A book that takes place over a character's life span

[Stephanie]

I'm not sure why The Picture of Dorian Gray was recommended for this prompt. I just read it hoping to fill the prompt, but it actually starts in his late teens, so it doesn't cover his childhood. I switched it to the "eccentric character" prompt instead. Worth a read, for sure, but maybe not for this prompt.

[Tara]

I definitely don't require this one to go from birth to death, that would be very limiting. The book I read spanned from when she was about 7 to the present day of the novel when she's in her 80s. It was Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin and is a fictional account of the life of Alice Liddell on whom Charles Dodgson allegedly based Alice in Wonderland.

[Nadine in NY]

Tara wrote: "I definitely don't require this one to go from birth to death, that would be very limiting. "

yeah, no kidding it's limiting! that's why I don't like this prompt!! because I am a stickler, and I do require birth to death, and I am so thankful that I accidentally read a book that qualifies this year. (Like Water for Chocolate - I did not love it)

[Mike]

Short and sweet and definitely goes from birth to death = The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

[poshpenny]

I read B Button. Thank goodness it was short and I got this one out of the way.

[Susan]

I quite enjoyed Lifelode

[Heather]

I read all of Elena Ferrante's Neopolitan novels this year! So good. More than one book though!

[Diane]

Heather wrote: "I read all of Elena Ferrante's Neopolitan novels this year! So good. More than one book though!"

Hope to finish The Story of the Lost Child, the last book today.

[Alta]

I'm reading The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende for this prompt. It jumps back and forth between the main character's childhood to being an elderly resident in a nursing home. Definitely spans a lifetime.

[Stina]

Tara wrote: "I definitely don't require this one to go from birth to death, that would be very limiting. The book I read spanned from when she was about 7 to the present day of the novel when she's in her 80s. ..."

That range would work for me. But I don't get the recommendations I've seen for Commonwealth. Sure, it starts with Fanny's christening, but it ends when she's in middle age and doesn't seem at all likely to keel over any minute.

[Stina]

Does Lady count as a character in A Game of Thrones? We meet her as a newborn pup, and (view spoiler)[she dies in the same book (hide spoiler)].

[Stephanie]

I ended up reading The Stone Diaries for this. It does go from birth right to death and is an amazing novel, especially for anyone interested in women`s storytelling and autobiography. For those who care, it won the Pulitzer (US) and Governor General`s Award (Canada), and was short-listed for the Booker. I can`t recommend it enough!

[Nadine in NY]

I read The Stone Diaries when it first came out - not my usual kind of book, but I really loved it.

[Megan]

Stina wrote: "Does Lady count as a character in A Game of Thrones? We meet her as a newborn pup, and [spoilers removed]."

I don't see why not.

[Priya]

can the book The Bone Clocks be under this prompt?

[Amanda]

If anyone is still looking for a book for this prompt, Norse Mythology fits as the tales cover all the way from the birth of the gods to Ragnarok.