I'm looking for books that are similar to The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller. In particular, a novel that feels rooted in the real world, covers difficult family dynamics and has emotional complexity. Something character-driven, with lyrical prose but not overly flowery. An atmospheric setting is a bonus. I also love a book that spans multiple decades or even generations. Ideally set in North America, and I love reading books set in the 1960s-90s (although a modern day POV is fine too).
A book I've seen recommended alongside this one a lot is Where the Crawdads Sing but I didn't care for that one. I've also seen Ask Again, Yes but thought that one was just okay.
A book I really loved as well was Pachinko, although that one is more historical fiction so not necessarily what I'm looking for. But the complex characters and multi-generational family saga are somewhat on point.
Thanks in advance!
by ocean__meadow
2 Comments
I loved The Paper Palace! Some things that I also loved that had similar vibes:
A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
This Must be the Place by Maggie O’Farrell (or tbh anything by her as she’s incredible, although she is Northern Irish so not set in NA)
Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson (another British writer)
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
[Wakulla Springs](https://reactormag.com/wakulla-springs/), a novella available free at the link.