elenajohansen's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
While I'm aware the series goes on--I'm only reading these because I got the sixth book from a subscription box--the end of this work is clearly the end of a trilogy, a story, and even an era.
Without spoiling any of the actual plot (because if you're interested in reading this at all, knowing what happens would ruin the soap-opera-saga aspect) I'm again inclined to examine how feminist, or not, this book is. In my review of the first novel I spoke of the disdain Galsworthy seemed to have for the British middle class and their strict notions of property, including believing women were property, and found a great deal of satire in his depiction of this sprawling family. In my review of the second, I was a little disappointed that the structure of the plot treated Irene as an object even while purporting that her agency and happiness were important.
Here, I feel we've bounced back to something very close to modern feminism in terms of the Soames/Irene schism. When I skimmed some reviews of the first book before I started, there were readers who were discussing whether they were Team Soames or Team Irene, basically, even if they never used those terms. By this point, though, I would view someone who joins Team Soames as unironically declaring themselves to be a garbage human being who believes they have the right to own other people. The narrative spends a great deal of time with Soames and shows his deepest character without reservation, but only someone who can't understand subtext would believe the author condones his behavior, and the ending supports this, as the specter of what Soames did to Irene haunts their respective children.
I thought overlaying a tale of star-crossed lovers with the end of the tale of the older generation was an interesting way to lead the story forward; and while their love affair is far less concerned about whether women are property or not--Jon never once thinks of Fleur in that context--it was fascinating to read it unfold genuinely not knowing whether, but gradually growing to suspect that, they could not outrun the consequences of their parents' actions.
If I have any criticism of this, it's that the constant old-person haranguing of youth and newfangled technology was dull and tired, even if it was in character for the person espousing it. I hated that attitude when I was a child and teenager, hearing it from my elders. Now that I'm in my forties, I'm consciously making an effort not to fall into the same "the kids these days" way of thinking. It helps that I genuinely don't believe things were better then than they are now--I wouldn't trade the social progress or the technology I have access to for some imagined rosy nostalgia about the 1980s, because so little about the 1980s was good except the music!
Without spoiling any of the actual plot (because if you're interested in reading this at all, knowing what happens would ruin the soap-opera-saga aspect) I'm again inclined to examine how feminist, or not, this book is. In my review of the first novel I spoke of the disdain Galsworthy seemed to have for the British middle class and their strict notions of property, including believing women were property, and found a great deal of satire in his depiction of this sprawling family. In my review of the second, I was a little disappointed that the structure of the plot treated Irene as an object even while purporting that her agency and happiness were important.
Here, I feel we've bounced back to something very close to modern feminism in terms of the Soames/Irene schism. When I skimmed some reviews of the first book before I started, there were readers who were discussing whether they were Team Soames or Team Irene, basically, even if they never used those terms. By this point, though, I would view someone who joins Team Soames as unironically declaring themselves to be a garbage human being who believes they have the right to own other people. The narrative spends a great deal of time with Soames and shows his deepest character without reservation, but only someone who can't understand subtext would believe the author condones his behavior, and the ending supports this, as the specter of what Soames did to Irene haunts their respective children.
I thought overlaying a tale of star-crossed lovers with the end of the tale of the older generation was an interesting way to lead the story forward; and while their love affair is far less concerned about whether women are property or not--Jon never once thinks of Fleur in that context--it was fascinating to read it unfold genuinely not knowing whether, but gradually growing to suspect that, they could not outrun the consequences of their parents' actions.
If I have any criticism of this, it's that the constant old-person haranguing of youth and newfangled technology was dull and tired, even if it was in character for the person espousing it. I hated that attitude when I was a child and teenager, hearing it from my elders. Now that I'm in my forties, I'm consciously making an effort not to fall into the same "the kids these days" way of thinking. It helps that I genuinely don't believe things were better then than they are now--I wouldn't trade the social progress or the technology I have access to for some imagined rosy nostalgia about the 1980s, because so little about the 1980s was good except the music!
braxwall's review against another edition
3.0
Tredje och sista delen av Forsytesagan gör bokslut över den äldre generationen Forsyte på ett högst rimligt sätt. Problemen fortsätter att torna upp sig för Somes Forsyte. Nu är det dotters romanser som bekymrar. Inte lika bra som de två tidigare men ändå mycket läsvärt.
lotusmeristem555's review against another edition
5.0
Another excellent book!
The Forsyte family tells the story of history, through individual characters.
And the historical theme of this book - true modernity crashes the last fragments of the Victorian age!!
The Forsyte family tells the story of history, through individual characters.
And the historical theme of this book - true modernity crashes the last fragments of the Victorian age!!
inesdef's review against another edition
3.0
« To Let » finally brings closure to the quarrel between Soames Forsyte and Irene while introducing a new generation of Forsyte. Galswhorthy’s style and wit is consistent trough the three volumes of the series, but even though this classic of British literature is quite enjoyable to read, I remained only mildly interested in this family’s story, and I don’t mind leaving the characters behind. I might give a chance to the TV adaptation...
schopflin's review against another edition
5.0
This five is for the effect of reading 'To Let' as the climax of the first trilogy. It is impressive, and extraordinarily cohesive given that the world of 'To Let' didn't exist when 'A Man of Property' was written. A genuine masterpiece. And I even found space in my heart for Soames in the end. Far more than the sum of its parts!
backpackingbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
4.25
As expected, the third instalment of what our readalong group like to call The Neverending Saga was as drama-filled and unputdownable as its predecessors.
Though filled with familiar faces, the main difference with To Let is that the third generation plays a much bigger role. It was refreshing to see some of the old-timers step down and make way for new ideologies, new ambitions, and new approaches to life.
It's a fast-moving series, with many secondary (and even some primary) characters killed off in less than a sentence. As much as I always want Galsworthy to provide us with more context, I like that the story is constantly moving forward through time, without lingering too much on a specific era or family and preventing us from growing too attached to characters. I like the irony of the sudden deaths, coming from a family who always thought themselves to be immortal.
I raced through this one quicker than the previous two books as I could never wait to find out what was on the other side of the page. Though there weren't many surprises (thank you, again, family tree), I enjoyed seeing the drama develop and constantly anticipated the reactions from the second generation when all would be revealed. My only negative comment was that I felt the ending dragged a little and I wasn't as eager to read as I had previously been.
I'm well and truly trapped in the Forsyte web now and can't possibly leave the series there... roll on book 4.
Rating breakdown
Though filled with familiar faces, the main difference with To Let is that the third generation plays a much bigger role. It was refreshing to see some of the old-timers step down and make way for new ideologies, new ambitions, and new approaches to life.
It's a fast-moving series, with many secondary (and even some primary) characters killed off in less than a sentence. As much as I always want Galsworthy to provide us with more context, I like that the story is constantly moving forward through time, without lingering too much on a specific era or family and preventing us from growing too attached to characters. I like the irony of the sudden deaths, coming from a family who always thought themselves to be immortal.
I raced through this one quicker than the previous two books as I could never wait to find out what was on the other side of the page. Though there weren't many surprises (thank you, again, family tree), I enjoyed seeing the drama develop and constantly anticipated the reactions from the second generation when all would be revealed. My only negative comment was that I felt the ending dragged a little and I wasn't as eager to read as I had previously been.
I'm well and truly trapped in the Forsyte web now and can't possibly leave the series there... roll on book 4.
Rating breakdown
- Plot/narrative - 4.4
- Writing style/readability - 4.2
- Characters - 4.3
- Diverse themes - 3.9
- Ending - 4.2
Overall - 4.2
manwithanagenda's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
'To Let' finds Soames happy in his daughter, Fleur, if not with his wife Annette, and Irene and Young Jolyon are happy and at ease with themselves and their son, Jon. This comes to an end when the two cousins meet and fall in love, without knowing the history of their parents. Their romance is forbidden by their parents, but the situation is beyond control.
This novel threatens to be melodrama, dealing with star-crossed lovers and wringing hands and, yes, death. Galsworthy always prevents this, sometimes at the last minute. I did not expect to be touched by his reminiscing in the preserved, antique London home of his Uncle Timothy and "the aunts." It was lovely writing. There are more sequels, but I don't want to ruin the impression I have.
'The Forsyte Saga'
Previous: 'In Chancery'
Next (A Modern Comedy): 'The White Monkey'
This novel threatens to be melodrama, dealing with star-crossed lovers and wringing hands and, yes, death. Galsworthy always prevents this, sometimes at the last minute. I did not expect to be touched by his reminiscing in the preserved, antique London home of his Uncle Timothy and "the aunts." It was lovely writing. There are more sequels, but I don't want to ruin the impression I have.
'The Forsyte Saga'
Previous: 'In Chancery'
Next (A Modern Comedy): 'The White Monkey'
mavenbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe just a tiny bit less interesting than the previous book (which was a tiny bit interesting than the first), but still enough family drama to be intriguing and keep my reading.
juliecakes's review against another edition
4.0
Listened to the librivox audio book version, there were some great readers and most conveyed the droll tone of the book better than I would have in my head if I just read it.