Happy Mother’s Day!! In honor of this special day, I thought I would share some classic novels about family dynamics… albeit, not always the most positive ones! I think reading about fictional families is so interesting, and a close look at family dynamics always adds more depth to a novel. Books like these are a reminder that even what may be thought of as the simplest bond–that between family members–can actually be one of the most nuanced bonds. Here are eight classic novels that I would recommend if you’d like to read about some fictional families:
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. This lyrical, sprawling novel is one long saga of a family generation after generation. It really makes you think about families over time, what we inherit, and what we pass down to others. {My review}
Middlemarch by George Eliot. Set in the fictitious English town of Middlemarch, this hefty novel (nearly 900 pages!) focuses on several families in a community and how they intertwine and influence each other. {My review; A Classic Couple: Middlemarch and White Teeth}
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner. This book certainly doesn’t contain the most positive family dynamics, but it is a bizarre and fascinating read. Narrated by 15 characters over the course of 59 chapters, As I Lay Dying is a deep dive into this family’s past, present, and uncertain future. {My review}
Howards End by E.M. Forster. Revolving around three families, this novel also explores class and social customs at the beginning of the twentieth century in England. It’s also often considered E.M. Forster’s “masterpiece,” so it’s a great place to start with his works if you’ve never read anything by him before. {A Classic Couple: Howards End and On Beauty}
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Ahh yes, how bizarre and unsettling this novel can be at times. Definitely not a family dynamic to aspire to, but certainly one that is interesting and entertaining to read about. {My review}
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Such a quaint and cozy read! Such a lovely family to read about! I definitely recommend this if you’re in the mood for something that will make you feel all the feelings about families in general, and about this one in particular. {My review}
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf. I adore this novel. To the Lighthouse primarily focuses on one family and the secrets, thoughts, hopes, and desires that they keep hidden from one another. {My review}
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I couldn’t make this list without mentioning Pride and Prejudice, now could I? I think it’s safe to say that the Bennet family is one of the most famous families in classic literature. {My review}
Do you like reading books about family dynamics? What are your favorites, classics or otherwise? Let me know in the comments section below!
Yours,
HOLLY
nut free nerd 
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