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amibunk's review against another edition
4.0
A Room with a View is delightful. Other people will have technical terms to discuss the philosphy of the novel, the style, the symbolism. What I can say is that it was charming and fun and it made me positively giddy in several spots. Yes, a mature matron like myself, was rendered giddy. In many ways it was reminiscent of Jane Austen, with it's cleverness in delving to the heart of English society and in it's restrained (and not so restrained) romance. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
noirshadow's review against another edition
4.0
not Howard's End. That 5 star is for A Room with a View...
octavia_cade's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Honestly, I've read and reviewed both the novels here separately, so when I came across this collected edition in the library, I read the introduction - brief and unilluminating as it was - and came to log it here for completeness' sake.
I remember thoroughly enjoying both novels, giving them four stars each, although of the two I give the edge to Room, simply because it is funnier. In both, however, Forster's cuttingly observant writing absolutely shines as he skewers the middle-class pretensions around him. I can't help but think he would have been a wonderfully entertaining person to have at a dinner party. I'd like to read a biography of him one day... goodness knows the introduction in this volume was only minimally informative.
I remember thoroughly enjoying both novels, giving them four stars each, although of the two I give the edge to Room, simply because it is funnier. In both, however, Forster's cuttingly observant writing absolutely shines as he skewers the middle-class pretensions around him. I can't help but think he would have been a wonderfully entertaining person to have at a dinner party. I'd like to read a biography of him one day... goodness knows the introduction in this volume was only minimally informative.
sahana_pinjala's review against another edition
3.0
For the first third of the book, I was completely bored out of my mind. But I found that as I went into it further, and I kept up with the characters (where some of them confused me even until the end) and the events that were taking place, I began to enjoy it more. The second half wasn’t that great either, but it becomes quite unexpected and has more romance, so I like it more than the first third. My favourite, however was the third last section. I found that the engagements the main character was participating in and the writing style just seemed to somehow get better. There was also some great feminist lines spoken which I really liked. But apart from all this, the book is enjoyable of you are willing to persevere.
oliviemg's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sharone7's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, friends. There is only one word to describe my experience reading this book: delightful. But because you know I can't resist the opportunity to say more than one word, I won't stop there.
A Room with a View is deeply satirical, and yet the characters manage to be real people rather than one-dimensional conduits for the author's social criticisms. Forster's voice and humor are subtle without being sly, and he draws you into the inner lives of his characters in a way that feels so natural it's hardly noticeable. Forster truly sees his characters, and he makes you feel that you see and instantly comprehend them too, in spite of their complexity. It seemed like every paragraph I read, I wanted to post part or all of it somewhere for others to share and appreciate, but I was afraid that once started, I'd be unable to stop.
Even though it's short and sweet, Forster packs in fabulous scenery, murders, scandals and gossip, people getting comeuppances, characters you love and characters you hate, characters that you hate and then love, and vice versa. I warned you I'd gush over this book - I mean really. Every time I read just a little bit of it, I slip right back into that world and I'm tempted to just drop everything and read it again--and it's so short that it could easily be done. Gosh, I could go on and on, using any and all of these words: charming, insightful, effortless, fascinating, hilarious, clever, absorbing. So enjoyable that I just flew right through it. Oh, and romantic. Terribly, meltingly, giddily romantic.
So go read it already. Come on, it'll take you five minutes -- at least, it will feel that way. That, to me, makes A Room with a View just the best kind of book. :)
A Room with a View is deeply satirical, and yet the characters manage to be real people rather than one-dimensional conduits for the author's social criticisms. Forster's voice and humor are subtle without being sly, and he draws you into the inner lives of his characters in a way that feels so natural it's hardly noticeable. Forster truly sees his characters, and he makes you feel that you see and instantly comprehend them too, in spite of their complexity. It seemed like every paragraph I read, I wanted to post part or all of it somewhere for others to share and appreciate, but I was afraid that once started, I'd be unable to stop.
Even though it's short and sweet, Forster packs in fabulous scenery, murders, scandals and gossip, people getting comeuppances, characters you love and characters you hate, characters that you hate and then love, and vice versa. I warned you I'd gush over this book - I mean really. Every time I read just a little bit of it, I slip right back into that world and I'm tempted to just drop everything and read it again--and it's so short that it could easily be done. Gosh, I could go on and on, using any and all of these words: charming, insightful, effortless, fascinating, hilarious, clever, absorbing. So enjoyable that I just flew right through it. Oh, and romantic. Terribly, meltingly, giddily romantic.
So go read it already. Come on, it'll take you five minutes -- at least, it will feel that way. That, to me, makes A Room with a View just the best kind of book. :)