Someone asked me recently “What is your favourite book?” (I know right – it’s like picking a favourite child) Near the top of my list is “A man called Ove” by Fredrik Backman. Then… I started thinking, and I discovered that there are quite a few books with older male protagonists which I really enjoyed.
So, for this post I’m listing the books that feature older male protagonists that I have already enjoyed – AND, those that feature older male protagonists that I have yet to enjoy.
The cover graphic will take you to the Goodreads site for the book – The title link will take you to my review of the book.
Five books I’ve read that feature older male protagonists:
“A man called Ove” by Fredrik Backman
As you can see by the Goodreads stats, I am not alone in my love for this curmudgeonly old gentleman.
“The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen 83 1/4 years old” by Hendrik Groen
“The story of Arthur Truluv” by Elizabeth Berg.
“Five Night Stand” by Richard J. Alley
“The storied life of A.J. Fikry” by Gabrielle Zevin.
AND… Here are the 10 titles featuring older male protagonists that are on my TBR:
(this is a new title just published in Jan. 2019)
Strangely enough, I’ve read the sequel to this book and two other of Rachel Joyce’s novels and I’ve loved them all. Don’t know why I haven’t yet gotten to this one. Perhaps I imagine I won’t have enough tissues…
Do YOU have a penchant for old men? Have you read any other great titles with older male protagonists? Please, let me know in the comments. ♥
Fictionophile 
OMG Fikry was not that old😜
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I’ve read Harold Frye and The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. Another good one is History of Love by Nicole Krauss!
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Thanks for your recommendation Naomi. ♥
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Ove! I love him–love the movie, too, and can’t understand why my fellow Americans can’t cope with subtitles. No reason for Tom Hanks to remake it. Major Pettigrew is another life-time favorite. Love him and dear Mrs. Ali. I loved Harold Fry, but not Queenie’s book. Arthur Pepper was also a treat! I MUST find those diaries!! I’d add Jan Karon’s Father Tim, Patrick Taylor’s Fingal O’Riley[though I’ve given up on this series]and Louise Penny’s Armand Gamache. Bill Warrington’s Last Chance by James King is a good one. There are many more of course–so much easier to find older men in fiction.
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I LOVED A Man Called Ove! I’m currently reading “The hundred year-old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared,” and it’s a bit slow to get started, so it’ll be interesting to see how it progresses. I’ve found that I tend to like older characters, too. They tend to be more cynical and sarcastic, like me, and they’re just delightful in the way they generally don’t take crap from other people. xD It’s always so fun to read. I’ll definitely be looking through some of these and adding them to my TBR.
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Yes Sammie, the older you get, the less you care about what others think of your behavior. Thanks so much for the comment. Happy reading ♥️
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Ooooh, The One-Hundred-Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared is wonderful! It’s silly, it’s a bit of a stretch, and that’s what makes it SO MUCH FUN! Pick it up next time you feel you need a laugh. I really enjoyed it 😍
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Thanks Sheree. It sounds like a perfect read after I get tired of several thrillers in a row.
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Yes! The perfect antidote!
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I loved Ove and the Hundred-Year-Old Man. Based on your review, I might give The Story of Arthur Truluv a go.
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Hope you enjoy it. ♥
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Funny thing is, of the five you have read, I have them all, but have only read one, A Man Called Ove. Of the ones you want to read, I have read two: The Hundred Year Old Man and Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. I loved all three that I have read. I guess maybe I do like stories about old men.
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Thanks for sharing Carla. Sometimes all it takes is to stop and think… and yes!
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I was reading the Unlikely Pilgrimage but have left it halfway through—your post has made me want to go look it up and finish it!
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Wonderful. The other story “The love song of Miss Queenie Hennessey” was great – showing the lady Harold was journeying to.
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I love your posts! You always have something so thought unique and make me think! This one made me laugh!! Especially you little guy on the scooter! Why yes, I have enjoyed quite a few of these on the list and some others are on my TBR!
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Thanks so much for the kind words Kim. ♥️
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Ok so my above post is why you should always proofread before hitting post. LOL I guess you figured out what I meant!
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I’d never thought about this until your question! Seems I have a similar fondness😍 I did indeed fall for Ove, too.
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We have so much in common. ♥
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Great post, I have a few of these on my tbr as well!
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Thanks Yvonne ♥
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Thought of another one I really enjoyed, Frank Derrick. Here’s my review from a few years ago https://portobellobookblog.com/2015/06/14/frank-derricks-holiday-of-a-lifetime-by-j-b-morrison/
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Thanks Joanne. I’ll check out your review. ♥
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Joanne, I have added this title to the post, my TBR, and my Amazon wishlist. Thank-you!
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I haven’t read any of these yet but have a few on my TBR. I did read The Extra Ordinary Life of Frank Derrick, Age 81 by J B Morrison a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Definitely worth a try.
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Ahhh. You are the second person to suggest that title Karen. Thanks ♥
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Karen, I have added this title to the post, my TBR, and my Amazon wishlist. Thank-you!
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Have read most of these and enjoyed them all. Billy Binns is one of my favourite reads this year so far.
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Great Joanne. I’ll push Billy Binns up the queue.
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Well since I am an older woman, of course, I enjoy old man stories. LOL
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Ha-Ha! Ditto Marcie. ♥
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What a great post! I loved Harold Fry and The One Hundred Year Old Man is great fun. I enjoyed A Man Called Ove but was disappointed to discover that he wasn’t as old as I thought he should be.
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Thanks Nicki. I’m so pleased that you enjoyed this post. Stay tuned for another similar one with older female protagonists.
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Excellent I’ll look forward to that!
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Oh such an interesting titles. I would like to read some of them in future.
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Thanks, I hope you do. 🤞📚
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Good post, I have read some of these and others on your list interest me. Will there be one about older female MCs too?
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That is in the works Rosie (Lillian Boxfish et al.). THANKS.
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How about the Captain in News of the World? Love him! 👍
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A Man Called Ove has been on my e-reader for ages but I’ve still not got around to actually read it 🤦♀️
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I hope you enjoy it when you do Kelly. 😍
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I enjoyed the Hundred Year Old Man – it was the defiance towards his age that appealed.
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Most of these titles serve to remind us that we must be cognizant of the fact that older people are just the same people they always were, only the packaging has deteriorated. Thanks James.
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Great Post! Love Ove and Harold Fry!
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Thanks Carol. 👍📚😉
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