Ideas needed please

[maslinpan]

Can anyone think of two good books with a protagonist in her 40s and her 50s? My friend turns 50 and I want to get her 5 books with a protagonist in each decade. I am going for 5 Miles from Outer Hope (Nicola Barker), probably Queenie (open to suggestions though) and Small Pleasures for teens to 30s, so quite wide ranging. Please give me your brilliant ideas!

What a lovely idea for a present

How about Old Baggage by Lissa Evans? Mattie is a brilliant character. She's middle aged, eccentric and looking for a purpose having relished her times as a suffragette in her young days. I think she might be in her forties but not entirely sure of the dates .. someone else might know for sure?

Also, have a look at The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville. It's a touching story of an unlikely love affair between two awkward middle aged people.
Again, I'm not sure whether Harley, the principal female character, is in her forties or fifties: maybe the latter.
It won the Orange Prize I think.

And finally, as a period piece written in 1932, Greenbanks by Dorothy Whipple is excellent. Louisa, the main character, is in her fifties. It's a character-driven novel about family relationships, motherhood and the way women's happiness at that time was heavily dependent on the sort of man they married.
And Persephone books are always a lovely present.

woman in photograph

Not sure whether this fits the bill. Fictional: story loosely based real life events in the feminist movement, many of which she’ll recognise.

Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. One of my favourite books.

Or Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner.

Fantastic suggestions. I love Kate Grenville and have just ascertained that Harley "has looked in mirrors for 50 years" so that's perfect. She's such a beautifully written character.