Task #23: A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60

[Rochelle]

Recently finished "The Night Guest" by Fiona McFarlane for this one. Tbh it was a bit if s depressing story, although the writing style was very good. It certainly made me think about ageing and how vulnerable the elderly are.

[Elise]

Thoughts on Godmother Night, by Rachel Pollack? The titular character is the incarnation of death, and therefore definitely over 60. The only question is whether or not the titular character is the protagonist. She's infused throughout the book, and the only character consistent throughout the book, but I'm not sure she's actually the protagonist.

On the other hand, if she's *not* the protagonist, I would say there isn't one.

[Lauconn]

I think it has been mentioned here before, but I just finished The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax for this prompt - I'd been meaning to try the series for years - and found it ridiculous, yet delightful.

[Breige]

I read Three Things About Elsie for my task but I've just finished The Little Breton Bistro for genre book in translation and it would work for this one as well, the main character is 60

[Tanya C.]

Just picked up Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions for this one. Seems fun so far.

[Loretta]

The Hearing Trumpet!

[Yrinsyde]

I finished reading Miss Marple's Final Cases - a fun collection of short stories including two that didn't feature Miss Marple. I got the impression from this collection that Miss Marple is 80 plus. I would recommend Agatha Christie - great characterisations.

[Sheri]

I read Britt-Marie Was Here, the main character is 63, so it works! I really enjoyed it, I didn't like her character in My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, but this book completely reversed my opinion of her. I think because it was from HER perspective, not viewing her through the eyes of a child.

[Pamela]

A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan

[Kate]

I'm reading (and loving) Elizabeth is Missing, but I just stumbled upon a Madeleine L'Engle novel with a protagosnist in her 70s: A Severed Wasp! I might have to knock this challenge out twice (or even more times - Lillian Boxfish calls...).

[Erica]

I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and it was so enjoyable! I enjoyed the characters and the ending.

[Chantelasco]

I read “The Elegance of the Hedgehog” based on a post here for “A book with a female protagonist 60 or older.” It turns out Madame Michel is 54. I can’t decide whether to call it close enough.

[Caleb]

Jordan wrote: "According to wikipedia: "While Miss Marple is described as 'an old lady' in many of the stories, her age is mentioned in "At Bertram's Hotel", where it is said she visited the hotel when she was fo..."

Can't go wrong with Agatha Christie...I read A Caribbean Mystery for this task. It was great!

[Darlene]

Kireja wrote: "The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg. The protagonist is a 79 year old woman."

Thanks for this recommendation! My niece mentioned that book to me a while back and said it was a fun read. I'm going to do this one.

[Amanda]

Started reading The Female Persuasion and there is a key character over 60, but not sure if she is major enough to count as a "protagonist." Can anyone who has read the book tell me if this counts?

[Rachel]

I'm reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and really hoping it lives up to all the hype.

[Erica]

I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and loved it! I'd also highly recommend Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk.

[Ashley]

Melissa wrote: "I will try the Mrs. Pollifax series, but I wonder about books where the protagonist is over 60 and is neither prim and proper nor embroiled in a mystery.... Any ideas?"

I'd go for "The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules." I read it last year and it was quite a fun book. I'll be reading the sequel for this challenge myself.

[Ashley]

Allyson wrote: "Would Howl's Moving Castle count since Sophie is cursed as a very old woman for most of the story?"

I know a number of children who want to participate in this challenge, so I've said yes to "Howl's Moving Castle." I know she's not technically an old lady, but she at least half-qualifies. It's no different to me than a vampire that's thousands of years old but physically more fit than a 20-year-old. lol.

[Heather]

I read The High Tide Club by Mary Kay Andrews.

[Lynn]

Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante is a great book about a retired surgeon with dementia. Something very bad happened to her neighbor and the surgeon is trying to piece it together in her fragmented mind. Great suspenseful story and intriguing attempt to get inside the head of someone with Alzheimer’s.

[Aleta]

Kerri wrote: "I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo for this task, but also had Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk on my list. The Seven Husbands read more like a memoir, but it was ..."

I just finished listening to Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk and encourage you to take it off your TBR asap!. Historical fiction, wonderful narrator, beautifully written, great character (based on a real one) of an 85 year old woman's 10 mile walk in NYC on New Year's Eve.
!

[Deb]

I read Elizabeth Is MissingElizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey. A fantastic book told through the eyes of a woman in her 80s with severe dementia. I really appreciated seeing the world through this character's eyes and hope I will be more understanding of my parents when they need care. https://thebookstop.wordpress.com/201...

[Maddie]

After reading The Murder at the Vicarage I decided I couldn't read a Miss Marple for this challenge because she's hardly a character in her mystery books!

Teresa wrote: "I'm thinking The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax or Agatha Christie's Murder at the Vicarage.
Water for Elephants showed up on a list. Can anyone tell me if it qual..."

[Sarah]

Planetfall by Emma Newman has a female protagonist that is well into her 70’s.

Death's End by Liu Cixin could maybe count as well. I think the MC’s body never ages over mid-thirties, but her life spans welll over 60+ years. The other two books in this series could work for BRICS and Genre Fiction in translation prompts if you wanted to read the whole series.

[Tom]

I've just recently finished The Lido by Libby Page for this one https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3.... It's a debut novel, about an 86 year old woman who lives in Brixton and has been swimming at her local lido for 80 years. It is faced with closure, and she sparks up a friendship with a 26 year old reporter, Kate, who has anxiety issues and writes for a local newspaper. It is the story of how they need to try and save the lido from being bought from the council by developers. Spoiler alert: Is Kate saving the lido or is the Lido saving her? It's not the best writing in the world, and at times it was almost too schmaltzy for me (think Vyvyan from The Young Ones' criticism of The Good Life: "It's so bloody nice!"), but the story was compelling enough for it to be quite a page-turner, at least for the final third. If you like Richard Curtis films, I think you'll enjoy this book.

[Doris]

I used Eternal Life by Dara Horn for this one. The protagonist, Rachel, made a vow way back in Roman-occupied Jerusalem to trade her death for her son's life. 2000 years later, she's still unable to die. (Although the son subsequently died, so she doesn't seem to have gotten a very good bargain.)

[Mandie]

Karen wrote: "The Pet Portraits series by Sandi Scott - a Goodreads author - features twin sisters that are 66 when book 1 begins.

Murder in the Art Gallery
Murder on the Great Lake
Murder on the Movie Set

Cut..."

This was an excellent suggestion. I was looking for something of a shorter read to break up my longer ones. Thank you!

[Marja]

Mandie wrote: "Karen wrote: "The Pet Portraits series by Sandi Scott - a Goodreads author - features twin sisters that are 66 when book 1 begins.

Murder in the Art Gallery
Murder on the Great Lake
Murder on the ..."

Yes, thank you for bringing this up! I'm way behind with my challenge and I need short reads to be able to finish it. The first book in the series is also free on kindle at the moment. Double win!

[Kerri]

Tom wrote: "I've just recently finished The Lido by Libby Page for this one https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3.... It's a debut novel, about an 86 year old woman who lives in Brixton and has be..."
I actually adored this book! I got it as a Goodreads Giveaway and it made me smile.

[Tracy]

I chose Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney

[Jessica]

Any opinions on whether Circe would count? :)

[Milena]

Jessica wrote: "Any opinions on whether Circe would count? :)"

Well, Circe says in the book that she lived for thousands of human years. It's both a technical and creative way to interpret the prompt.

[Andrea]

I read Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.

[Em]

I read Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival for this one and it was inspiring.

[Emily]

I read Young Jane Young for this. Granted, Jane is not over 60, but the whole first section of the book is about (and told from the point of view of) her mother, Rachel, who is 64.

If that doesn't count, I also have a copy of Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk out from the library that I fully plan to read before the end of the year!

[Megan]

I read A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie for this prompt.

[Kirsty]

Dixie wrote: "Kirsty wrote: "I highly recommend The Summer Book."

I just finished it. It was brilliant."

I'm glad you enjoyed it too!

[Kirsty]

Mya wrote: "Dixie wrote: "Kirsty wrote: "I highly recommend The Summer Book."

I just finished it. It was brilliant."

I also read it, I think based on a recommendation for another category. It is..."

It is a great book :-) I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[Chelsie]

Does anyone know of any Christmas (or other winter holiday) books they fit into this task?

[Bobby]

Chelsie wrote: "Does anyone know of any Christmas (or other winter holiday) books they fit into this task?"

A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote is really a short story, but has been published as a stand-alone book. The two main characters are a young boy and his elderly female cousin. I’m not sure if she would technically qualify as a “protagonist,” since it is told from the boy’s point of view.



comment add book/author (some html is ok)

[Doris]

Chelsie wrote: "Does anyone know of any Christmas (or other winter holiday) books they fit into this task?"

Carol Anne O'Marie's Sister Mary Helen books fit this category. The second in the series in particular, Advent of Dying: A Sister Mary Helen Mystery, is set in December.

[Kate]

I just finished the challenge on Thursday with Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk. I really enjoyed it and am so glad I finished the challenge this year!

[taeli]

I just started An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good and she definitely is up to no good. I like it so far, even though she is a very naughty lady.