Reviews

Read this in conjunction with the new season of The Literary Life Podcast. The hosts, of course, raved about how much they liked this book, as did several on the Literary Life Podcast facebook page. My first impression is that it was good, but I'm not raving over it. Listening to the podcast episodes (4 in all) definitely enhanced my understanding and enjoyment, and I expect I'd like it better if I were to read it again. There are many quote-worthy passages throughout. I quit marking them because I ran out of the sticky flags tucked in the back cover and didn't replenish the supply (though I did jot down a few page numbers). Definitely some surprises, and a surprise ending.

I expect part of why I'm not raving is that most of my reading was in stolen snitches and bits rather than at leisure when I could fully enter into the reading and often those were when I was tired and my brain not really alert to be able to absorb. I certainly would say it's a worth-while book, and perhaps one I'll come back to in the future. Others said they enjoyed it more the second time through, and I expect I would as well.

stierwood's review against another edition

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reflective medium-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? Yes

4.25

Man, for a book with the message “only connect” I wish I connected a little better. I have a high bar for Forster; that’s part of it, and hearing that this was his magnum opus I was like okay I’m sat. I’m still gonna rate it high. There were quotes that touched my soul (as always). But I didn’t love the characters as much as I tend to with Forster- one of his great strengths to me has always been his deeply flawed but incredibly relatable characters. I think I wanted more Leonard and Helen honestly, and I didn’t care about Henry at alllll bro.

Always a nice surprise when an old book written by a man passes the bechdel test with flying colors, and the ending had me all YAAAAAAAS

And “only connect the prose with the passion” is a bar I can’t argue with that

laurasauras's review against another edition

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3.0

Idk I just kept waiting for the story to start and I felt like it was making political statements I don't have the context for 100 years in the future. I also just didn't care about any of the characters, possibly because there was very little of their interiority.

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