Early Warning by Jane Smiley

The second in her 100 years series, this volume in the story of the Langdon family begins in1953 and ends in 1987.  All the big events - Vietnam, civil rights, assassinations, - all observed through the eyes of various family members - the little people perspective instead of the big headlines.  Even though the book is divided into small yearly chapters, it is sometimes hard to keep track of the generations and theirs relations to one another.  Keep the family tree close by.