Books set in the 1950s

[Chickenpie1]

Hi, I have recently become fascinated with the 1950s and wondered if anyone could recommend any books set around this time?

[Fannycraddock79]

I'm reading in cold blood at the moment, not sure if it's what you're after but it's good. Also The Future Homemakers of America from memory is set then but a much lighter read.

[MsInterpret]

Brooklyn by Colm Toibin 1950s small town Irish girl goes to NYC.

It's been made into a film and just come out too.

[MsInterpret]

Also - Small Island, Andrea Levy

Jamaican immigrants arrive in London 1948. Also made into a serial by ... The Beeb?

[Savagebeauty]

Carol..Patricia Highsmith

[MissTessmacher]

Revolutionary Road?

[ChalkHearts]

I was going to recommend future homemakers of America. It's awesome.

Laguna by Barbara kingsolver is all about McCarthy era. But I didn't like it as much as poisonwood bible.

[Chickenpie1]

Ooh thank you. Off to check out books on Amazon.

[IvyWall]

Books written by Neville Shute. E.g. A town like Alice

[BikeRunSki]

The YaYa Sisterhood
The Help - may have been a bit later
Danny Champion of the World - probably not really what you want!

[BikeRunSki]

The Catcher in the Rye

[Jojoanna]

A summer birdcage or the Garrick year ? Margaret Drabble

[80sMum]

I read Iris Murdoch's "The Bell" recently. That was written and set in the '50s. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.

[TennesseeDays]

Behind the scenes at the museum by Kate Atkinson. Actually it jumps around a bit between different periods, but the main storyline is set in the 50s and early 60s.

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

The Women's Room by Marilyn French

[mogloveseggs]

A spool of blue thread - Anne Tyler. Late 1950s I think.

[GooseberryRoolz]

The End of the Affair, Graham Greene
Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe ( set in Nigeria)
The Golden Notebook, Doris Lessing (longer period including the 50s)

[TheCraicDealer]

Just reread Ship of Brides by JoJo Moyes on holiday. It's actually set in 1946 which is a bit early but it's really good, super romantic. About Aussie women who met their British fellas during the war and their journey to join their husbands in the UK.

[ifancyagreencard]

Another vote for The Future Homemakers of America. My turn to Comfort Book!

[MakingJudySmile]

Agatha Christie is always a good choice imo. Lots set in the 1950s.

[Chickenpie1]

Wow, I am going to have a busy time, so many books to read. Thanks again

[tigerdriverII]

The Lydmouth novels by Andrew Taylor. Crime series but probably more social commentary. Brilliant.

[SuperScribbler]

Expo 58 by Jonathan Coe. Very witty.

[Quogwinkle]

Barbara Pym was writing in the 1950s, and set her novels then.

Seconding Iris Murdoch's The Bell - one of the novels I studied for A Level and I loved it.

[Sadik]

I love The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy - the adventures of a young American woman in Paris. Very, very funny, but also perceptive.

[AButterflyLightsBesideUs]

The Call the midwife books (Jennifer Worth) are mainly set in 1950s East London. Non fiction memoirs, fascinating and harrowing and well worth a read.