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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
I am often a sucker for historical fiction, and picked up this title spontaneously one day in a bargain sale without any previous experience with the author. I am glad I did.
The structure is such that it is a collection of short stories - tells a tale of a group of individuals, and then skips ahead a few (or several generations) to tell a new story about a new group of people. In each case these stories are connected through place - The New Forest. You see members of the same families appear, disappear, and reappear. The culture of the day (flavored by events such as Norman/Saxons, Cromwell, Spanish Armada...) blends and interacts with life in the Forest binding them together - often in ways to which the characters themselves are blind. I enjoyed the structure very much, it offers a depth of context that transcends the normal 'back story' for a setting.
I also enjoyed the stories until ‘Albion Park’. This one felt rough and slow initially. I had mentioned to my wife that I felt the book had started to labor and was losing my interest. Then there was a conversation between the characters Fanny Albion and Wyndham Martell that not only brought that story into focus but was an exclamation point for the entire book. It poignantly conveyed a spirit of social class and romance in a way that rang true, and highlighted the bind to the Forest for all the characters who were truly 'of the Forest'. It hooked me back into that story, and I cared about the individuals as they moved through their tale in an all new way. I love moments like that - the discovery and appreciation of what becomes a fulcrum for the collection of pages, allowing it to transcend what it would be otherwise.
On the whole, it is an enjoyable collection, artfully implemented, and well worth reading. But, the one page is what made me glad I read the book.
The structure is such that it is a collection of short stories - tells a tale of a group of individuals, and then skips ahead a few (or several generations) to tell a new story about a new group of people. In each case these stories are connected through place - The New Forest. You see members of the same families appear, disappear, and reappear. The culture of the day (flavored by events such as Norman/Saxons, Cromwell, Spanish Armada...) blends and interacts with life in the Forest binding them together - often in ways to which the characters themselves are blind. I enjoyed the structure very much, it offers a depth of context that transcends the normal 'back story' for a setting.
I also enjoyed the stories until ‘Albion Park’. This one felt rough and slow initially. I had mentioned to my wife that I felt the book had started to labor and was losing my interest. Then there was a conversation between the characters Fanny Albion and Wyndham Martell that not only brought that story into focus but was an exclamation point for the entire book. It poignantly conveyed a spirit of social class and romance in a way that rang true, and highlighted the bind to the Forest for all the characters who were truly 'of the Forest'. It hooked me back into that story, and I cared about the individuals as they moved through their tale in an all new way. I love moments like that - the discovery and appreciation of what becomes a fulcrum for the collection of pages, allowing it to transcend what it would be otherwise.
On the whole, it is an enjoyable collection, artfully implemented, and well worth reading. But, the one page is what made me glad I read the book.
I lost interest 2/3 of the way through. It's entirely possible that I just wasn't in the mood for a sweeping epic saga.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Doesn't compare with Sarum. I felt it wore its historical explanations too heavily and didn't weave generations so effectively.
Edward Rutherfurd's The Forest is exactly my favorite kind of book. The story spans 900 years of a very interesting and historically significant location in England. There are maps and genealogy charts at the beginning of the book to help the reader keep the specific locations, and family names and connections, straight. Actual historical facts and people are mixed in with the fictional characters, adding to the "real" feel of the book. The choices each character makes affects not only his/her own life, but the lives of descendants as well (which is something of which we all need to be more mindful). Beautifully written, masterfully woven tale that has made me long to visit this forest and do some exploring of the area myself.
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not great. A few stories had parts that were interesting and gripped me a little but a lot of it didn't as well. Especially the last two stories. Was a bit of a struggle to finish in the end. A good way to learn about history though and I may try another of Rutherfurd's books when I have time.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
There is just way too much description about everything to get to the story in this book. I struggled every bit of the way to get a third of the book read. When the writing came to a natural breaking point, I just couldn't go on. It is purely the writing style of the author as I had the same problem with his book, "London." My mother gave me this book because it is her favorite and she wanted to share it with me. I feel awful that I didn't enjoy it enough to finish it, but I did try.