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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:
chickbean · 20/05/2023 21:03

"The woman in the middle" by Milly Johnson. Milly is my guilty pleasure. Chick lit with a sense of humour.

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

DuranNotSpandeau · 20/05/2023 21:00

Not specifically about middle age, but Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead is an incredible novel about a woman who lives a very unconventional, single-minded life. Beautifully written, and the sort of fascinating story that makes you wish it was based on a real person so you could read more about them.🙂

Original poster
Fairylights7 · 20/05/2023 20:59

Hobbes8 · 20/05/2023 20:53

Gosh that shouldn’t be a difficult ask, should it? It’s like a book version of the Bechdel test! Rodham and American Wife, both by Curtis Sittenfeld, are fictionalised accounts of Hillary Clinton and Barbara Bush respectively. They span quite a lot of their lives, but definitely include positive accounts of middle age. Anne Tyler’s books often have ordinary middle aged women living normal lives (but generally a bit wistful about something).

Agree, where are the positive inspiring stories! But we couldn’t think of any male equivalents either 🙈

OP posts:
AdamRyan · 20/05/2023 20:55

Or "The actresses" by Barbara Ewing is all about a group of older female friends with a broad range of characters

AdamRyan · 20/05/2023 20:54

Appletree yard, its not a "positive" portrayal as such but the main character is of that vintage and I found it very refreshing to read a book featuring a middle aged woman where her age was largely irrelevant to the plot.

Hobbes8 · 20/05/2023 20:53

Gosh that shouldn’t be a difficult ask, should it? It’s like a book version of the Bechdel test! Rodham and American Wife, both by Curtis Sittenfeld, are fictionalised accounts of Hillary Clinton and Barbara Bush respectively. They span quite a lot of their lives, but definitely include positive accounts of middle age. Anne Tyler’s books often have ordinary middle aged women living normal lives (but generally a bit wistful about something).

junebirthdaygirl · 20/05/2023 20:52

Elizabeth Strouts series On Lucy Barton is good l think..4 in the series and need to be read in order.
Good writer anyway.

Original poster
Fairylights7 · 20/05/2023 20:51

I’ve just read the brief of Mrs D and it doesn’t seem to offer a positive portrayal of a middle aged woman unfortunately, but thank you. The Salt Path does fit the bill but have already read this one. Looking for my bookclub as we want to read a book about people like us that paints middle age in a positive light. Any further suggestions would be great x

OP posts:
Neighneigh · 20/05/2023 20:47

Have you read Raynor Winn's three books? Salt Path is the first, the story of losing everything but finding solace in walking.

DuckonaBike · 20/05/2023 20:45

How about Mrs Dalloway? (Virginia Woolf)