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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
Series of linked novellas set in the New forest. Easier to read than Sarum with less of a history lesson feel to it
Not his best. London and Sarum are much better. This one was frankly, quite boring. And I thought there was a mystery to solve but it never panned out.
So far, it's pretty decent. I must admit that I was a little disturbed by the lengthy mating scene between the white doe and the stag (told from the viewpoint of the doe), so I'm hoping Rutherfurd does not continue to include the doe's offspring and their thoughts, trials, and adventures (and matings) throughout the rest of the book.
(I mean, well, it's deer. I don't particularly want to read an anthropomorphized sex scene between two deer. Really.)
Really.
(I mean, well, it's deer. I don't particularly want to read an anthropomorphized sex scene between two deer. Really.)
Really.
The "New Forest" in England is anything but new. It's where William Rufus was killed in mysterious circumstances, and over the centuries developed a distinct culture of its own. For me, the Civil War-Restoration dragged on a bit, but I still greatly enjoyed the book overall. If you have an interest in the history of England, this book may be for you.
The Forest is structured as essentially a series of short stories, each dealing in a different time period, following the stories of a handful of key families.
This is my second Edward Rutherfurd book, having first read Sarum a few years ago. I did enjoy this setting a bit more - I felt that the Forest had a bit more magic to it. The story is meticulous and very well-researched, and I have come away with a good sense of the Forest and how it changed with the passage of time.
There is, however, something a little dispassionate with the way the story was told. I think that this can be ascribed to the fact that just as we get to the point of getting attached to a character, their story ends and we have to let them go. We also have to get through the "exposition" of the time period as each new story is introduced. The result is a sense of disconnection - just as you get settled in a certain period, atmosphere, and set of characters, it all gets ripped away from you.
I have enjoyed learning about The Forest, and was generally engrossed in this novel and enjoyed all the detail, but overall this did not have as much of an emotional impact as other reads.
This is my second Edward Rutherfurd book, having first read Sarum a few years ago. I did enjoy this setting a bit more - I felt that the Forest had a bit more magic to it. The story is meticulous and very well-researched, and I have come away with a good sense of the Forest and how it changed with the passage of time.
There is, however, something a little dispassionate with the way the story was told. I think that this can be ascribed to the fact that just as we get to the point of getting attached to a character, their story ends and we have to let them go. We also have to get through the "exposition" of the time period as each new story is introduced. The result is a sense of disconnection - just as you get settled in a certain period, atmosphere, and set of characters, it all gets ripped away from you.
I have enjoyed learning about The Forest, and was generally engrossed in this novel and enjoyed all the detail, but overall this did not have as much of an emotional impact as other reads.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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Set in southern England's New Forest, The Forest traces the lives of people from different Forest families throughout 1000 years. Each section of the book encounters a new time period with a new generation of people, who are the descendants of those from previous sections. Armed with a map and a family tree in the front of the book, it illustrates how history can be forgotten by following generations, but also each little mark we make in the world can be lasting.
I really enjoyed this book. It was very nice to see how your favorite characters from a previous section still had a part to play indirectly in the current section. Sections would jump from a story of Normans and Saxons coexisting in 1099, to 1294 with a monastery with monks who have to make decisions, to a story about fathers, sons and the sea in 1480, to the effect of the Spanish threat in 1587, to 1635 with the English Civil War and its tragic effect on families, to a story about dealing with past demons and love in 1794, to the transformation of the forest due to the Industrial Revolution in 1868. The entire story was framed by a woman in 2000 looking for a news story and finding her roots.
One aspect I also liked about this story was how Rutherfurd alluded to events and details that were left to be explained until further in the text. With the family tree in the front, while helpful, it became tempting to just look at it to see if someone ends up having a kid or who they end up marrying. But with details alluded to but left as mini cliffhangers, it made it a very a compelling read. He managed to tell an event through the eyes of everyone involved to allow the reader a 360 degree understanding of the book.
My only complaint is that it was so very long that it sometimes became tedious to read. I blame that on the length of books I'm used to reading though, so I will not count that against the book. At points, the writing was very description heavy and it was difficult to read through it all to eventually get to the action of the story.
Overall, a wonderful historic and compelling read that I would recommend to any history lover or someone who simply enjoys a more intricate story.
Set in southern England's New Forest, The Forest traces the lives of people from different Forest families throughout 1000 years. Each section of the book encounters a new time period with a new generation of people, who are the descendants of those from previous sections. Armed with a map and a family tree in the front of the book, it illustrates how history can be forgotten by following generations, but also each little mark we make in the world can be lasting.
I really enjoyed this book. It was very nice to see how your favorite characters from a previous section still had a part to play indirectly in the current section. Sections would jump from a story of Normans and Saxons coexisting in 1099, to 1294 with a monastery with monks who have to make decisions, to a story about fathers, sons and the sea in 1480, to the effect of the Spanish threat in 1587, to 1635 with the English Civil War and its tragic effect on families, to a story about dealing with past demons and love in 1794, to the transformation of the forest due to the Industrial Revolution in 1868. The entire story was framed by a woman in 2000 looking for a news story and finding her roots.
One aspect I also liked about this story was how Rutherfurd alluded to events and details that were left to be explained until further in the text. With the family tree in the front, while helpful, it became tempting to just look at it to see if someone ends up having a kid or who they end up marrying. But with details alluded to but left as mini cliffhangers, it made it a very a compelling read. He managed to tell an event through the eyes of everyone involved to allow the reader a 360 degree understanding of the book.
My only complaint is that it was so very long that it sometimes became tedious to read. I blame that on the length of books I'm used to reading though, so I will not count that against the book. At points, the writing was very description heavy and it was difficult to read through it all to eventually get to the action of the story.
Overall, a wonderful historic and compelling read that I would recommend to any history lover or someone who simply enjoys a more intricate story.
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated