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Original poster

A really gripping, well written saga. Bonus if it has separate chapters for each character!

119 replies

Radioundermypillow · 20/07/2025 09:21

Looking for something for my holiday. Loved Gone To Soldiers by Marge Piercy. Also The Bee Sting.

I really enjoy books where each chapter is about a different character or from their perspective.

Thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
Radioundermypillow · 22/07/2025 17:09

Imonlysaying · 22/07/2025 17:06

All the colours of the dark. Superb

That's on my list!

OP posts:
Imonlysaying · 22/07/2025 17:06

All the colours of the dark. Superb

Original poster
Radioundermypillow · 22/07/2025 17:02

Windthebloodybobbinup · 22/07/2025 15:24

Another one- a fine balance- made me cry, an amazing life affirming story

So funny you should say this as I have in the last hour found this at the back of the bookshelf and realised I started it a decade ago and never finished it!

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Rictasmorticia · 22/07/2025 16:22

By you side by Ruth Jones. Written from different characters. Laughing out loud one minute and tears the next. This is the best book I have ever read

Windthebloodybobbinup · 22/07/2025 15:24

Another one- a fine balance- made me cry, an amazing life affirming story

TeenagersAngst · 22/07/2025 15:15

milislovelybut · 21/07/2025 17:39

You must read The Names. Each chapter is about the same child who is given different names at birth and how his life is very different with each name. It catches up with him every seven years. It’s heartbreaking at times. I will read it again soon but do it in ‘name’ order rather than age. A must read.

The author of this book was interviewed on Woman's Hour a few weeks ago and I thought it sounded like an amazing concept and then promptly forgot! I'll go and order it now.

I also love The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett which has a bit of a sliding doors concept but tells the story of the same couple through three different lenses. I didn't want that to end.

Howyoualldoworkme · 22/07/2025 15:08

AnnPerkins · 22/07/2025 10:37

More old ones, The Winds of War, followed by War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk. They were made into TV mini-series in the eighties which I never watched but I loved the books.

And I have just listened to The Future Homemakers of America by Laurie Graham. Once I got past the awful Norfolk accent I found it really absorbing.

Absolutely love all Laurie Graham's books.
There's a sequel to Future Homemakers called The Early Birds.

Laurie has to self publish now unfortunately

Howyoualldoworkme · 22/07/2025 15:02

Steelworks · 21/07/2025 20:07

On this recommendation, have also just purchased it!(and saw an offer for the first three, so purchased them).

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I grabbed them too and I'm only about a third of the way through the first one 😊🙂

MaryTeenOfScots · 22/07/2025 12:41

I've read The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh a couple of times and enjoyed it. It follows a few families across a century in Burma, India, and Malaya.

I just finished Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty. It starts with a woman on a plane standing up and predicting the other passengers' age and cause of death, then follows that woman and some of the passengers and how they're affected by what happened on the plane. I found all the characters' stories interesting, and the way things mentioned in earlier chapters would come up again later was quite satisfying.

Another Australian author, Kate Morton, writes books that follow two or three characters in different times as they uncover some family secret or mystery. In some books, the main character in some chapters is a side character in others, and it's interesting to see the character at a different age and from someone else's perspective. The storylines can get a little samey if you've read all her books, I guessed the twist pretty early on in her latest book, but I still enjoy them.

Gonegrey31 · 22/07/2025 10:50

Another vote for Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.
“a rich evocative saga “ comment by FT reviewer, I agree !

HarrietBond · 22/07/2025 10:45

AnnPerkins · 22/07/2025 10:37

More old ones, The Winds of War, followed by War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk. They were made into TV mini-series in the eighties which I never watched but I loved the books.

And I have just listened to The Future Homemakers of America by Laurie Graham. Once I got past the awful Norfolk accent I found it really absorbing.

Pretty sure there’s a sequel to Future Homemakers too. I love Laurie Graham.

I checked - The Early Birds.

HippoStraw · 22/07/2025 10:42

I love both Marge Piercy and the Morland saga! Have reread some of these many times and never meet people who like them.

AnnPerkins · 22/07/2025 10:37

More old ones, The Winds of War, followed by War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk. They were made into TV mini-series in the eighties which I never watched but I loved the books.

And I have just listened to The Future Homemakers of America by Laurie Graham. Once I got past the awful Norfolk accent I found it really absorbing.

BackToReading · 22/07/2025 10:35

I'll join in the love for Girl, Woman, Other.

Jonathan Coe books might be worth looking at. The Rotters Club is a good place to start. Then lots of later books where the same characters appear (even if only briefly).

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - Michael Chabon

AnnPerkins · 22/07/2025 10:29

I know it's old but I remember loving The Forsyte Saga. It's only 49p on kindle.

A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth is a great saga with loads of characters.

FiddleFigs · 22/07/2025 10:21

Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee
The Balkan Trilogy, by Olivia Manning
Winds of War, by Herman Wouk

These are all set before/during WW2, but different parts of the world, which I find fascinating. "Winds of War" is absolutely massive, but so absorbing.

Original poster
Radioundermypillow · 22/07/2025 10:13

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 22/07/2025 10:03

Girl Woman Other - Bernadine Evaristo

Absolute firecracker of a book. Read It in a single day as couldn't leave it alone.

Sounds perfect 👌 on the list. Thanks

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AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 22/07/2025 10:03

Girl Woman Other - Bernadine Evaristo

Absolute firecracker of a book. Read It in a single day as couldn't leave it alone.

Original poster
Radioundermypillow · 22/07/2025 09:55

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 22/07/2025 09:47

Shogun by James Clavell? Loved that in the 90s. Also enjoyed the recent TV series.

Read that on holiday 2 years ago! Enjoyed it and loved the show!

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CarterBeatsTheDevil · 22/07/2025 09:47

Shogun by James Clavell? Loved that in the 90s. Also enjoyed the recent TV series.

Original poster
Radioundermypillow · 22/07/2025 09:44

Windthebloodybobbinup · 21/07/2025 23:13

Wild swans - must have read it about ten times!

Brilliant book!

OP posts:
Original poster
Radioundermypillow · 22/07/2025 09:43

takingcareofme2023 · 22/07/2025 09:28

Yes!! Thought of these immediately when saw OP title. Also her Church of England series x

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I loved and read Penmarric as a teen. Agree it would make a fantastic netflix series. I remember watching the tv show as well but preferred the book.

OP posts:
takingcareofme2023 · 22/07/2025 09:28

user1471468793 · 20/07/2025 11:33

Wheel of Fortune or Penmarric by Susan Howatch. Can never decide which of these 2 are my favourite book of all time. Simply superb. And should be the next adaptation for BBC or Netflix.

Yes!! Thought of these immediately when saw OP title. Also her Church of England series x

MsPug · 22/07/2025 09:23

Radioundermypillow · 22/07/2025 09:09

So many amazing recommendations here. I have put every one that I havent read (except the virgin soldiers tbh 😁) into an Amazon list. Erring towards The Far Pavilions atm.

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🤣🤣

Nevertrustacop · 22/07/2025 09:20

Another recommendation for the Starbridge Chronicles from me

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