From Woman's World · Lisa Maxbauer · · 1m 30s
Ann Patchett's Favorite Family Sagas
Ann Patchett names four family sagas she loves: American Hagwon, Middlesex, Land, and Buckeye.
In brief
Ann Patchett names four family sagas she loves: American Hagwon, Middlesex, Land, and Buckeye. Ann Patchett recommends four family saga novels as her favorite reads: American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee, Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, Land by Maggie O’Farrell, and Buckeye by Patrick Ryan. Originally reported by Woman's…
Ann Patchett's family saga picks
Ann Patchett recommends four family saga novels for readers seeking escapism.
American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee
Patchett calls Min Jin Lee's 2026 release American Hagwon her most recent read and praises its family saga storytelling.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
Patchett calls Middlesex the 'gold standard' for epic, generational family sagas after it won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize.
Land by Maggie O'Farrell
Patchett calls Maggie O'Farrell's Land her 'best book yet' and describes it as a family saga set in Ireland during the potato famine.
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan
Patchett praises Buckeye as a sweeping, multi-generational American novel with a hidden paternity secret.
Family sagas explore secrets
Each novel shows how family secrets and history shape who we become through generational storytelling.
Patchett's background
Patchett has written and lived with complex family dynamics, including growing up with a mother who married three times.
Why Patchett recommends these books
Patchett has a storyteller's eye for real family messiness after her own complicated family history.
What readers say
Readers describe these books as emotionally impactful, unforgettable, and full of literary brilliance.
The main idea
Ann Patchett recommends four family saga novels as her favorite reads: American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee, Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, Land by Maggie O’Farrell, and Buckeye by Patrick Ryan.
