Saul Bellow's 1956 novella Seize the Day tells of a significant day in the life of down-and-out Tommy Wilhelm. Like Hattie Waggoner, Wilhelm reflects on his past and searches for resolution.

Mrs. Bridge, by Evan S. Connell (1959), presents a portrait of a woman's life, from her childhood to her old age. Its companion book, Mr. Bridge, treats her husband's life in a similar fashion. Both novels have as their genesis the short story, "Mr. and Mrs. Bridge."

Mary Gordon's 1989 novel, The Other Side, narrates the story of an elderly couple as they reflect back on their lives.

"Timothy's Birthday," a short story by William Trevor in his 1996 collection After Rain, tells of an old couple who await their adult son's birthday visit.

Bellow is best known for his portrayals of modern urban dwellers. Henry Roth's novel Call It Sleep, first published...