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Original poster

Can anyone recommend a good book about a middle aged woman...

36 replies

Fairylights7 · 20/05/2023 20:42

(think between aged 45 and 55) which is not about menopause or trying to fit everything in and is a positive portrayal of middle age life? Thanks

OP posts:
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Coxspurplepippin · 20/05/2023 23:41

Mary Wesley
Anita Brookner (I love Hotel du Lac Hmm Grin
Penelope Fitzgerald
Penelope Lively
Rose Tremain
Elizabeth Taylor
Margaret Forster
Margaret Drabble
Muriel Spark
Barbara Pym
Joanna Trollope
Elinor Lipman
Alice Hoffman
Anne Tyler

EmptyBedBlues · 20/05/2023 23:39

You should read Mrs Dalloway. It is an astonishing novel, and the 50something protagonist, while she isn’t some jolly cliché, is complex, thoughtful, desired, and both a happily-married Tory hostess AND an ageing, withdrawn woman thinking over her teenage choice between two different men, and the girl who seems to have given her the most intense experience of her life.

Hopinonadream · 20/05/2023 23:37

Does it need to be fiction? If not, look at the travel writing books by Dervla Murphy, she was a fearless traveller right up till old age, some of her books will have been written in middle age. She would make for very good discussion in a book group

Gonksmum · 20/05/2023 23:33

The pedant in me is compelled to point out that the first word of my 2nd sentence should be Its.

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 20/05/2023 23:27

Agree about Elizabeth Strout. I loved Olive Kitteridge, who is older than you age range but a brilliant character.

Still Life by Sarah Winman is a lovely book - real variety of characters, including great female characters, who age throughout the book.

Shadyladyo · 20/05/2023 23:25

Hag

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 20/05/2023 23:24

Hotel du Lac is reet miserable!

HelpMebeok · 20/05/2023 23:21

Tara road by Maeve Binchey

stickybear · 20/05/2023 23:21

Hotel du Lac maybe? I loved that book, but it's been a while since I read it. It may not be very positive?!

senua · 20/05/2023 23:19

I quite enjoyed The Fine Art of Invisible Detection by Robert Goddard. The middle-aged lady can do 'invisible detection' because she is middle-aged and, ergo, invisible. I liked the character.

Gonksmum · 20/05/2023 23:18

Just finished Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris. It's protagonist is a 55 year old artist/ lecturer and it's set during the seige of Sarajevo in '92. I did enjoy it, in the main. Worth a look.

Alcemeg · 20/05/2023 23:05

I really enjoyed "The Emergence of Judy Taylor"

newtowelsplease · 20/05/2023 23:00

efeslight · 20/05/2023 21:02

Might not be what you are looking for, but what about Ann Cleeves' Vera series?
She is an older detective, a bit lonely but loves her job and has a few younger detectives she likes to boss around

Came to say this. I love Vera Star

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 20/05/2023 22:05

As you were @BigMosLittleSister , I see you've found it.

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 20/05/2023 22:04

@BigMosLittleSister there is a thread already.

EmpressaurusOfCats · 20/05/2023 21:49

Just Got Real, by Jane Fallon. It’s about three women whose ages range from early 40s to early 60s, & while none of them are perfect, they’re all portrayed positively.

BigMosLittleSister · 20/05/2023 21:17

I'm currently reading Hags by Victoria Smith which doesn't fit the bill at all, but might explain the lack of novels with a positive middle aged female protagonist ☺ I'll start a thread on it when I've finished (if there isn't one already!)

midlifecrash · 20/05/2023 21:17

the Lucia books?

Original poster
Fairylights7 · 20/05/2023 21:13

Thanks for signposting the other thread, very helpful! Still think there is a gap in the market for positive books about women between the ages of 45 to 60ish!

OP posts:
YaWeeSkitter · 20/05/2023 21:13

Maeve Binchy - Night of Rain and stars from memory which includes a more mature woman living her normal life. Several of Maeves books might fit the bill but iuts such a long time since Ive read them I cant be sure which ones now.
Maeve Binchy - Book Series In Order should be able to help .

Maeve Binchy - Book Series In Order

Complete order of Maeve Binchy books in Publication Order and Chronological Order.

https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/maeve-binchy/

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 20/05/2023 21:12

As @isthewashingdryyet Revenge of the Middle Aged Woman, Elizabeth Buchan.

PermanentTemporary · 20/05/2023 21:08

Maybe try Life after Life? A range of ages involved there.

The ones I can think of are all very old and inappropriate. Interesting.

StamppotAndGravy · 20/05/2023 21:07

Not a female author or everyday setting, but the witches series by Terry Pratchett have middle aged female main characters.

isthewashingdryyet · 20/05/2023 21:06

Revenge of the middle aged woman.

there was a very similar request not long ago, so have a look in that thread for ideas