I like the way the translated version of the title sets up a tension between the image of a biddable older woman and breaking the rules. All the best titles hold some contradictions I believe. And here is an older woman, not the stereotype of the little old lady, who is not afraid to stand … Continue reading The Little Old Lady who Broke all the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg
The Door by Magda Szabo
The third of the European novels in this August series of older women in fiction around the world is from Hungary, where the author lived between 1917 and 2007. Her work was not published during the Stalinist years. The title sets up the barrier between the narrator and the woman who lives behind the door. … Continue reading The Door by Magda Szabo
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
Tove Jansson was a Finnish writer, and will be familiar to readers of children’s fiction as the creator of the Moomins. They appeared in books and cartoons and then newspapers, eventually in 12 countries. They were so successful that Walt Disney wanted to acquire them. He was turned down. Tove Jansson was much more than … Continue reading The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
The Lady and the Little Fox Fur by Violette Leduc
This is the first in the European section of the month of older women in fiction around the world. Recommended by Deborah Levy, introducing this English version, she characterises the novels of Violette Leduc as works of genius and also a bit peculiar. She claims that Leduc was ‘rearranging the social and sexual scaffolding of … Continue reading The Lady and the Little Fox Fur by Violette Leduc
Eleanor and Abel by Annette Sanford
The Older Women in Fiction around the world begins with fiction from North America. This is a choice from a writer friend of mine. Like many writers she is a reader and her choice continues the theme of older women who thwart expectations. Another former schoolteacher, like Olive Kitteridge, Eleanor Bannister might be expected to … Continue reading Eleanor and Abel by Annette Sanford
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
Loneliness in old age. It’s the biggest killer. An old woman has an idea about how to deal with it, especially at night when it hurts most. She approaches an acquaintance, Louis Waters with an unusual proposition and they begin a friendship with unexpected consequences for them both. This is the fourth post in the … Continue reading Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
In this first week of older women in fiction around the world I am exploring some fiction from Canada and the USA. My fourth choice of North American older women in fiction is recent and very engaging. All four show older women who others might label as difficult. None of them is a gentle old … Continue reading Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Two Old Women by Velma Wallis
My second choice in this section of older women in northern America comes from the Yukon, and is a retelling of an ancient legend celebrating the resilience, fortitude and wisdom of the two old women of the title: Two Old Women In its retelling Velma Wallis draws on the complaints one hears about older people … Continue reading Two Old Women by Velma Wallis
The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence
Here is the first book in the August series of Women in Fiction around the world on this blog. I began exploring this theme six years ago. I challenged my blog readers to find me some examples of strongly drawn older female characters. This was the first response Hagar Shipley, from The Stone Angel by Canadian … Continue reading The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence
Older women in fiction around the world
Welcome to a month of older women – more specifically, older women in fiction around the world. And where possible I will feature older women in translation. I am Caroline Lodge, a book-blogger and one of the most popular themes on my blog, Bookword, is older women in fiction. Dream invitation It’s a blogger’s dream, … Continue reading Older women in fiction around the world
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 