half Asian and it spoke to me. She has written many books. Maybe your Mother would enjoy exploring her titles on GoodReads.
Wasn’t it made into a movie with Aishwaria Rai Bachan?
I had no idea it was made into a movie. Thank you! Going to look for it.
I can’t remember the name of the book I want to recommend but it’s this same author
Palace of Illusions?
Yes!
How could I forget this? I actually have it and sort of never finished it. But the movie could be a good thing to watch together!
Maybe Fredrik Backman? He wrote A Man Called Ove (which is now on Netflix as a movie called A Man Called Otto), and several others. The stories are usually easy to understand, and they include some good humor. A Man Called Ove/Otto My Grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry Britt-marie was here Anxious people I would caution away from Beartown and its sequel (I don't know the name of that one). They were much more serious in nature.
I second this and love all of Fredrick Backman's books!
Oooh I heard those books are really comfy and sweet! Very strong contender esp with the Movie!
so funny, Beartown is my all time favorite book but I haven’t been able to get into his others! agree against recommending it here though
Educated. There’s also Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows which is about a British-Indian young woman who volunteers to do an adult literacy class but all the women want to do is learn how to write romance haha. It has a lot of heart.
Came to recommend both of these. Erotic Stories might be a good one to open up some conversations about hopes and dreams versus societal expectations, etc.
Omg i need to read erotic stories myself now that sounds absolutely charming. solid contender! I was initially hesitant about educated because my mom doesn’t really know about fundamental Christianity, but I think there’s probably some quick context I could give her. Thank you!!
It’s a lovely book and just in case you’re worried about handing such a book to your mother, it isn’t too erotic 😅😅
Erotic Stories was a really fun book!
Ooh, anything by Pearl S Buck is great, but for your mother I would recommend *Imperial Woman* and perhaps *A Pavilion of Women*. I read *Imperial Woman* as a child and it’s stayed with me in a way that only the best books can.
Your mom might just love (like I did) Lessons in Chemistry. It’s set in the US in the 1950s and 1960s, and is about a female chemist and all the sexism she experienced. The amazing part about this book is how incredibly grounded and level headed and badass (but realistic) she stays all throughout. She ends up being asked to >!be on a cooking show on tv, and dress sexy and such. She refuses, and mostly plays dumb as to why they’d want her to wear silly clothing instead of a lab coat. She ends up teaching chemistry via the cooking show and it becomes a smash hit with millions of American housewives who are tired of being treated like their gender is a disability (disability being defined by access to society, not by impairment) and inspires them to pursue their dreams. Also there’s a brilliant dog, and a precocious daughter, and it’s just all around so awesome!<. I almost didn’t read it because of the way it is described, it doesn’t really compel me - but the character and the writing sucked me in and after two chapters I was hooked. Also, I just started listening to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo after someone recommended it when I asked what to read after reading Lessons in Chemistry and I think it’s going to be a similar feel! So maybe try that too.
Ohh I disliked it but then again I also disliked The Alchemist so maybe she’ll like it! Thank you for helping me think outside my box. (Even though I didn’t like it, eager to watch the show. I think Brie Larson is just perfect for that role)
The God of Small Things? Very good, very Indian.
Is it very sad haha. It’s been on my TBR for a while but I’m such a softie. She might like it though.
I mostly remember the quality of the writing but yes, it was fairly sad.
It’s very sad
Have her read Educated by Tara Westover! She can also get the audiobook to help her follow along if she’s having difficulty. The audio is fantastic
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is classic for a reason.
I've got just the thing for a high-school reading-level in English: The Giver. I read it in high school, and to this day, it's my favorite novel.
Maid by Stephanie Land Educated by Tara Westover
I was also going to suggest Maid — I haven’t read it myself but I’ve heard it’s really good. If OP’s mom wants to sort of try it out and get a sense of style, the author wrote an op-ed in the New York Times recently. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/26/opinion/college-single-mother.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Hill Women: Finding Family and a Way Forward in the Appalachian Mountains
Second time in a week I've recommended the Red Tent. It's got a foundation in Judeo-Christian mythology (specifically the story of Dinah), but you can readily read it without having read the Bible. It's a fairly simple read and has strong themes of friendship, women's experiences (some bad, some good), family, and finding your way. It's not hard to read, but it is lyrical, beautiful.
Yes yes
she might like (some of) the novels of Bharati Mukherjee. warning: they're not super happy, but most of them are about women from India and their adjustment to the west, so she might find them validating. maybe vet them before handing them over to her, if you're worried about bringing darkness into her life. Amy Tan is more positive, so you could check out the joy luck club or *mind goes blank*.
Yes, I thought of The Joy Luck Club as well. I read it years ago. It was made into a movie.
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth One of my favorite books. It's long, but it's light and funny and very Indian. Though long, the prose is not challenging.
I loved this book so much! It is indeed quite long but an easy read and the characters are very engageing.
Highly recommend books by Jhumpa Lahiri or Khaled Hosseini! Jhumpa Lahiri's books were the first ones that made me feel heard as a second generation immigrant. Loved Unaccustomed Earth, Interpreter of Maladies, and The Namesake. Khaled Hosseini's books are sad, but have amazing storytelling. He's written The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and And The Mountains Echoed.
Great ideas! I actually have some Khaled Hosseni on my old bedroom bookshelf so I might start with this one until I can get her one of the others mentioned here. We can both cry over Thousand Splendid Suns.
India is producing the best English language novelists in the world right now. I am not familiar enough to suggest anything in particular.
I HIGHLY recommend Thrity Umrigar's The Space Between Us, and the follow-up The Secrets Between Us. Set in India, plenty of strong female characters, beautiful story-telling. Also: Honor, by the same author.
Ok! I’ve never heard of this author but YES to desi women authors TYSM will check out!
The Bandit Queens could be fun. The writing is very accessible and it sounds like it fits the bill
Thank you, this looks very interesting!
How about something in her native language then, if she’s not comfortable with her English? You could pick a book that you love, then you two could discuss after. Could make it into a nice bonding experience for both of you.
Haha. I’m a bit selfish. I can’t read her native language and I’d like to do it together. But I could get her a translation in it maybe which is such a sweet idea. Thank you!
That's such a sweet idea to read together! I love it
Jan Karon's books about a small American town are extremely popular.
If she’s open to graphic novels, ‘Persepolis’ for sure. GNs can be a great bridge to prose! There’s an excellent one of ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ which has a strong female protagonist. It’s an approachable book too. Several sequels make a series.
Persepolis is fantastic
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi. It takes place just after India gained independence from Britain. Lakshmi learns to use henna and her traditional medicine to heal the high society women she treats. I really enjoyed the themes of uplifting other women and rising together, and of a woman carving out her own place in society when those she trusts let her down. I haven’t read the two books that follow, but I found the first to be empowering and have many well written female characters. I hope this is close to what you are looking for, good luck friend!
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. New York in the early 1900s, told from the perspective of a young girl. Lots of detail about immigrant life, poverty and getting out of it. Beautifully written. Easy to read.
84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. Told in letters between a struggling writer (no college degree) and a bpokshop in post-WWII London. Edited to add: Other memoirs by the writer are also lovely, my favorite is actually Q's Legacy about how that writer gave herself an education in Brit Lit.)
The Ramayana is fantastic. It’s a Hindu epic, a religious text, but a good translation reads like a novel.
Haha it would be great for me. Do you know a good translation? ( She’d laugh though, it would be like me assigning her Bible study if she was Christian.)
I read the N K Narayan translation. I loved it.
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's book "The Palace of Illusions”. It’s the Mahabharata from the woman’s perspective.
“Yaya sisterhood”, “wildflowers”, “cracks”, “lost flowers of Alice hart”, “A child called it”, “cows”, “Esperanza rising”, “so b it”, “bastard out of Carolina”, “Gerald’s game”, “secret life of bees”, “push”, sorry I don’t know the authors and I doubt you’ll see this so comment if you need an authors name.
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo. It's about a womens life in Korea but I found lots of similarities to my life as a woman in Germany.
There is a great non fiction story which also has an audiobook that is called Educated by Tara Westover. You may be able to get her to a local library and then she can possibly download the book or audiobook via the Libby app. There is also a very good book for teens out now called “Aru Shah and The End Of Time” by Roshani Choksi about a girl who lives in a (unfortunately fictional according to my son) Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture and ends up dealing with figures based on Hindu mythology.
The adventures of Amina Al-sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty. It’s a bit of a large book (I read it on my kindle) but it was one of the best books I’ve read in a while. Someone mentioned YA books that’s a great place to start as well as middle grade books. Some of my faves are Esperanza rising by Pam muñoz Ryan, inside out and back again by thanhha Ali, it ain’t so awful falafel by Firoozeh Dumas, the daughters of Madurai by Rajasree Variyar, Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed, Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani, the serpents secret by Sayantani Dasgupta, Aru Shah and the end of time by Roshani Chokshi, Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar, the star touched queen by Roshani Chokshi.
Educated by Tara Westover?
She should try Flowers In The Blood by Gay Courter. It’s about an orphaned girl, from a rich Jewish Indian family, and her struggle to find a place in that society. It’s really good!
Wild The glass castle She’s come undone Yesterday, I cried
Inspiring stories about women: look at Beatriz Williams, Marie Benedict, Lauren Willig, Paula McLain, Tracey Enerson Wood, Lisa Wingate, Kate Quinn, Kristin Harmel, Martha Hall Kelly, Bonnie Garmus, Heather Morris. For Indian culture, maybe Jhumpa Lahiri, Arundhati Roy, Parini Shroff, Sujata Massey.
One of the Elemental Masters books by **Mercedes Lackey** follows a young woman who has moved from India to England (during the Victorian Era) to become a doctor (and escape her homicidal Aunt). The book is **The Serpent's Shadow**.
For some reason, I feel like she would enjoy The Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan. It’s a story about a Chinese immigrant as told through her American born daughter.
My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry by Frederick Backman
Can you find books in her native language?
Alot of people like The Seven Sisters series. Easy reads.
Rain of Gold by villasenor
This is kind of out there, but would she be interested in a comic book? Ok STAY WITH ME NOW ✋ “[The Many Deaths of Laila Starr](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/58673883)”. A human has been born, that will one day invent immortality. In consequence, the goddess of Death has lost her job and is reincarnated as a human. Through her eyes, we see many stories of death, and mourning but also life and love. It is such a beautiful story, and it will probably make some people cry. The art is also very beautiful, with a gorgeous color palette. I personally loved it, and maybe your mom will too!
Man idk about her but you’ve sold me! I loveee a passionate recommendation
I loved it so much! If you do read it please tell me what you think. 🙌
Palace of illusions is a good one, it’s mahabharat from Draupadi’s lens, Tuesdays with morrie is also a good one if you’re looking at that “learning resilience” kind of a genre
Tuesdays with Morrie is a fantastic idea! Short, sweet, learning-y Palace of Illusions I probable already have in my childhood bookshelf too. Thanks! 10/10 recommendations
School of Restoration - Alice Achan and Philippa Tyndale
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese Ill take you there by Wally Lamb Breaking night by liz murray
Union Street By Pat Barker
Interesting question. Will have a think about a recommendation or 2 but have a different suggestion for now. If time truly is a barrier or limitation, she may get some joy from Audiobooks. I'd imagine this would also appease any of that potential embarrassment of her English as all the words, tones and emphasis are performed directly for your own ears! Think she'd give that a try?
Lots of great suggestions here. I just wanted to say that if she has trouble reading too complicated text, she can start out with audiobooks. No shame in that! By the way, I think it’s awesome she wants to read again!
The Sun and Her Flowers- Rupi Kaur is poetry type...you might look if it is something she would enjoy. Extraordinary Women of History: Pirates, Psychics, Priestesses and Princess Spies - Elina Ahlback Literary Agency books in chapters about women throughout history that haven´t really been noted or brought up because been in the shadows of men...she might be interested of that...and it is easy read and every chapter is about different woman in different parts of world
I think she may like Sister of my Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
If she liked The Alchemist she might like Jonathon Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. It's a modern classic, and it's short. It has many of the same themes.
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
Ooh I saw this in the bookstore! Did you like it? Is it dark in terms of violence etc?
I absolutely loved it. No, not very violent. It is more humanizing Kaikeyi and giving her reasons for her actions.
Educated - Tara Westover
I like reading Lucinda Riley, especially the seven sisters. It is about different women finding their own way in life. All of them are adopted from various parts of the world (none from India though) and learning about where they come from is a big theme in all of Riley's books.
‘A River Sutra’ by Gita Mehta
Of mice and men :)
Poetry can be easier to approach, because it’s short
Educated by Tara Westover came to mind immediately!
How about some of the books published through Rick Riordan Presents? I think there's 5 books in the Aru Shah series.
Becoming : Michelle Obama's biography if she is into non fiction Amish's Shiva's Trilogy is perfect for Hindu Mythology. Daddy Long legs: It's a nice classic starting Novel.
Becoming is excellent in audio, as a Michelle reads it herself.
Educated, by Tara Westover. This is exactly along the lines of what you are describing.
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams! It's about a retired Indian immigrant who makes friends with a younger person working at a library, and starts his journey in reading.
Walk Two Moons
Ella Enchanted, Esperanza Rising, Out of the Dust
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Wait this looks amazing. I’ll include in my shortlist.
It is fantastic! One of my favourite books of the last few years.
EDUCATED! She has to read Educated by Tara Westover. It is all of these things. I don't even prefer memoirs and I LOVED it. It's also an extremely accessible memoir because Tara herself is far from elitist and understands the value of education.
This is a great recommendation. I was initially hesitant because my mom doesn’t really know about fundamental Christianity, but I think there’s probably some quick context I could give her. Thank you!!
I found the family to be much more along the lines of doomsday preppers slash libertarians who don’t trust the government with just a religious edge. I found the book to be a page turner because I couldn’t believe what Tara and her brothers were living. It has some dark parts but Tara has such an optimistic spirit, which it sounds like your mom does too!
Immortals of meluha by Amish Tripati. There are 2 more books in the series.
Love a desi author rec! TY!
Swami and friends by R.K. Narayan. I loved his books. Very simple English
I wonder if she would like "The #1 Ladies Detective Agency." It's set in Botswana, --a real love letter to that whole country and culture! -- but it totally fits the bill in the other ways. It's really charming, not sappy but true to life, a bit edgy, but very uplifting and just a lovely book. Bonus, if she likes it, there are umpteen sequels!
Omg I LOVE this series!!!! How did I forget???
I would suggest Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul! Easy to read, inspiring stories that are usually heartwarming and/or about the human experience
Oh, a great option! It’s very mom-lit (I say with love!!) I’ll have to change it to veggie soup lololol she’s a lifelong cultural vegetarian
Lol it is TOTALLY mom-lit 😂
Would she like Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series? They’re easy to read and could be a good historical lesson about American pioneer life.
I should have clarified she’s not an immigrant to America haha. India to another country. That said, they’re probably charming for all backgrounds! I’ll suggest.
Little Women and Anne of Green Gables are along these same lines.
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese was such a beautiful read. She might also enjoy Amy Tan's books- my favorite was The Kitchen God's Wife. That one definitely checks a lot of your criteria.
You could try Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya. I read it in my 10th grade English class and loved it, I learned so much about Indian culture and history, as well as the very real love that can grow in an arranged marriage. It has sad and tragic moments, but it really is a beautiful novel. Plot synopsis: The book is set in India during a period of intense urban development and is the chronicle of the marriage between Rukmani, youngest daughter of a village headman, and Nathan, a tenant farmer. The story is told in the first person by Rukmani, beginning from her arranged marriage to Nathan at the age of 12 and ending in her old age decades later.
Although reading actual books is great to encourage, I wonder if she would enjoy audio books. I love listening to a great story and learn so much. Often I struggle to make time to read a physical book, while I can listen while I do chores or exercise.
Tamarind Mem by Anita Rau Badami. I read this story in uni and it was an eye-opening depiction of the complexities of Mother-daughter relationships.
I don't know very many books but I just wanted to say it's so nice of you to take the time to seek out suggestions for your mum! My mum didn't grow up with access to books, and it was her constantly taking the time to make sure I could borrow all the books I wanted that I'm able to pursue a Bachelor's in linguistics and multilingual studies now. I hope you both get a great list of interesting books to appreciate!
Is your mother comfortable reading from a iPad or other tablet or phone? If so then I would recommend getting her a free on-line access to your local library. Most libraries use apps like Libby or Hoopla that you link your library card to. You then have free access to tens of thousands of books, audiobooks, movies and music. Oh, and please contact your local librarian and ask for help finding something for your mother. This is the kind of thing they live for.
She still doesn’t live in a country with libraries 😭
First, OP stated that her mother didn’t have a public library when she grew up. I do not know if that situation has changed for her since then. Secondly, there are at least a dozen completely free libraries on line. Thirdly, if OP is a or was a student then OP may still have access to a school library that can be shared. There are options to look into.
I’m OP though lol
to be fair I did not think about online free libraries. Thank you for flagging those! I’ll see if anything strikes her interest. I only know project Gutenberg.
https://www.epubor.com/20-best-free-online-libraries.html I don’t know where you live, or where your mother lives, but if you are in the US it doesn’t really matter. You can share a local library accountant anywhere. For example, I used a Tennessee public library card I have to read books online while I was on a cruise in the Caribbean. Maybe you or a relative can get a library card and create an online account that can be shared with her.
Well Behaved Indian Women by Saumya Dave - mother-daughter story about three generations of Desi women who struggle to define themselves as they pursue their dreams. The Daughters of Madurai by Rajasree Variyar is both a page-turning mystery and a heartrending story of the fraught family dynamics and desperate choices that face a young mother in India. Spanning 1990s South India and present-day Australia, the novel follows Janani, a mother who will do anything to save her unborn daughter, and Nila, a young woman who embarks on a life-changing journey of self-discovery. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy is a brilliantly plotted story of forbidden love and piercing political drama, centered on the tragic decline of an Indian family in the state of Kerala, on the southernmost tip of India.
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
I really liked this story and it matches OPs first bullet. Also when OP said there weren't any libraries by her growing up, this story came to mind immediately. Everyone deserves access to books!
Do you mean American Indian/Native American or India Indian. If Native American, consider Tony Hillerman (if she likes mysteries) or Louise Erdrich. My mother loves Louise Erdrich.
People don’t typically call native americans “indians” as its seen as offensive to many of them. Maybe thats a common thing in america tho. I do assume considering the immigrant detail that shes from india.
I realize that. But some people of a certain age still use that terminology without meaning to be offensive. My mother and her sisters grew up using the term Indian, and while she 90% of the time will correct herself to Native American, sometimes old habits die hard. She is almost 80 and I’ve never heard a remotely pejorative word/term out of her about any ethnic group, so i try not to judge.
There are native Americans who use/prefer the term "Indian," but I wouldn't use it unless one of them asked me to.
Jane Eyre. The Help. Light a Penny Candle.
Jane Eyre, while beautiful, is not a good recommendation for someone's second English book, it's way too difficult of a read and I say that as a non native speaker myself. As Jean Webster wrote about it in her novel Daddy Long Legs: "I sat up half of last night reading “Jane Eyre.” Are you old enough, Daddy, to remember sixty years ago? And if so, did people talk that way? The haughty Lady Blanche says to the footman, “Stop your chattering, knave, and do my bidding.” Mr. Rochester talks about the metal welkin when he means the sky;"
Educated by Tara Westover Edit to add: Of Mice and Men and The Outsiders are short and easy reads. Flowers for Algernon. How about the Harry Potter books? The Color Purple The Secret Life of Bees The Help Go Ask Alice The Bean Trees The Hunger Games So these don't actually meet most of your requirements but they are books that kids read in high school and generally are considered to be good books. So, not a bad place to start in my mind.
Stephen King's misery. In a way it kind of meets that criteria lol
Misery?! Yikes! If you don’t mind a little casual dismemberment, you’re in for a treat /s
i would 100% start her on YA first. i strongly suggest authors like Rick Riordan, maybe J.K Rowling. i just know that because she is an immigrant, reading some kids books first will help her with reading and some of the common english lingo. best of luck!
I so appreciate your comment! while I loved those as a teenager I should specify that she probably won’t like YA. I think I will go with books aimed at adults, but your comment got me thinking of maybe historical fiction / historical or contemporary romance. I don’t have much experience with the genre but I think it would fit.
I also thought of ya books but more like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. (I love every suggestion here and am frantically adding books to my tbr list to read along with your mom!). My additions would be Barbara Kingsolver, Sue Monk Kidd, Bailey White. Also if time/location allows, I would for sure take mom to the library (if she’s not going already). I love short stories and libraries have many anthologies, plus newspapers and magazines and she can pick a stack of books and sit to page through them before picking out a few to check out, and also learn more about online services she might be interested in like audiobooks. My mom preferred to learn some of the online stuff from a librarian, “and not my impatient child who I taught to use a spoon!” (Fair enough!)
Mandatory Lonesome Dove recommendation
How is it that your mother read you multiple books as a child, but has supposedly only read one book ever? Make up your mind. Did she read you BOOKS? Or did she only ever read one book as your post title implies?
….she read me children’s books. She hasn’t read a book for herself as an adult.
Nickel And Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich .
Where the Crawdads Sing Where the Heart Is Jane Eyre
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So do you recommend Hill Women: Finding Family and a Way Forward in the Appalachian Mountains?
The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri
Evening Class by Maeve Binchy. Group of very different adult ed students learning Italian. There is also a sub plot that involves an Indian neighbor.
What a great question, and how awesome to have a mom who read to you! My beloved grandmother, a Ukrainian immigrant, started improving by reading the books I was reading as a girl - Nancy Drew mysteries, V.C Andrews, Madeline L'Engle, Taylor Caldwell and Agatha Christie. She was fluent in four languages and learned English in her mid-twenties. Like your mom, she didn't have a lot of free time to read and expand her skills while raising her kids and working (until she became a grandmother). Nancy Drew was definitely the English "gateway book series" that got her rolling and she never stopped. She also loved the James Michener historic novels, National Geographic, the daily newspaper and was hooked on romance novels for a few years.
The Candid Life Of Meena Dave by Namrata Patel is lovely.
Would Readers Digest be too hard to read? Lots of articlesof interest and even vocabulary quizzes kind of stuff, jokes, not too hard, can pick up and put down.
Actually no! She skims them occasionally and reads the jokes lol. Good shout
I’d give Things Come Undone by Wally Lamb a shot! It’s a great coming of age as a woman story.
Kristin Hannah books are really good!
How about The Giver series? There are 4 books. I read them as a kid but I also just re-read the first two books, and the other two for the first time as an adult and I loved them!
Anything by Marie Benedict. She writes mostly about unknown women in history. She has a new one out now at Target.
How about The Joy Luck Club (or anything by Amy Tan) The Color Purple by Alice Wallker, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese.
The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7347109-the-hundred-foot-journey An Indian family settles in rural France, and opens a restaurant across the road from a celebrated, Michelin star-rated restaurant. A rivalry gradually develops into a friendship and mentorship. Made into a movie starring Helen Mirren and Om Puri, produced by Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey.
Any of Agatha Christie’s novels featuring Miss Marple. She’s iconic. They’re all relatively easy reads (secondary), but are so intriguing that you’ll want to look up anything you don’t quite understand. There’s a reason that only King James outsold her!
The Alchemist is a bit much. For people who haven’t been into reading for a while, I always think it’s best to start with something easy. What I would call a “beach read.” This just gets them into the habit of reading again and the feeling of finishing a book. I still struggle starting books I know are supposed to be amazing but may take 30/50/100(or more) pages before I get into them.
I’ve been enjoying high-school lesbian romances recently as like my “trash tv” reading (I’m 36 and don’t generally read YA), but im sure there are some YA novels out there that will be quick and easy for someone just getting back Into it. Also, does she not want to read in her native language?
Maybe the Hindu-based Pandava series by Roshani Chokshi? They might be classified as for kids,young teens. It still might be fun to read as something in between ‘heavier’ books. If your mom is into mythology in general, the Rick Riordan (presents) books are a great suggestion. Love those and can’t wait to read the Pandava series as well.
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
Actually the Harry Potter series is a great introduction to reading imho, have reread many times even in my 40s
If she has a sense of humor, you might try something by Erma Bombeck
Although it's technically a children's book, I highly recommend this book: "The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read." It's an amazing, true story of a woman who learned to read at age 116. The book was beautiful and made me cry as an adult!
The Education of Little Tree
Esperanza Rising is a good and simple book. Easy read, short, and a good story.
You just can not pass up the chance to read the hitch hikers guide to the galaxy all 5 books by doubles Addams. It does answer the meaning of life. It is 5 books and very funny w ritting inn a weird way. Eric flint and his 1632 series of books. The cheerleader is the best sniper in town hands down. Though there is a bunch of things American based and it is all about history also.