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cloudsinthecupboard's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
alyssajcori's review against another edition
3.0
I love Edward Rutherfurd books, and have documented my love many a time. However, this one dragged on for me. I don't know if it's because this is one of his earlier works or if it's because the location didn't captivate me, but I have to give this three stars. Like all of Rutherfurd's books, this novel focuses on multiple families throughout the ages in one location. There were some standout stories woven in, but the history didn't grab me.
eggpilot's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
leemac027's review against another edition
5.0
I have to admit I am a big Edward Rutherfurd fan! I love his writing style, the amount of research he obviously does for each book, the way he weaves centuries of his characters' family history across millennia is incredible. So I am a bit biased.
The Forest is a companion book to Sarum and focuses on the area surrounding Salisbury. It centres around the Albion, Pride, Furzey, Totton, Puckle and Grockleton families and how they all intertwine over the centuries and how it all relates to the New Forest which is located along the southern coast of England.
Of course there is intrigue, a bit of smuggling, wars, family reputations won and lost, the influence of royalty and the aristocracy, petty politics and love.
The book is captivating and if you love historical fiction you will love this book and I hope all of the other tomes created by Edward Rutherfurd.
The Forest is a companion book to Sarum and focuses on the area surrounding Salisbury. It centres around the Albion, Pride, Furzey, Totton, Puckle and Grockleton families and how they all intertwine over the centuries and how it all relates to the New Forest which is located along the southern coast of England.
Of course there is intrigue, a bit of smuggling, wars, family reputations won and lost, the influence of royalty and the aristocracy, petty politics and love.
The book is captivating and if you love historical fiction you will love this book and I hope all of the other tomes created by Edward Rutherfurd.
misscandice's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. England sure has some history! :)
ehays84's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first Rutherfurd read. I have been meaning to read several of his books for a while, but haven't had the chance.
I didn't absolutely love this book, mainly because it turned out to have some soap opera-ish elements to it, but I still love his idea of taking a place and telling the story of its people over a long span of time. He does his research, but expands to fill the unknowns. The stories within the book could really be stand alone stories. You don't have to know what happened in the previous story to understand or appreciate the next one. But that's ok because these are more the story of a place than its people.
I will definitely read more of his when I get the chance.
I didn't absolutely love this book, mainly because it turned out to have some soap opera-ish elements to it, but I still love his idea of taking a place and telling the story of its people over a long span of time. He does his research, but expands to fill the unknowns. The stories within the book could really be stand alone stories. You don't have to know what happened in the previous story to understand or appreciate the next one. But that's ok because these are more the story of a place than its people.
I will definitely read more of his when I get the chance.
orchidlilly's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really, really, love a multi-generational narrative. The Forest is a pretty dense books, and given the time it took to read, the individual characters tend to fade away a bit, but the family lines are of more importance than any one individual figure. The two sections where we see a bit of personification from the natural life of the forest itself make for interesting outsider perspectives. The writing style is absolutely captivating, and the historical fact is well integrated without feeling too much like a textbook.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, War, Sexism, Alcohol, Confinement, Pregnancy, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Ableism, Infidelity, Abandonment, Classism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
It's historical fiction, you cant really expect history to be pleasant or sanitary, I'm afraidrasha_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up this book because I actually live in The New Forest so I figured it might be an interesting addition to my reading pile.
I is well written but saying it’s long would be an understatement. However, because it spans such a long period (1000 years) each chapter is more like a short story or novella so I read it one piece at a time. It took me a while but I got through it.
His prose is quite lyrical at times and he even has sections where you’re hearing the perspective of the wildlife. All in all, it gave me an enhanced appreciation of the area where I am so lucky to live.
I is well written but saying it’s long would be an understatement. However, because it spans such a long period (1000 years) each chapter is more like a short story or novella so I read it one piece at a time. It took me a while but I got through it.
His prose is quite lyrical at times and he even has sections where you’re hearing the perspective of the wildlife. All in all, it gave me an enhanced appreciation of the area where I am so lucky to live.