Belva Plain, who wrote a string of novels about Jewish American life, has died at age 95. The New York Times obituary noted that she was approaching 60 when her first novel, "Evergreen," jumped onto the best seller lists. While enduring barbs from critics, she continued to turn out novels with strong female characters.

The Times quotes her: “I got sick of reading the same old story, told by Jewish writers, of the same old stereotypes — the possessive mothers, the worn-out fathers, all the rest of the neurotic rebellious unhappy self-hating tribe. I wanted to write a different novel about Jews — and a truer one.”

Rest in peace, Belva.