Suggestions for a book with a female protagonist over the age of 60..
Suggestions for a book with a female protagonist over the age of 60…
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Suggestions for a book with a female protagonist over the age of 60…
Miss Marple–Agatha Christie
Love, love, love the Miss Marple mysteries.
I liked Miss Marple better than Poirot
Brit Marie Was Here or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
I really liked “Brit Marie Was Here.”
I just finished Brit Marie. I wasn’t sure about it at first but I’m so glad I continued with it. I laughed out loud a few times and it was also so touching.
Brit Marie was WONDERFUL
Loved Seven Husbands!
An older series but one I really enjoyed – the Mrs. Pollifax novels by Dorothy Gilman.
I loved Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand. I can’t remember the exact ages of the main characters, but they were older and the relationship that develops is beautiful.
One of my all time favorites
The Alice Network
Such a good book!
Agatha Raisin by MC Beaton
Oh my gosh, was the series based on a book? Must read!
Yes but I like Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth series more than Agatha Raisin.
@Angie Me too
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk!!! I want to be her later on in life, which is just a few years away..lol
Was going to suggest this one ?
@Jamie wasnt that a wonderful read? I just fell in love with the character.
Our Souls at Night.
Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions
If ghosts count, the Bailey Ruth books by Carolyn Hart.
Major Pettigrew Takes a Stand has two protagonists, a man and woman, of an older age. Lovely book.
Britte Marie was Here
An Unnecessary Woman
One of my favs!
Author? There’s more than one on Goodreads.
@Marsha Rabih Alameddine
Mrs. Pollifax series
“Olive Kitteridge” by Elizabeth Strout.
Do you remember the Mrs Pollifax books?
No, but I will look at them.
Also “The Children Act” by Ian McEwan.
If you like crime fiction, then Rage Against the Dying by Becky Masterman.
Britt Marie was here
Besides Miss Marple? Mrs Polifax is delightful.
I adore the Mrs. Polifax series. I always say I want to be her when I get her age (which isn’t that far away any more!).
Miss Marple
Miss Julia series
I have read them. I had forgotten about Miss Julia.
Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B Ross
“The One in a Million Boy” by Monica Wood
Loved this book ! Accidentally found it – such a delight ! 🙂
That is an amazing book!
Agreed this is an exceptional book!
Emily Alone by Stewart O’Nan
The Fetherington mysteries by Simon Brett.
Mrs. Polifax series
Digging to America–Anne Tyler
Orphan Train
The Alice Network
Reading this right now!
Florence Gordon by.Brian Morton
My grandmother said to tell you she’s sorry by Fredrik Bachman
Read this in my book group last year! Really liked it!
I just read The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen, and quite liked it. There’s also the Discworld novels featuring Granny Weatherwax.
And Nanny Ogg!
Yaya sisterhood
The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion
OMG! That is such a great book!
The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion
This is such a wonderful book.
What are the chances that we gave the same answer at the same time?!? Great minds…..
I have read this two or three times! Love this book!
Celine is really outstanding!
Totally agree.
Olive Kitteridge…my favorite book?
reading this now
My sentiments exactly!
Memento Mori by Muriel Spark. The humor/topic is not for everyone, but I loved it!
https://amp.theguardian.com/books/2010/jun/05/memento-mori-muriel-spark-novel
Annie Freeman’s Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish
Priestess of Avalon
Just started reading The Weight of Ink, protagonist is mid 60s. It’s got me hooked.
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney
I am reading that one right now ?
The Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman. Good stuff!!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
@Book Read Harder challenge? ??
@Shaelynn yes ma’am. I’ve really enjoyed this challenge. Only 5 more tasks to go.
@Tammy I love how it challenges me to read beyond my normal genres.
@Shaelynn exactly. I would not have found Camilla Lackberg’s Swedish mysteries on my own. She is an amazing writer.
Mrs Pollifax Series
After the Fall by Julie Cohen
I’m 73 and loved it. Already been through similar situations with my mom and MIL. The baby boomer members didn’t relate to the older woman. They related to the mother-daughter issues and projected their angst or distance. I loved her.
The Wild Irish
The Miss Julia series by Ann B. Ross
The Unnecesary Woman
The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank. I don’t think the lead character is over 60, but she is older with grown children. It was very funny read.
The Mrs Pollifax Series by Dorothy Gilman 🙂
The Shellseekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
Love The Shell Seekers
Aunt Dimity series by Nancy Atherton. Aunt Dimity isn’t exactly the protagonist, but as the paranormal detective who helps solve mysteries from the beyond, she is definitely over 60 ?
Lillian boxfish takes a walk
The Good House – Ann Leary. Not sure of the woman’s exact age but closer to 60 than 40!
The Chilbury Ladies Choir (female protagonists varying in age from 10 to over 60) wonderful book — Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple — The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society (Women of varying ages – wonderful) ; Olive Kittenridge
The Mrs. Pollifax mystery series by Dorothy Gilman.
Most of Elizabeth Berg’s books. Tapestry of Fortunes, if I remember correctly, was one of my favorites of hers. Oh! The Dream Lover as well, a fictionalized book about George Sand, spanning her life, I think.
Actually, now that I looked it up, A Year of Pleasures was the one I was thinking about. In any case, do give Berg a try!
@Jamie — The Art of Mending!
@Liz Yes, That too! I read all these books within a short span and get them confused ?
The Japanese Lover
@Cathy, I feel like you can answer this.
Lorena Mccourtney’s Ivy Malone series!!
Miss Marple books by Agatha Christie
The Leisure Seeker
I loved the leisure seeker! A library book sale find.
I’m reading The Homecoming by Cathy Kelly. The main character is 82? The book reminds me of Rosamund Pilcher’s writing
Lillian Boxfish takes a walk.
Brit Marie was here
Britt-Marie was a great book!!!!
Brit Marie was a great read. I recommend it to anyone and everyone.
I concur! http://www.apagebeforebedtime.com/2017/07/britt-marie-was-here-by-fredrik-backman.html
Walking across Egypt by Egerton
That is one memorable book. The story stays with you. Full of humor and irony.
I loved that book and yes, Harriet Saunders, it does stick with you.
Miss Julia by Ann Ross
Omg yes! How did I forget her?! My favorite
Love these books
Memory Board
The Japanese Lover and
In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende
Celine by Peter Heller (not a perfect book but meets your criteria)
The Awakening Land by Conrad Richter.
I love those three books from AWAKENING LAND.
@Kathy I think you and I may be the only people who have read these in Modern Time!
@Natalie It’s been a while since I read them, but I just love how it depicts the way people had to live back then. When I first started those books, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but now It’s on my favorite book lists.
@Kathy Until 7 years ago I lived in Columbus Ohio which was not far from when the story was set.
I love these books too!
Can’t wait for someone to give us both such a female protagonist. I’ll be watching and,waiting. If you think of one, please write me. Judy Becjman
@Judy not Judy Beckman. Confounded new phone.
Britt-Marie was Here
…..and there’s always Miss Marple
Emily, Alone
Mother and daughter Higgins Christmas mysteries.
Our Souls at Night and Olive Kittridge
Autobiography of Ms. Jane Pittman by Ernest Gaines
I loved this book.
Good Karma by Christina Kelly.
Little French Bistro by Nina George (2017) is pretty wonderful, but one of my favourites dates back to 1973 and still stands up: The Book of Eve by Constance Beresford-Howe. 🙂
I really enjoyed Little French Bistro.
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gillman
My Grandmother Told Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman.
Ninny Threadgood in “Fried Green Tomatoes”
Julie and Romeo by Jeanne Ray
“Elizabeth is Missing” by Emma Healey and “The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules” by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg.
A very old book: “Mrs Polifax …..” There are several. She’s a lovable spy.
82 when the adventure begins
Miss Marple
Miss Marple
Read The BOOB Girls series. BOOB stands for Burned Out Old Broads. They’re hilarious!
Perhaps, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. Her age isn’t given, but she’s retired. I love this book!
The Book that Matters Most, she is close to 60.
Almost anything by Fannie Flagg. One of my favorites is The All Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion.
Miss Marple.
Find A Way – Diana Nyad
the Mrs. Polifax series by Dorothy Gilman! they’re great fun!
This thread is making me very sad for two reasons. The first is that in spite of there being close to 150 comments, the number of different titles being suggested is very small; most of them are repeats. The second is that try though I might, I can’t think of a single original title myself. ?
The Miss Fortune cozy mystery series by Jana DeLeon has several main characters in that age range. The main character “Miss Fortune” is quite a bit younger, but the older ladies take her under their wings.
Cozy mysteries by Hazel Holt. She’s a British author and her main character is a woman over 60. Enjoyed all her mysteries.
Rage Against the Dying by Becky Masterman. Great thriller series continues with former FBI agent “retired” to Arizona.
Fair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith
The Miss Julia series
The Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman is my favorite!
Josie kilpack has a series of 12 mysteries with food in the title the main character Sadie H. Is in her60’s bright & funny
Joan Medlicot has a series about The Ladies of Covington. There is also the Miss Julia series that is quite popular.
Doing Read Harder 2018, I take it? (Me too!) ?
I’m doing the challenge with a feminist twist, so these were my recommendations:
The Distinguished Guest by Sue Miller
Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper
Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
What Was She Thinking? [Notes on a Scandal] by Zoë Heller
Personally, I’m going to shoot for The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields since I’m also working my way through the Pulitzers.
https://wp.me/pMKoA-4Y6
Mrs. Queen Takes The Train was quite engaging – I really enjoyed it!
Yes. I have really enjoyed this challenge.
The #1 Ladies Detective Agency series
I don’t think they were sixty but they weren’t girls.
They were mature ladies, but I always thought of Precious in the late 30s to early 40s.
Along Came Polly
I haven’t read the books but watched the entire Rosemary & Thyme Mystery series..it was fabulous so I’m guessing the books are too ❤️ ?
https://www.thriftbooks.com/series/rosemary–thyme-mystery/62782/
Amelia Butterworth in The Affair of the House Next Door by Anna Katherine Green. Me Green was America’s first female mystery writer starting in the 1870s.
Mrs. Pollifax series
Mystery series by Margot Arnold featuring Penny Spring and Sir Toby Glendower
Britt-Marie Was Here
“The Visit of the Old Lady” (usually shortened to “The Visit”) by Friedrich Dürrenmatt. It’s a play rather than a novel, but play scripts are books too.
And speaking of plays, Eleanor of Aquitaine is 61 when the events of James Goldman’s “The Lion in Winter” occur.
For a slightly less acerbic theatrical depiction of elderly people, there’s always Alfred Uhry’s “Driving Miss Daisy”.
Great suggestions!!!
Sue Henry’s Maxie and Stretch mysteries.
Here’s a couple outside-the-box ideas:
1) If nonfiction counts, The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion.
2) The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. (The unicorn herself, is, of course, very old, but/& also, though I don’t know if Molly Grue’s age is stated explicitly, she’s a woman far “past her prime,” however one reads that 🙂 )
Oh, & on that Beagle note… one of my favorite characters ever, Lal, is certainly over 60 in the short story/novella “Lal & Soukyan” (which can be found in the book Giant Bones), but/& while she may not be quite that old in The Innkeeper’s Song, that’s the book in which I fell in love with her.
The Mrs. Pollifax series are short and fun to read. They also teach you a little about the history of each setting.
This is Your Life Harriet Chance, My Life in France, On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon, The White Woman on the Green Bicycle, The Chaperone, The Wife
Fried Green Tomatoes
Harriet Wolf’s Seventh Book of Wonders
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
I loved that book..
Quartet in Autumn, Excellent Women…both by Barbara Pym
https://www.amazon.com/Gift-50th-Anniversary-Anne-Morrow-Lindbergh/dp/0679732411
Not fiction but a timeless read for women.
A trio of them in Women in Sunlight by Frances Mayes. Set in Tuscany, a lovely, lighthearted read!
I will have to read this one. TY.
Mrs Polifax!! Such a fantastic series.
Claire, the main female in Outlander, eventually reaches 60 & over in the series. She is late 40’s book 3 & continues to age which is interesting to witness. There are 8 books so far with the 9th coming out maybe next year. I believe the author says there will be a 10th and that’ll probably be the last.
Miss Julia books by Ann Ross. ?❤️❤️
The Madonnas of Leningrad. It’s not what you think and perhaps not particularly about a woman over 60. It’s about a woman struggling to deal with her mother’s dementia, and in the process learns her mother’s “backstory” of rescuing precious and rare paintings of the Virgin Mary, in the Hermitage during the Nazi invasion.
This is something I would enjoy.
This book was really a hidden treasure….
The Agatha Raisin series.
Olive Kitteridge
Picture Miss Seaton and the others that followed.
She’s not the protagonist, but this book is about Anya Whitson, the elderly mother of two grown women. It’s a beautifully written book that I could not put down until I finished it.
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series has several mature women characters that I love and admire.
A Round Heeled Woman by Jane Juska
Miss Marple series. Vera Stanhope series by Ann Cleeves, though I’m not sure of her age.
Ann Cleeve’s Vera series. Love the TV show but haven’t read the books which inspired the show. I have read other Ann Cleeve books (Shetland/Jimmy Perez) stories. Always good mysteries.
Mrs. Pollifax by Gilman
I love Ms Marple novels by Agatha Christie.
I LOVE Miss Marple!
The Love Song of Queenie Hennessey.
If you like cozy mysteries, try Anne George’s series – sweet & funny! I was sorry she passed away….
The Southern Sisters mysteries by Anne George – yes, @Margaret!
In This House of Brede has several older women. I believe by the end the protagonist is over 60.
Adore that book!
I love this book!
Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand
New series by Nora Page, the Bookmobile mysteries.
Are the Bookmobile mysteries considered cozy mysteries? it sounds like it may be
Jennifer Dombrowski yes they are!
@Rebecca Great I will try them as Cozy mystery books are the best!
I think you’ll love it!
You must read Miss Marple…Agatha Christie
I loved Can’t Wait to get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg. Her depictions of older women are delightful.
Although she is not the protagonist Stephanie Plum’s Gramma adds so much to each story. Such a delight !!!
Yes!
Yes!
Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey
Book riot challenge? I’m doing it too ?
Great book!
Loved it!
The Madonnas of Leningrad – awesome book!
Mrs Polifax series Dorothy Gilman
Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions
I highly recommend the Miss Julia Series by Ann B. Ross. All the books are laugh out loud funny.
Definitely Mrs. Pollifax. What a spunky lady!
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk, The One in a Million Boy
If this is for the Book Riot challenge, I am doing it too. I read THE TELL ALL which I absolutely would never recommend to anyone, ever. Good luck.
I used an autobiography for this one.
I’m stuck on the romance novel by or about a person of color, mostly because I want to find one more sensual than sexy.
I read Vivid by Beverly Jenkins for that one. The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney Milan is also excellent. They both have a couple of sex scenes, but they’re not explicit (they’re both historical romances).
Thanks.
The Number One Ladies Detective Agency? Not sure of their age.
Varina
Rita Mae Brown’s Sister Jane Fox Hunting Series (they do not kill the foxes in Virginia)
Miss Marple-Agatha Christie
“Lady Fortescue Steps Out” and subsequent books in the series.
Anything in the Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. Although I think she is in her late 30s when the series starts I believe she is in her 50-60’s when the series end with the authors death. There is one more book in the series co-written by a fellow author and friend.
Emily Alone
The Mrs. Pollifax books – old but fun.
Olive Kitteridge or Dolores Claiborne. Are you doing Book Riot challenge?
Thanks for reminding me about Dolores Claiborne.
Celine by Peter Heller
He said many of the incidents were based on his mother’s experiences.
@Carol I heard that also.. It is a great read.
I really enjoyed this “Boomer-Lit” novel! Character driven, reflective, feisty, and authentic.
For a fun read, I have enjoyed the Miss Julia series by Ann Ross.
Also the Ladies Little Detective Agency series by Andrew McCall.
Stitch in time series-Monica Ferris-MN based cozy mystery.
Vera
Who wrote Vera and what is it about?
Ann Cleeves wrote the series. Vera, played by Brenda Blethyn, is a frumpy, middle-aged detective in Cornwall, I think. Stories are gritty and the cast is great. I have seen all of the series and would like now to read the books. Definitely not a comedy. Scenery is also beautiful.
I’ll have to look into the books. I know it was a TV Show but not a book series.
She’s a police detective, not a PI
@Louanne I said detective.
@Jeneane Yes you did. I guess I’m a little OCD but many different investigators are referred to as detectives. Stories about police investigations have a unique quality. Love Vera. Sorry. My comment sounds worse than I meant but I shouldn’t have made it.
I adore the Elm Creek Quilt series! They are chock full of older women and the stories are lovely… especially the historical books!
Yes, a wonderful series.
has anyone suggested The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher? my innternet’s is crappy right now & it’s too difficult to look through all the comments 😛
April Gray, love her books, esp. that one!
I think so in the first few hours of this discussion. I love her too. My second favorite is Winter Solstice.
If no one’s suggested it yet, ‘Sleeping on Jupiter’ by Anuradha Roy; it starts with three women in their 60s going on vacation in Jarmuli & how their lives intersect with fellow travelers and residents of the city.
Thanks! I’ll look it up.
No prob! Happy reading ?
@Jansie
Britt-Marie was here…lovely book! From the same author of A Man Called Ove.
Elizabeth Costello by J. M. Coetzee.
They May Not Mean To, But They Do by Cathleen Schine.
Goodreads has a sample. I’m adding it to my want-to-read list. Thanks for the suggestion.
Just in Time by Marie Bostwick
Meet Me at the Museum by Youngsen. Coming out in August [although the main characters may be closer to 50].
Just started the latest Ali Reynolds novel by J.A. Jance. To have done all the things Ali has on her resume she must be almost 60 by now!
Isn’t JA Vance a pen name of Nora Roberts?
@Tess, J.A. Jance is her real name (Judith Ann). I enjoy all her books a lot!
@Melinda ,loved the J. P. Beaumont series.
@Tess I think Nora Roberts pen name is Judith @Sandra
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
That was a really good one. I finished it a couple of weeks ago.
Miss Marple
What Makes Olga Run? Even if you are not a runner, this woman is inspirational.
Any of the Mrs. Pollifax books.
“Britt Marie was here”. A must read!! I loved this book of endearing characters… not endearing at first, but the reader grows to love them all through Britt-Marie’s eyes.
Just like Ove
Just like Grandmother
Rita Mae Brown’s “Sister” Jane Arnold is the 70-year-old Master of the Fox Hunt in Virginia in her great mystery series. First book is Outfoxed.
Sounds like fun