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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:
JoJothegerbil · 28/05/2024 19:09

An old one, Winter by Len Deighton

margegunderson · 28/05/2024 19:09

Another vote for the Cazalets. I didn't think they were my kinda thing but it turned out they weren't what I thought they were.

PenelopeRidesAgain · 28/05/2024 19:08

The Suttons of Yorkshire series by Elizabeth Elgin. Follows the family from pre- World War One to the post Second World War period.

HerORMe · 28/05/2024 19:07

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.

Love these books. Great holiday reading

PlainJaneSuperbrainthe2nd · 28/05/2024 19:07

Someone beat me to Any Human Heart!
Also - Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively and Larry's Party (I think that's the title) by Carol Shields. Both brilliant books

MaidenheadRevisited · 28/05/2024 19:07

Written for a younger audience, but the Anne of Green Gables sequels follow her into adulthood.

ilovepixie · 28/05/2024 19:07

Preparetoturnright · 28/05/2024 18:20

Maybe more "historical" than the ones that you mention, but the Edward Ruthurford books are excellent. He has done several - I started with "London" as I was living there at the time. It's a very long book (starting with the Druids I think) but there is a tangible familial link with each period of history.

Lots of actual facts, but an element of fiction too. I learnt an awful lot about the city that I had lived in for years!

London is an amazing book. One of my favourites.

ScoobyG · 28/05/2024 19:06

Another Life, by Jodie Chapman.
Quote on the front cover is, this is not a love story. This is a story about love.
Follows from late adolescence to 30s of two main characters.

WayDownThere · 28/05/2024 19:04

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

1952VincentBlackLightning · 28/05/2024 19:03

Also the Rabbit novels by John Updike

Original poster
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 😊

OP posts:
1952VincentBlackLightning · 28/05/2024 19:01

The Tales Of The City books by Armistead Maupin are fabulous, and follow the lives of a group of friends, and many other more peripheral characters, over many years

Caferouge · 28/05/2024 18:57

A Traveller At The Gates of Wisdom. It follows the same character but through different time periods and geographical locations, from the birth of Jesus until present day. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read.

ThreeB · 28/05/2024 18:50

Caferouge · 28/05/2024 18:25

Any of the longer Ken Follet books. The Century trilogy or the Pillars of the Earth series.

These would be my recommendation also. They are excellent

Ilovemyshed · 28/05/2024 18:50

Cynthia Harrod Eagles Morland Dynasty plus some of her other sagas

Ken Follett

Delderfield

Barbara Taylor Bradford

taxguru · 28/05/2024 18:50

A lot of the Wilbur Smith books follow families/people over different time periods/generations and even merge the different family dynasties with the Courtneys and Ballantynes spanning a couple of centuries. The Egyptian books span even greater time periods but still manage an element of follow through.

Bluebellies · 28/05/2024 18:45

The Romantic by William Boyd

KnickerlessParsons · 28/05/2024 18:44

The Poldark novels are good.

hoppalong · 28/05/2024 18:44

Any Human Heart by William Boyd

RatATatTatty · 28/05/2024 18:43

Lucy Barton is a character by Elizabeth Stout. I love her contemporary style of writing and Lucy appears in a trilogy of her books, and other characters show up too. I also enjoyed Harold Fry and Queenie Hennessy in the Rachel Joyce books.

Penhaligon · 28/05/2024 18:41

A Little Life (but it's a very emotional read) and The Hearts Invisible Furies. Loved both!

HippyKayYay · 28/05/2024 18:38

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.

This, one hundred times over... Love those books so much.

Also Kate Atkinson's Life after Life and the sequel (God in Ruins)

Ann Patchett's The Dutch House

When God was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman

CCLCECSC · 28/05/2024 18:37

Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford

Beamur · 28/05/2024 18:34

DH would say A Dance to the music of time by Anthony Powell.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/05/2024 18:32

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