Recommendations for octogenarian mum

[desperatetostaypositive]

She's a big library user but obviously not right now. So I want to send her some books and looking for recommendations.

She likes family sagas, bit of intrigue, not prudish so a bit of sex is okay!
She liked Olivia Oliphant, The Woman who went to bed..., Barbara Taylor Bradford, Maeve Binchy, quite likes "widow moves to Cornwall to start afresh and meets man but what is his secret?" type books! You know the sort that you used to buy in cheap bundles from The Book People?

Any help would be gratefully received 😊

Eleanor Oliphant not Olivia, my brain is fuddled

I absolutely love the spoils of time trilogy by Penny Vincenzi. No Angel is the first one but the second one Something Dangerous is the best and third one is good too.

The Bride Test

DGM aged 90 recommended Santa Montefiore to me . She gets hers in large print from the library.

Thank you for those recommendations- will check them out

Perhaps have a look at All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani. Fictionalised story of Loretta Young and her love affairs in 1930s Hollywood

If she likes WW2 stuff, look at Ellie Dean. She has a series based on a family living through WW2 on the south coast, at least 18 books now

You should consider "The Cazalet Chronicles" by Elizabeth Jane Howard, a quintet of novels which chronicle the fortunes of an upper-middle-class family in 20th century England. The first book, "The Light Years" opens in 1937 and the fifth book takes the story up to the mid-50s. Very British, quite understated and beautifully written. My 90 year old DMIL loved them.

Thank you for these recommendations too

Try authors such as Sue Wilsher-The Poppy Girls +others
Nancy Revell-The Shipyard Girls=More in series
and Elaine Everest-The Woolworth Girls & Butlin Girls.

If you both liked Eleanor Oliphant try Beth Morrey's 2020 title 'Saving Missy'.

Its a couple of years old now but The Lido by Libby Page may also float your boat

My mum absolutely loved The Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer - proper family epic saga crossing world wars and generations. I read the first couple and thought they were dreadful but then I'm not 87...

My mum has this series called “Daughters of England” by Philippa Carr. They start at Henry VIII and follow successive daughters of the family all the way to WW2. They are quite fun. I’d start with one like “Return of the Gypsy” (which is about half way through) as the early ones were less good.

Belinda Alexander is an Australian writer who writes family dramas, often with an historical context. The one I listened to was Tuscan Rose about the Italian Resistance during WW2. I did think it went on a bit, but it had lots of fascinating history.

Danielle Hawkins is an NZ writer who does a nice line in women starting over books. She’s very funny and good at characterisation.

I really enjoy Susannah Kearsley who writes romantic suspense, with the kind of lyrical evocation of landscape that Mary Stewart was so good at.

I’ve recommended Sara Donati’s books about American pioneers before, I think. My patience with family sagas is limited, but I did enjoy her.

And of course, Dorothy Dunnett, if you’re mum hasn’t already read her.

There’s also the old school Mazo de la Roche Jalna novels, which follow one family forever. It’s so long since I read one, I have no idea any longer what happened, but they used to be very popular.

I have a particular fascination for books about women inheriting houses, which is not quite gothic romance, but certainly a kissing cousin, so I’m with your mum on this one.

Brilliant recommendations again. Thank you! And the great thing is, you're suggesting authors that I know aren't on her bookshelves already so sure I'll be able to choose some that are right up her street

My 84 year old mother is enjoying Rosamunde Pilcher’s novels

Mine is 82 and has really loved the Cynthia Harrod-Eagles Moreland dynasty books. There are about 30 of them so kept her going for a while.

Second Rosamunde Pilcher

I second the Jalna novels. It's absolutely years since I read one but they are the ultimate family saga. I remember in particular Meg but I won't give any spoilers!

I think The Missing Letters of Mrs Bright fits the bill.

It's about a woman who leaves her husband and sets out to do many of the things she missed out on during her marriage. She also visits her best friend in Australia to discover why she has stopped writing after decades of sending a letter every other month.

You say that a bit of sex is OK - there is a scene where the daughter of the main character walks in on her (ex)-boyfriend, (ex)-friend and flatmate about to embark on a threesome, but nothing really happens and it's more comedy/lighthearted than anything.

www.amazon.co.uk/Missing-Letters-Mrs-Bright-unputdownable-ebook/dp/B07YY8NJDF?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

EV Thompson? Historical family sagas. Very popular here in Cornwall - I went to school with his sons.

Georgette Heyer?

Winston Graham’s Poldark series -so much better than the TV show.

My grandma loved all of these, plus Miss Read and Rebecca Shaw.