A few somewhat overlooked must-read family sagas

At Flashlight Worthy, Dominique Browning, author of Slow Love: How I Lost My Job, Put on My Pajamas and Found Happiness, named a few somewhat overlooked must-read family sagas.

One book on the list:

The Makioka Sisters
by Junichiro Tanizaki

Written between 1943 and 1948, this novel traces the lives of four sisters from a once wealthy Japanese family. Tanizaki is obsessed with the decline of the aristocracy and the rapid transformation of his country in the 20th century. He is also a master of subtle eroticism. I will never forget the swallowing of the live fish.

Read about another book on the list.

The Makioka Sisters is one of Kiran Desai's favorite books.

--Marshal Zeringue