2018- October - Forest by Rutherfurd

Edward Rutherford The Forest

This book followed Rutherford’s usual pattern of looking at a collection of local families involved in various periods of history.

There were 2 non-finishers - not a book to be read quickly, not gripping.

Some disappointment in the book was expressed by some of the Group who found it formulaic and mainly dull, but they felt that this was because the local incidents were not of great importance in national life. The descriptions of the Forest were made interesting by having local knowledge, but occasionally some implausibility made the suspension of disbelief difficult - view of the sea from Fordingbridge for example. The quality of the research seemed uneven, some episodes more firmly rooted than others, so the characters and happenings in the different vignettes were of varied interest and appeal. The charcoal burners were the most original, the trial in Bath least satisfactory, the smuggling bet incoherent, and the initial anthropomorphising of the deer annoyed some readers.

The unchanging nature of the Forest and its very specific laws and customs did come across well, and raised a lot of questions about what remains and its protection. Most people wanted to know more about one aspect or another.

Overall, however, the book was worth reading.

Marks 5,5,6,7,8,8,8