Books which follow characters over many years?

[Bearg]

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?

Someone said Len Deighton's Winter, which provides historical background to the three Samson trilogies (also well worth a read if you like the spy genre).

Someone beat me to it but The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne is a fantastic read. As is The Wolf Hall trilogy.

Not quite what you were asking for I know, but Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is beautifully written book following the lives of many generations of ancestors over centuries.

I second the Elizabeth Strout books about Lucy Barton and the Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend ( also wonderful tv series). My absolute favourite book which spans the lives of 2 men over decades is Earthly Powers by Anthony Burgess, I have read it many times and it is epic.

John Irving’s books usually take you through the character’s lives over many years. Maybe a little dated now but The World According to Garp is the one that sprang to mind.

Also The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne which reminded me of John Irving.

I’m currently rereading an old favourite - Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson - which gives you the story of several generations of a family, although not in a particularly linear way.

I absolutely adored The House of Spirits when I was younger - early 20s or so. Not so much on rereading more recently, but still worth a go!

Very similar thread to this recently which might be helpful to have a read.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/5071778-books-spanning-several-years

I absolutely loved these novels, have reread them

Stan Barstow - kind of Loving trilogy

And Ella Palmer novels

Barstow gives a great deal of social history in his books, I love his writing

Jeffrey Archer - The Clifton Chronicles.

All William Boyd novels span a lifetime.

I came on to say this. Absolutely loved those books.
Also seconding Patricia Highsmith.

Firefly Lane

See also The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields

If you like Dickens how about Great Expectations or David Copperfield?

Roots by Alex Hayley

The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffeneger

The bronze horseman trilogy by paullina Simons - my absolute favourite books.

Wild Swans - Chang

Follows 3 generations of women through huge changes in China over 100+ years.

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead.
Beautiful book, spanning the lifetime of an incredible woman.

Non-fiction. The Less You Know The Sounder You Sleep by Juliet Butler. Amazing, tough read. It's the true story of con-joined twins born into Stalin's Russia.

Yes loved that one, she was a pilot?

Have you tried Fannie Flagg?

[snigger] sorry 😳

Yes. It was one of those books where I ended up wanting to Google her name because she felt so real that I needed to find out more about her!

Valerie Anand's Bridges over Time series. Runs from 1000 to about 1950!

Mrs Everything by Jennifer Weiner is another good one.