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Original poster

Whole life story recommendations

37 replies

Gobolino80 · 11/01/2023 22:15

I've just devoured 'The Romantic' by William Boyd. I absolutely love what I'd describe as 'whole life story' books (not even sure if that's a genre of fiction) which he seems to be so good at. Does anyone have recommendations for books that are similar? I really love family sagas that span centuries too.

OP posts:
harktheherold · 12/01/2023 22:02

Stoner

NeedToKnow101 · 12/01/2023 21:54

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides is brilliant. Spans a generation or two (or three) of a Greek family who flee Greece because of war and move to the US and all sorts of shenanigans (a twist) and some everyday life. Oooh I might even read it again after reading my excellent review 🤪

TattiePants · 12/01/2023 21:26

Diary of an ordinary woman reminds me of Any Human Heart but from a woman’s perspective. I also forgot one of my favourite books from last year which was Still Life by Sarah Winman.

Original poster
Gobolino80 · 12/01/2023 21:14

@TattiePants I haven't read any of those, thanks so much for the suggestions

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TattiePants · 12/01/2023 21:10

A Diary of an Ordinary Woman by Margaret Forster is about a woman looking back over her whole life that spans the twentieth century. For family / inter generational sagas then I’ve recently read and enjoyed Pachinko and The Crow Road.

Original poster
Gobolino80 · 12/01/2023 18:48

@freezingone I have read that, it was the first one of his that I tried, I read it in a couple of days! He's a great storyteller and I'd highly recommend The Romantic. Thanks for your suggestion

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Original poster
Gobolino80 · 12/01/2023 18:46

@theveg I loved Any Human Heart, it was the first one of his that I read. I haven't read The Lacuna but I loved The Poisonwood Bible and her most recent one so that's a good shout, Hearts Invisible Furies and everything Kate Atkinson writes is fantastic. Thanks for your suggestions.

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Original poster
Gobolino80 · 12/01/2023 18:44

@Mercurial123 I haven't read any Edward Rutherford books although I've picked them up when browsing in books shops a fair few times so I should probably give him a go, thanks for the suggestion

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freezingone · 12/01/2023 17:58

Have you read any human heart by Boyd? Loved that

theveg · 12/01/2023 17:53

Have you read Sweet Caress and Love is Blind by Boyd? Assuming you have read Any Human Heart?

Also The Hearts Invisible Furies John Boyne
Life after Life and A God in Ruins Kate Atkinson
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

Mercurial123 · 12/01/2023 17:10

Sorry, the Irish books are Princes of Ireland and Rebels of Ireland.

Mercurial123 · 12/01/2023 17:09

Edward Rutherford novels span family stories over the centuries as far as I remember. It's been years since I've read his books but Eire, London and New York were my favourites.

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