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veronica87's review against another edition
3.0
I picked up this book when I heard that it was being adapted for TV. My initial intention was to read it prior to the show's premiere but that didn't time out. So now I've watched the entire first season and loved it. Would I have enjoyed this book if not for my love for the TV show and, maybe especially, for my love of Aidan Turner as the main protagonist? That's hard to say. It was written in the 1950s by a male author and my (limited) experience with the male authors that I have read is that they don't get as deep into characterization and the emotionality of relationships as I would like. I found that to be the case with his book as well. Everything just felt a little detached. But I was able to picture the actors from the show in the various roles, complete with their mannerisms, voice inflections, etc. so that helped, because the show did give me the depth of emotion I needed. So can I judge this book solely on its own merits? Probably not, as the show just colors too much for me. But I did enjoy it so I will be continuing with the series. My understanding is that the series covers about 40 years so it will be interesting to follow this family over the decades.
kindlereads's review against another edition
4.0
Follows the tv show relatively closely except Demelza started out 13. How old is Ross?
Not terrible. I’ll try the next one to see if they hold up.
Not terrible. I’ll try the next one to see if they hold up.
marrbarnett's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alliepeduto's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a wee bit obsessed with Aidan Turner, so I'd be lying if I said I didn't read this for the TV series. But I did enjoy the book in its own right. I was a teensy bit put off by a certain age difference but I kept reminding myself that it's set in the 18th century so I need to get over it. I'll probably stick with the show from here on out since it's less creepy but I still appreciate the source material.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
5.0
I am a big fan of British mysteries, comedies and dramas so it is no surprise that I am a fan of Masterpiece Theater. I recorded Poldark when it appeared on PBS and enjoyed the series, but did find it a bit on the slow side. I heard that there was also another “mini-series” done in the 1970s. I knew that both were based on a book so I looked it up and saw that the first book was published in 1945 (post-world war II) and the last book was published in 2002. I was really curious in reading Ross Poldark and suggested it for my online reading group. It won the poll so I was motivated in reading it.
RATING: 4.5 STARS
1945 (Reissued: 2015); Pan/Sourcebook Landmark
"Cornwall, 1783-1787
Tired from a grim war in America, Ross Poldark returns to his land and family, only to find his father has died, his estate is derelict, and the girl he loved is engaged to another. But then he rescues a half-starved urchin girl and takes her home; an act which, it turns out, will alter his life." (From Publisher)
I started this book thinking it would an okay family saga, but was really surprised on how much I loved this book. For me it was a bit like the first moment I read Outlander. I could reread this book a few time like I did with Outlander. it is because I really connected with this novel. The character development throughout the book was so well-written. You were given more than just a snippet of the person and their life. Throughout the book we would visit key characters and learn more about them this way. Ross is what I would call a "Bronte/Austen" hero in that he is brooding, flawed but also wants redemption. I liked him as a character and a hero. I was always rooting for him, but also had a bit of a crush on how he wants to help others.
Graham is also great with the dialogue and interactions between the characters. It is through different characters that we also get the whole of who Ross is. His genuine affection for his cousin Verity shows his sensitive caring ways. You see the vulnerability and yet strength when he interacts with Elizabeth. I also liked that Graham did not turn characters in caricatures or one dimensional. Even the "villains" and "quirky" characters have all sides. I wanted to have constant hate-on with Elizabeth but you do see how she gets the way she does and I end up feeling pity for her.
Books defined as "sagas" can either be angsty dramas, sex and gossip or really gripping portraits. Or it is for me. This one worked for me because it was well-researched in the historical time it took place. You didn't just get the sense of the time, but what was going on in those days - politics, social norms, courtships, war, etc. Ross Poldark has a great mix of drama, action, romance and history. It balances out perfectly so that you just really are entertained by a well-written book. I highly recommend you just try this book as it may be better than you think it will.
My Novelesque Life
RATING: 4.5 STARS
1945 (Reissued: 2015); Pan/Sourcebook Landmark
"Cornwall, 1783-1787
Tired from a grim war in America, Ross Poldark returns to his land and family, only to find his father has died, his estate is derelict, and the girl he loved is engaged to another. But then he rescues a half-starved urchin girl and takes her home; an act which, it turns out, will alter his life." (From Publisher)
I started this book thinking it would an okay family saga, but was really surprised on how much I loved this book. For me it was a bit like the first moment I read Outlander. I could reread this book a few time like I did with Outlander. it is because I really connected with this novel. The character development throughout the book was so well-written. You were given more than just a snippet of the person and their life. Throughout the book we would visit key characters and learn more about them this way. Ross is what I would call a "Bronte/Austen" hero in that he is brooding, flawed but also wants redemption. I liked him as a character and a hero. I was always rooting for him, but also had a bit of a crush on how he wants to help others.
Graham is also great with the dialogue and interactions between the characters. It is through different characters that we also get the whole of who Ross is. His genuine affection for his cousin Verity shows his sensitive caring ways. You see the vulnerability and yet strength when he interacts with Elizabeth. I also liked that Graham did not turn characters in caricatures or one dimensional. Even the "villains" and "quirky" characters have all sides. I wanted to have constant hate-on with Elizabeth but you do see how she gets the way she does and I end up feeling pity for her.
Books defined as "sagas" can either be angsty dramas, sex and gossip or really gripping portraits. Or it is for me. This one worked for me because it was well-researched in the historical time it took place. You didn't just get the sense of the time, but what was going on in those days - politics, social norms, courtships, war, etc. Ross Poldark has a great mix of drama, action, romance and history. It balances out perfectly so that you just really are entertained by a well-written book. I highly recommend you just try this book as it may be better than you think it will.
My Novelesque Life
laurenjpegler's review against another edition
4.0
I knew full well I'd love this book - the series is one of my favourite television programmes - but I didn't expect to enjoy it this much. If you're not familiar with the series, the first book is set from 1783-87 in Cornwall. It follows Ross Poldark has recently returned home from fighting in America. His joyful homecoming turned sour as he finds out his father is dead, his estate is derelict, and the girl he loves is engaged to his cousin. However, his sympathy for the destitute miners and farmers of the district lead him to rescue a half-starved girl from a brawl. He takes her home - an act which alters his life.
I really liked Graham's writing style - it flowed effortlessly, and I found that I was swept along with it. I didn't expect to read this so fast, but I managed to read it in roughly two days. It was just easy to read, and was extremely enjoyable too. I was unsure if it could compare to the TV show, and in some ways it doesn't, but I definitely think it's just as enjoyable. It will be a series that I carry on reading, all twelve of them.
I really liked how this book was more about setting up the series than anything else. The miners, which I know play a huge part later on in the series, was hardly mentioned. It was more about the resurrection of the old mines, and how Ross can help his own folk. Ross Poldark is more about relationships than anything else, and how class is fundamental to this (something that I really enjoy reading and researching about). His relationship with Elizabeth, and why this might not have worked out (was it to do with what Ross could have offered). His relationship with his cousin, Francis, and how they are of a different class - Ross is more landed gentry, and Francis is more of an aristocrat. And finally, his relationship with Demelza - a lower-class maid. There is a blurring and crossing of class boundaries, and it was fascinating to see how Graham wrote so sensitively about it (especially considering this was published in 1945!).
I would highly recommend!
I really liked Graham's writing style - it flowed effortlessly, and I found that I was swept along with it. I didn't expect to read this so fast, but I managed to read it in roughly two days. It was just easy to read, and was extremely enjoyable too. I was unsure if it could compare to the TV show, and in some ways it doesn't, but I definitely think it's just as enjoyable. It will be a series that I carry on reading, all twelve of them.
I really liked how this book was more about setting up the series than anything else. The miners, which I know play a huge part later on in the series, was hardly mentioned. It was more about the resurrection of the old mines, and how Ross can help his own folk. Ross Poldark is more about relationships than anything else, and how class is fundamental to this (something that I really enjoy reading and researching about). His relationship with Elizabeth, and why this might not have worked out (was it to do with what Ross could have offered). His relationship with his cousin, Francis, and how they are of a different class - Ross is more landed gentry, and Francis is more of an aristocrat. And finally, his relationship with Demelza - a lower-class maid. There is a blurring and crossing of class boundaries, and it was fascinating to see how Graham wrote so sensitively about it (especially considering this was published in 1945!).
I would highly recommend!
saluki's review against another edition
4.0
Historical fiction isn't a genre I read often but after watching Season One of the BBC remake of the first two novels last year I had been meaning to try the books. I prefer to read the book before seeing a film or telly adaptation so it's rare for me to have images at odds with what I'm reading. For the most part, the BBC have been faithful to the salient aspects of the novels and only changed big plot points to save explaining a substantial passing of time... the biggest one being the first meeting with Demelza. Ross meets her, still filthy, a foul mouthed spitfire looking half-starved in nondescript rags and being beaten while defending her beloved mangy dog, but she is only thirteen years old and this offers so much more to the depth and complexity of this unusual relationship which develops over a vast period of time compared to the TV series.
Winston Graham brings Cornish life alive, in fully rounded characters with full warts and all, and he writes unapologetically about human nature, giving an unbiased view of all social classes which is heavily underlined when we witness the workings of the justice system. The first part of the saga unravels slowly but I found the characters and events crept up on me and halfway I was hooked.
Ross Poldark, former Captain in the Revolutionary War, comes home to a changed Cornwall. His father Joshua has died, the estate has deteriorated in his absence, and the war has bought more poverty especially from mine closures. So, Ross has an estate to rebuild, an income to gain, tenants to consider and on top of all that, his first love Elizabeth is to marry his cousin Francis. Hard times, indeed.
Loved the historical details and descriptions of Cornwall. Even the dialect and swearing made me smile... especially coming from the bone idle servants Jud and Prudie Paynter. They truly know how to milk the proverbial cow and Jud does most things grudgingly and vocally which offers much needed comedy in this saga.
While Ross is a tortured and likeable protagonist, being a landed gentry rebel who is open-minded as far as class and character are concerned, it is equally Demelza's story for me. Graham shows the limited options for women of all classes in the novel but with Demelza he created a generous spirited underdog who has endured the worst struggles and whose small gains are very hard won. Having seen Season one on TV I knew about the romance angle but this isn't historical romance as I know it. The relationships and social situations are very real and believable... certainly not rose-tinted.
I'll be reading Demelza immediately because there are loose threads that need tying up and I've become too attached to these characters to let them go.
lizzye33's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rebeccatc's review against another edition
4.0
Ross Poldark is an 18th century impoverished aristocratic bad boy with a heart of gold. Demelza is the attractive and feisty girl from the wrong side of the tracks. What's not to love? I knew nothing about Cornish mining towns and their struggles so that took some getting used to (apparently a Wheal is a mine) but I enjoyed the setting and the cast of quirky minor characters as well. Ross and Demelza are both delightfully unpredictable.
espargobookdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75