Score

What about something like Remains of the Day? It's undoubtedly very domestic, but not family-centered.

Also wondering about Howards End and Madame Bovary.

Lobstergirl wrote: "Also wondering about Howards End and Madame Bovary."

Madame Bovary is IN, most certainly, Remains of the Day as well, but Howards End ? Well.... perhaps.

Wuthering Heights?
Shirley?
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling?
Bleak House?
Dombey and Son?
Little Dorrit?
Far from the Madding Crowd
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
The Mayor of Casterbridge
The Return of the Native
East of Eden?
The Grapes of Wrath?
As I Lay Dying?
Crossing to Safety?
One Hundred Years of Solitude?
Midnight's Children?
Famine?
Roots: The Saga of an American Family?
The Painted Drum?
The Antelope Wife?
The Tiger's Wife?
Fall of Giants?
Winter of the World?
The Godfather?
Tai-Pan?
Noble House?
The Fall of the House of Usher?

Themis-Athena wrote: "Wuthering Heights?
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling?
Bleak House?
Dombey and Son?
Little Dorrit?
East of Eden?
The Grapes of Wrath?
As I Lay Dying?
Crossing to Safety?
One Hundred Years of Sol..."

I can't rule on these except to suggest that wide inclusion would allow too many books that, while excellent, do not bear directly on domestic life. On the other hand, The Grapes of Wrath and The Good Earth give thoughtful attention to domestic life. Each member should build his or her own list, of course, and it is my hope that each will put the most "nuclear" family novels at the top of it.

Got it. I added a few, but for the time being not many of the above -- will wait if they occur to others as possible candidates as well.

"Novels of Domestic Life: Mothers, and fathers and children"... aaand... monstrous vermin!

Snort!

It's true, that is a novella about domestic life and strife. Groceries and jobs are involved, although no barbecue sauce.

Mmmm, barbeque.

The domestic secret life of animals ...