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Original poster

Books which follow characters over many years?

85 replies

Bearg · 28/05/2024 17:40

I love books which really dig into the character/characters and follow them over their lifetime or many years. Some of my favourites are Summer Sisters by Judy Blume, One Day by David Nicholls, and I've almost finished Lessons by Ian McEwan which I have also enjoyed.

Can anyone recommend any other similar books?

OP posts:
BeMoreEfficient · 28/05/2024 22:59

Franklefoot · 28/05/2024 18:19

The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard. Family saga, many characters over many years, 1930's to 1950's.

I came on to say this. Absolutely loved those books.
Also seconding Patricia Highsmith.

ProvincialLady2024 · 28/05/2024 22:57

All William Boyd novels span a lifetime.

DancingFerret · 28/05/2024 22:49

Jeffrey Archer - The Clifton Chronicles.

suburburban · 28/05/2024 22:38

Stan Barstow - kind of Loving trilogy

And Ella Palmer novels

Barstow gives a great deal of social history in his books, I love his writing

suburburban · 28/05/2024 22:35

Lovechilli75 · 28/05/2024 18:23

The Starbridge novels by Susan Howatch. They’re all standalone but each one has a different narrator and lots of the characters appear in each of them, from different standpoints and in different decades.
The background is the 20th century history of the C of E….But despite sounding a bit dry, they’re fascinating, especially in their character development.

I absolutely loved these novels, have reread them

AliasGrape · 28/05/2024 20:14

John Irving’s books usually take you through the character’s lives over many years. Maybe a little dated now but The World According to Garp is the one that sprang to mind.

Also The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne which reminded me of John Irving.

I’m currently rereading an old favourite - Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson - which gives you the story of several generations of a family, although not in a particularly linear way.

I absolutely adored The House of Spirits when I was younger - early 20s or so. Not so much on rereading more recently, but still worth a go!

mateusrose678 · 28/05/2024 20:09

I second the Elizabeth Strout books about Lucy Barton and the Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend ( also wonderful tv series). My absolute favourite book which spans the lives of 2 men over decades is Earthly Powers by Anthony Burgess, I have read it many times and it is epic.

LucyMacLean · 28/05/2024 20:02

Someone beat me to it but The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne is a fantastic read. As is The Wolf Hall trilogy.

Not quite what you were asking for I know, but Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is beautifully written book following the lives of many generations of ancestors over centuries.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 28/05/2024 19:52

Someone said Len Deighton's Winter, which provides historical background to the three Samson trilogies (also well worth a read if you like the spy genre).

Latenightreader · 28/05/2024 19:49

There is a Ken Follett trilogy: Fall of Giants, Winter of the World and Edge of Eternity which follows several families through the 20th century. There were elements I had objections to, and he seems to think that every woman has mind boggling sex the first time, but overall I really enjoyed them.

Deadringer · 28/05/2024 19:49

The Outlander series of books, 9 in all I think.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 28/05/2024 19:46

CS Forester Hornblower novels. Not a series of character but one character from a teenager to an old man.

TwoBigNoisyBoys · 28/05/2024 19:43

Placemarking for ideas!

SometimesNine · 28/05/2024 19:42

Daughter of fortune by I.Allende
Pachinko
The Camerons by Robert Crichton
Les Miserables

Preparetoturnright · 28/05/2024 19:40

@ilovepixie

I don't think I have ever encountered anyone else who has read it! We have a regular cull of books and have moved multiple times since I first read it but London always stays on the "keep" pile.

Have you read any of his others? I think I have worked my way through most of them.

Seeline · 28/05/2024 19:36

Ilovemyshed · 28/05/2024 18:50

Cynthia Harrod Eagles Morland Dynasty plus some of her other sagas

Ken Follett

Delderfield

Barbara Taylor Bradford

I love all the Deldefield books, but especially the Horseman Riding By series and the Swann family series. They never seem to get a mention these days.

Another Cazalet fan too.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 28/05/2024 19:24

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/05/2024 18:32

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Age 13 3/4, and all its subsequent sequels.

I love these books!!

pinkspeakers · 28/05/2024 19:18

Elena Ferrante Neopolitan novels

CadyEastman · 28/05/2024 19:18

MrsTomRipley · 28/05/2024 18:03

Patricia Highsmith did a pretty good job when she created me.
I can't even tell you all the bad stuff I have done, or how old I am

Grin
Medenagan · 28/05/2024 19:17

Violeta by Isabel Allende - it covers the 100 years of the Violeta’s life.

AmandaHoldensLips · 28/05/2024 19:16

The Secret Children by Alison McQueen. It's a big Indian Raj type saga from cradle to grave.

OmuraWhale · 28/05/2024 19:13

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

Wonkypictureframe · 28/05/2024 19:11

A few Rosamund Pilchers do this. Lovely books. The Shell Seekers is her most famous. September is a sort of sequel to that.

Also Margaret Forster’s Diary of an Ordinary Woman is superb.

RedHelenB · 28/05/2024 19:09

Bearg · 28/05/2024 19:02

Wow thanks for all the recommendations! A few of these I have read and enjoyed, but I'm making a list of others to try as well 😊

Thornbirds