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Original poster

Are there no books with female protagonists 40 and over???

224 replies

Frikonastick · 08/01/2021 08:04

It’s doing my head in! Please recommend me a book that centres around a woman 40 or over. Please. I beg of you.

OP posts:
wellthatsunusual · 08/01/2021 08:44

Don't know where 'who' came from!

TheGoldenApplesOfTheSun · 08/01/2021 08:46

If you like fantasy, "Paladin of Souls" by Louis McMaster Bujold is great. (Second book in a series but they are separate, you don't have to read the first one).

LAgeDeRaisin · 08/01/2021 08:47

The No.1 Ladies' Detrctive Agency by Alexandrr McColl Smith

Dilbertian · 08/01/2021 08:47

Frangipani, by Celestine Hitiura Vaite

LAgeDeRaisin · 08/01/2021 08:47

*Detective
*Alexander

malaguena · 08/01/2021 08:48

Margaret Atwood's book The Stone Mattress is a series of short stories with older female characters, quite a refreshing change!

Rhinobabe · 08/01/2021 08:50

The motion of the body through space by Lionel Shriver.
I love all her books, this recent one is a humerous take on the cult of fitness and the female protagonist is 60

itssquidstella · 08/01/2021 08:50

Elena Ferrante

XelaM · 08/01/2021 08:51

Have you never heard if Agatha Christie's Miss Marple?

clary · 08/01/2021 08:51

Yh I came on to say Anne Tyler and Miss Marple.

Joanne Trollope also a good shout.

XelaM · 08/01/2021 08:51

Of*

thegreylady · 08/01/2021 08:52

The ‘In Death’ books by JD Robb (Nora Roberts) are great light reading. The first, Naked in Death is only £1.99 on Kindle.

Dilbertian · 08/01/2021 08:53

84 Charing Cross Road (the British edition, which includes the sequel). It's autobiographical, the first book is letters Helene Hanff and her corespondents wrote, the second is her diary. She isn't 40+ when it begins, but I'm pretty sure she was by the time she edited the letters and wrote the sequel. It's a lovely book.

MusicalTrifleMonkey · 08/01/2021 08:53

@110APiccadilly

Agatha Raisin.
I LOVE Agatha Raisin. She’s brilliant.
Talipesmum · 08/01/2021 08:53

Outlander (not the first one or 2 in the series, but without wanting to give too many spoilers, the ones after that!)

ShopTattsyrup · 08/01/2021 08:54

The little old lady who broke all the rules - Catherina Ingelman-Sundberg.

The main character is well into her 70's if I recall and the books are very good fun!

TottiePlantagenet · 08/01/2021 08:56

Anita Brookner's books, most of them have a female protagonist and a lot of them see the character through various phases of adulthood.

Dougt · 08/01/2021 08:57

Jenni Eclair.

Barbara Kingsolver.

redfernsydney · 08/01/2021 08:57

The mermaids chair by sue monk kidd

bonbonours · 08/01/2021 08:57

I just read Five French Hens, all about a group of five older ladies and their lives.
The Salt Path, about an older couple.

Original poster
Frikonastick · 08/01/2021 09:01

Legends. You are all bloody legends. I am an equal opportunity reader so any genre will do, this is fantastic. Thank you!

OP posts:
redfernsydney · 08/01/2021 09:01

@110APiccadilly

Thanks. Maybe I've been looking in the wrong places. You have inspired me to start searching again (this is possibly not good; I'm on mat leave at the moment so the book budget probably should be cut but won't be).
Do you have a library nearby....mine is doing free reserve and collect and the moment. .saves a small fortune
Original poster
Frikonastick · 08/01/2021 09:02

Anything in sci-fi/ fantasy? I like to be well rounded 😁

OP posts:
madamedesevigne · 08/01/2021 09:04

The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington is really funny and inventive. Also Wise Children by Angela Carter and Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner.