Benchmark Residents’ Top Picks for 2024
As the year matures and winter approaches — bringing along chillier weather and the desire to cozy up inside — the hobby of reading becomes a familiar comfort. It’s no surprise that Read a Book Month feels like the perfect celebration, inviting us to embrace the season by diving into the pages of a good book.
At Benchmark, book clubs are more than a pastime—they’re a cornerstone of social life. Many of our communities host active groups where book lovers gather to share their passion for stories. The joy of a well-told story is celebrated by many, as is the camaraderie that comes from reading together. So much so, in fact, that our resident readers have compiled a list of their top book recommendations from 2024.
Looking for your next great read? Or a gift for a loved one? Here’s a selection of some of the titles our residents have loved this year:
- The Women by Kristin Hannah – (Benchmark Senior Living at Leominster Crossings, Sturges Ridge of Fairfield, and The Village at Mariner’s Point) Link
- Anxious People by Fredrik Backman – (The Village at Mariner’s Point) Link
- The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis – (River Ridge at Avon) Link
- Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons from the Dog by Amy Newmark – (The Atrium at Rocky Hill) Link
- The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict – (The Village at Kensington Place) Link
- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver – (River Ridge at Avon) Link
- The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros (Benchmark Senior Living at Leominster Crossings) Link
- The 5 Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride by Joe Siple – (Benchmark Senior Living at Split Rock) Link
- The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray – (River Ridge at Avon) Link
- Murder She Wrote: A Killer Christmas by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran – (Benchmark Senior Living at Split Rock) Link
- Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier – (The Village at Kensington Place) Link
- Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf – (Coachman Square at Woodbridge) Link
- Tom Lake by Ann Patchett – (Coachman Square at Woodbridge) Link
- The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray – (Benchmark Senior Living at Leominster Crossings) Link
Many of these titles and hundreds more can be found within our Benchmark communities’ libraries. And while we can all appreciate the feeling of well-worn pages between our fingers, with just a few simple taps, these books can be delivered to e-readers for easy, accessible reading. You can even bond with friends or family members by listening to an audiobook together. And with the holiday season approaching, it’s just as easy to gift any of these recommended titles to a beloved bookworm in your life, whether that be hardcover, e-reader, or audiobook.
Reading helps keep the mind active. Whether diving into a thrilling mystery, reliving history through a biography, perusing a cookbook or enjoying heartfelt fiction, books stimulate the brain, improving memory, focus, and cognitive function. They can also be an emotional sanctuary. Books can transport you to new worlds, evoke nostalgia, or simply provide comfort through uplifting stories. For those who may feel isolated, reading offers a sense of companionship and belonging, as well as a way to explore ideas and perspectives beyond their own.
At Benchmark, book clubs and reading are just some of the many enriching activities our residents enjoy. Reading offers more than entertainment; it’s a chance to connect, to relax, and to grow. Sharing stories fosters relationships, transcends generations, and can even lead to deeper emotional bonds.
This December, Benchmark celebrates Read a Book Month, it’s the perfect time to embrace reading, perhaps a new interest or reigniting an old one. If this list inspires you or a loved one to dive back into the world of reading, our book clubs would love to hear about it! Reach out to one of our Benchmark Senior Living communities to share your favorite book recommendations and learn about our book clubs as well.
Happy reading from all of us at Benchmark!
