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Fiction

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)

2. I have only read a few family sagas that I enjoyed.

Reply to Nay (Original post)

Sat Jun 16, 2012, 12:17 PM

Jun 2012

One was "A Woman of Substance" by Barbara Taylor Bradford. The other was "Buddenbrooks" by Thomas Mann.

What is funny about most family sagas is that I love the original character, the one who is from the older generation, the one who has to fight and scratch their way up. They are hard-working and are people to look up to. But as the books progress to the younger generation who have always had it all handed to them, I usually find that I can't stand them....they are shallow and greedy and have no redeeming qualities.

I would not have considered "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett (mentioned previously) as a family saga, but I do suppose that it is...and it is a magnificent book. One of my top five books I have ever read....and it doesn't have that problem with the younger generations that I usually find.

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Needed: Title & author of your favorite family saga. I have an idea for a family [View all] Nay Jun 2012 OP

Define "family saga?" mvccd1000 Jun 2012 #1

Sorry, it is a broad category -- but yes, "Pillars of the Earth" would be a good example. I loved Nay Jun 2012 #3

I have only read a few family sagas that I enjoyed. Curmudgeoness Jun 2012 #2

It's been years since I read "A Woman of Substance," but I remember truly enjoying it. It fits Nay Jun 2012 #4

I never considered family sagas to be "beach books" Curmudgeoness Jun 2012 #5

Forsyte Saga Mz Pip Jun 2012 #6

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg... Little Star Jun 2012 #7

That was excellent, all right. The movie came out good, too. Nay Jun 2012 #8

One of my favorite from years ago was "The Whiteoaks of Jalna" by Mazo dela Roche Rowdyboy Jun 2012 #9

Take a look at the Town House series by Norah Lofts. SheilaT Jun 2012 #10

These sound really interesting TuxedoKat Jul 2012 #16

R.F. Delderfield wrote several good ones. nt raccoon Jun 2012 #11

Gwen Bristow: Deep Summer, The Handsome Road, This Side of Glory ( a trilogy). raccoon Jun 2012 #12

Oh, yes. I'd temporarily forgotten about those. SheilaT Jul 2012 #18

Thanks so much, everyone! I have gotten some excellent suggestions for books I've never even Nay Jun 2012 #13

The first great modern one is a worthy exemplar - Galsworthy's Forsyte Saga. nt dmallind Jun 2012 #14

Here are a few TuxedoKat Jul 2012 #15

Yes, I remember reading a number of Howatch's books and liking them -- I'll have to reread Nay Jul 2012 #17