Books With Strong Female Characters Over 40

[WomensVoicesForChange]

We're looking for your thoughts about books with strong female characters in midlife and beyond. Authors, too, in the prime of their late midlife and older. Strong women are key.

Which authors, which books get it right? Where, and how do they get it wrong or seem out of touch?

[Amy]

I immediately thought of Armande Voizin in Joanne Harris' Chocolat. Another strong female charater is Mma Ramotswe in Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladie's Detective Agency.

[Luanne]

Laura and Florence from Mudbound by Hilary Jordan.

[Kristen M.]

The first thing I thought of was the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. She's a grandmother now in the series and is still setting up traps for graverobbers and setting herself out as bait for kidnappers! She was "past her prime" when the series started but has been strong and confident through it all.

[Phillip Reynolds]

What about Agatha Christie's Miss Marple > I'd put her up against Poirot & Sherlock Holmes any day.

[Corinne]

The first one that came to mind for me was Sarah's Quilt: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine and the Arizona Territories, 1906
by Nancy E. Turner.

[Louise]

How I agree with you. Totally super female character. The other books in the series - Sarah's Quilt and Star Garden are just as good. Highly recommended.

[Allison]

I third this...all 3 books in that series are great...and Sarah is such a strong woman character. I've heard Nancy Turner is thinking of make a 4th one!! Yippee!

[Ms. Bookish]

The Isabel Dalhousie books by Alexander McCall Smith are great. Here's my review of Comforts of a Muddy Saturday which I posted last month. I really enjoyed this one (well, I've enjoyed all of them!).

Kris Radish's books also come to mind, like Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn and The Sunday List of Dreams. And in addition to Amelia Peabody, I always think Elizabeth Peters' Jacqueline Kirby is over 40, and Vicky Bliss might not be but when she gets there, you just know she's going to be a fabulous 40!

I also particularly loved Elizabeth Berg's The Year of Pleasures, and many of the protagonists in her other books are over 40, too.

[Louise]

I recently discovered 'These is My Words' by Nancy E Turner and enjoyed it so much, I had to buy the other two in the Sarah Prine series - Sarah's Quilt and Star Garden. I am now desperately seeking stories with similar strong and exciting storylines with marvellous female characters like Sarah Prine.

Tea Rose, written by Jennifer Donnelly was one I nearly gave up on as it started off so slowly, but for some reason I went back to it (having discarded it in a fit of pique) and I'm so glad I did because the story picked up pace and continued to enthrall right to the last page. I've read The Winter Rose and that too was a super read and now, of course, I await the publication of the Wild Rose, third book in the series.

[Allison]

I would recommend you read Linda Weaver Clarke's series of books called "Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho". There are 3 books out now:
Melinda and the Wild West
Edith and the Mysterious Stranger
Jenny's Dream (just came out in December)

The links on the books go to my reviews on my blog if you want to take a look.

Strong women, good stories and family oriented...I highly recommend!! Take a look!

[Nicola O.]

I really enjoyed a lot of the books in the Harlequin NeXt line, but it looks like it's gone defunct. Most of the heroines were in their 30s and 40s, facing major life changes like divorce, empty nest, financial crisis, etc.

[pussreboots]

The title that comes immediately to mind is Dirt in the Well by Linda Lyon.