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Summary: Rich,moving Rutherfurd epic.
Review: Edward Rutherfurd's novels provide rich,exciting sagas that bring centuries of history to vibrant life. In THE FOREST, he sets his story in the quintessential English heartland: the New Forest. From the time of the Roman Conquest to the present day, the New Forest has remained mysterious,powerful, mythic. Rutherfurd's characters--highborn and low--play out their lives with a powerful connection to the primeval forest. Rutherfurd is a master story teller equally at home with history, magic, murder, greed, love and war. I have worked with Edward Rutherfurd on all his books and I marvel at his ability to create characters and tell stories that are dramatic, moving and historically accurate. I've learned more about English history from reading Rutherfurd than I have from years of classes in college. His novels are a pleasure to read.
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Summary: James Michener is alive and well!
Review: Even though Michener died four years ago, Mr. Rutherfurd has picked up his spirit and has done a great job. I recommend the Forest to anyone who is a fan of Michener, and to anyone who loves to get lost in great stories.
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Summary: Not quite Sarum
Review: Gave an excellent picture of "The Forest" but it seems that the author got tired about 3/4s of the way through and then found his 2nd wind for the final sprint.
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Summary: Making history great fun!
Review: Having read "Russka," "London," and "Sarum" and enjoyed them all, I was eager to read "The Forest"--and I wasn't disappointed, overall. Some people might complain that the New Forest area of England is hardly worthy of such a long novel, but Rutherfurd's interest in and portrayal of the "small people" of the forest make fascinating reading. In fact, I'd have much preferred more about the forest dwellers and somewhat less about the "society types" who dominate so much of the book. Give me more Puckle and Seagull any day! Even so, the book is well worth the time for anyone who has ever entertained an interest in England and English history. Rutherfurd's literary strength lies in his wonderful descriptions of the natural world in which his characters move and I often found myself rereading paragraphs in order to soak in that description. As for his characters, I enjoyed them, but the copy I read would have benefitted from a family tree similar to the one found in "London," although Rutherfurd throws in enough physical similarities and references to ancestors to help his readers keep the characters quite distinct. I also have a couple of nitpicks about the book. In one spot, the owl is said to be able to turn its head 360 degrees, which is incorrect. Also, the mark of the arrow in the Rufus tree is said to have grown higher with the passing decades. This also is incorrect, as trees grow from the ends of the branches out and a mark in the trunk never gets any higher. These are quibbles with a wonderfully readable story which I am otherwise happy to recommend.
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Summary: A little disappointing, frankly
Review: Having read "Russka," "Sarum," and "London," I couldn't wait to get my hands on Rutherfurd's latest, "The Forest." But it just didn't measure up to the author's previous endeavours. For one thing, it is far, far shorter, and I felt that either it didn't do justice to the full history of the New Forest, or perhaps the author ought to have chosen a more historically deep setting. Starting in 1099 seemed like a sell-out, after his previous novels, which often began several thousand years ago. For another, I agree with one reader who said that Rutherfurd was going formula on us. Though it is a genre, it seems that his techniques -- for example, in distinguishing members of a same family -- are all too familiar. However, "The Forest" is still a good read, and perhaps standing alone, it would rate 4 or 5 stars. But in comparison to "London," for example, "The Forest" just doesn't rate...
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Summary: The Forest has become my favorite book!
Review: Having read all of the authers works, I am not suprised by the wonderful depth of this one. Sarum used to be my favorite book now the forest has surpassed it in my mind. Of course I recomend it to everyone!
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Summary: The Forest by Edward Rutherfurd
Review: I enjoyed this book very much. I enjoyed Sarum a little more because I thought he got you closer to the characters. The history was extended back further in Sarum, also. This book however was very interesting from the point of view of each time that the people lived. I enjoyed hearing about their customs and their class structure. It was fun to see how they managed their daily lives too.It could almost be a survival manual. They hung the meat in the chimney to keep the flies off of it. How neat. I do hope that he has another book in the works since I can't wait...
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Summary: It could have been better
Review: I like this sort of really big book with lots of historical flavor, but of all Rutherfords books only "Russka" was worse. Both "London" and "Sarum" started much earlier in time and this gave the books a more satisfying sense of time and continuity. The different types and classes of people are well covered and interesting. It is not possible in a book like this to give each story a lot of depth but that is to be expected. Still I wish they had been less predictable.
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Summary: Another Disappointment
Review: I read 'The Forest' because one of the places mentioned in the book is my home town, Ringwood. I enjoyed the author's first historical fiction, 'Sarum', but couldn't finish 'London' because of the sloppy writing and editing. 'The Forest' is another disappointment. He is now writing to formula and getting very lazy. All his research ends up in the story whether it relevant or not. It disrupts the narrative, which is poor at best. The characterisation is weak, the plot lacks tension and the section on the thoughts of the deer is laughable. An opportunity to write an exciting and interesting novel about a beautiful area has been missed.
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Summary: The place of my childhood came alive.
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed The Forest by Edward Rutherford. I was born and raised in Southampton and as children we hiked the paths, rode our bicycles and picnicked in the New Forest. My grandparents lived in Pennington and now my parents live in Lymington and my youngest brother in Hale. The authors descriptions of the places came alive in my mind as I read. It was a happy read back to the origins of my childhood trips. Also a wonderful historical and fictional account of the people and background of The New Forest.
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