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Original poster

Recommend me a book with a middle aged woman protagonist

96 replies

AlyssumandHelianthus · 26/04/2023 23:34

I want to feel inspired and hopeful after I read it!
Fried green tomatoes at the whistle stop cafe was a good one in this line.

OP posts:
RedLem0nade · 27/04/2023 20:45

I’ve read the first Mrs Tim and loved it! Also heartily agree with Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day and Enchanted April.
Life affirming reads!

AspinallaSmythe · 27/04/2023 20:45

almostwarm · 27/04/2023 16:06

Elly Griffiths' Dr Ruth Galloway series is a series centered on a middle aged woman, forensic archaeologist.

Love these books.

Tulipvase · 27/04/2023 20:49

I’m enjoying The salt path at the moment. It is a middle aged couple though but the writing is by the woman.

CovetedAsFuck · 27/04/2023 20:50

MagpiePi · 27/04/2023 11:05

Old Baggage by Lissa Evans.
It's about a suffragette a few years after women got the vote. Its not laugh out loud, but is a lighthearted book.

Lissa was a producer and director for Father Ted.

I've just seen that this is the first in a trilogy, so off to find Crooked Heart and V for Victory!

I was coming on to recommend this! It's brilliant. Pretty sure I actually did laugh out loud.

BoldFearlessGirl · 27/04/2023 20:51

Odd One Out, also by Lissa Evans has a middle aged female protagonist - it’s very funny and a little bit heartwarming without being remotely twee.

tobee · 27/04/2023 20:51

ExtremelyDetermined · 27/04/2023 14:45

Also Diary of a Provincial Lady by E M Delafield, the story of a long suffering 1930s upper class lady trying to manage her household and husband, those of us on the Flylady threads can relate.

This is what I was going to recommend. And, in a similar vein, the Mrs Tim books by DE Stevenson

Craftycorvid · 27/04/2023 20:53

Lolly Willowes. Brilliant!

Owlbookend · 27/04/2023 20:54

My list
1.One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow, Olivia Hawker

  1. Passing, Nella Larsen
  2. Take My Hand, Dolen Perkins-Valdez
  3. Abide With Me, Elizabdth Strout
  4. So Sweet A Changeling, Ruth Adam
  5. Im Not Complaining, Ruth Adam.
7.The Four Winds, Kristin Hannah
  1. Human Kind, Rutger Bregman
  2. Talk Bones, Anna Bailey
10. Watching Neighbours Twice a Day, Josh Widdicombe 11. The Game, Micah Richards 12 Devotion, Hannah Kent 13. Love Marrisge, Monica Ali 14. I'm Not Scared, Niccolo Ammaniti

I was reading Beartown by Frederick Bachman, but it disappeared off Borrowbox when I forgot to renew. Really irriating as I was about halfway through. Wasn't really enjoying it, but I'd invested a lot of time (it's quite long) so musing on whether I should source another copy elsewhere.
Now reading The Cut Out Girl by Bart Van Es. This is non-fiction about a Jewish girl sheltered by a family in wartime Holland.

MrsMitford3 · 27/04/2023 20:55

Currently reading Miss Benson's beetle by Rachel Joyce.

Really enjoying it

Ceilin · 27/04/2023 20:57

She ages from young to middle age, but i loved Agnes in Hamnet.

tobee · 27/04/2023 20:57

Oh I see others have recommended Mrs Tim.

Also, Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
And books by Elizabeth Taylor - A View if the Harbour

NoNeedToArgue · 27/04/2023 20:59

Blackcountryexile · 27/04/2023 13:01

The Keeper of Stories by Sally Page
Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce
A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier

Second Miss Benson's Beetle - absolute gem!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 27/04/2023 21:11

Most books by Douglas Kennedy have a strong, middle aged female leads. He writes very well from a female perspective. Don't be put off my the silly girl-on-a-beach type covers, they are gripping page turners! Light thrillers, often set against a significant historical or political background. I'd start with "A Special Relationship".

chineapplepunks · 27/04/2023 21:13

The Agatha Raisin murder mystery series!

Lisbeth50 · 27/04/2023 21:15

Anything by Mary Wesley.

The Ruth Galloway books by Elly Griffiths. She starts off aged 39 in the first book but is now about 51.

tobee · 27/04/2023 21:38

Omg I've just remembered - I highly recommend Living With Mother - Right To The Very End by Michelle Hanson (and her other books) collected columns from The Guardian - non fiction

MerylSqueak · 27/04/2023 21:55

Thank you for starting this thread op.im taking notes.

33goingon64 · 27/04/2023 22:21

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbary. It's a hymn to the middle aged woman and very funny.

The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville. Was my DM's favourite novel I think because the protagonist is a very ordinary middle aged woman.

Notacottish · 27/04/2023 22:31

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfield (the protagonist is 39 so v early for middle age but I loved it).
Also We all want impossible things.

ariel333 · 27/04/2023 22:34

Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny is funny and a good read.

TolerateIt · 27/04/2023 22:38

Amazing Grace Adams

lljkk · 27/04/2023 23:28

Depends how middle aged is middle aged?
M. Lewycka's books:
We are All Made of Glue
A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian
Two Caravans

AlwaysAlba · 27/04/2023 23:33

This is a fantastic thread, thanks Op and recommenders.

lilyfire · 27/04/2023 23:44

The Lucy Barton books by Elizabeth Strout are great on marriage, family and looking back on childhood from the perspective of a middle aged woman.

Tinkeytonkoldfruit · 27/04/2023 23:50

Circe by Madeline Miller - I mean she is a goddess but really it's about womanhood and motherhood.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35959740-circe

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