totheliteraturelighthouse's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-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
5.0
plan2read's review against another edition
5.0
A 750 page story and British history lesson. I learned more about the passage from Georgian to Victorian to Edwardian eras from reading The Forsyte Saga than any Austen, Dickens, or Forster, or for that matter, Downton Abbey. Galsworthy is clear about what he wants to say regarding the people and the times--"Free will was the strength of any tie, and not its weakness."
lisaperi's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-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? No
4.0
kingfan30's review against another edition
4.0
Goodness this really is a saga! I have been putting this book off for far to long for some reason (possibly the size) however I actually really enjoyed it. It spans several generations of the Forsyte family and I have to say this addition would have benefited from a family tree to help keep of track of who was who (apparently some additions do have this in). If covers every aspect you would expect to find in a family saga - love, hate, jealousy, passion, joy, loss etc, etc, I don't think anything is left out.
There are three parts to the book, split with interludes. The first two parts for me were more interesting and gripping than the last. It was interesting to see how times change throughout the book, for example the earlier part of the book they all travelled by horse and carriage but as you carry on you see the introduction of the car, which by the end is the most common form of transport.
The bit that made me smile the most was when Soames arranged for his wife to be followed, after some time he goes to see her to find that the PI has been watching and is told by them that his wife met up with someone and they think they are onto something, the description they give of this person is not quite how Soames sees himself.
I was worried that when I started this the language may be difficult to follow as I have found with other period novels, however this was not the case with this book at all. I am very pleased that I finally got round to reading this book.
There are three parts to the book, split with interludes. The first two parts for me were more interesting and gripping than the last. It was interesting to see how times change throughout the book, for example the earlier part of the book they all travelled by horse and carriage but as you carry on you see the introduction of the car, which by the end is the most common form of transport.
The bit that made me smile the most was when Soames arranged for his wife to be followed, after some time he goes to see her to find that the PI has been watching and is told by them that his wife met up with someone and they think they are onto something, the description they give of this person is not quite how Soames sees himself.
I was worried that when I started this the language may be difficult to follow as I have found with other period novels, however this was not the case with this book at all. I am very pleased that I finally got round to reading this book.
captainoz's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to read this because the commercials for the new BBC movie looked so good. But I found it hard to get into and didn't bother reading the next book in the series.
lukre's review against another edition
5.0
If you've seen the adaptation (miniseiries) nothing will surprise you here when it comes to plot. What might surpise you is the in-between-the-lines comment on the society of the time. The themes that are touched upon here are countless: class society, marriage issues, legal issues, inheritance, gender roles, art, busines.... soooo many themes. This is like a George Eliot novel - one could re-read it several times, each time focusing on a different aspect of the story. Great book.
caitwbowerz's review against another edition
3.0
Holy Mother of Pearl this was a difficult book to get through. I really enjoyed the storyline and the multiple generations but the phrasing and detail was a bit too superfluous for my taste. This book could have been cut down by 500 pages and still held on to its overall integrity.
benedettal's review
4.0
This book (or saga I guess) perfectly catered to my love for intergenerational stories and huge novels that encompass several decades. The characterisation was so strong, with such a large cast, everyone felt unique and their motivations well explained. I also appreciated how the author was particularly empathetic. Characters are allowed to redeem their mistakes over time, which is only natural and makes for a more compelling narrative.