The Forsyte Saga

I came to this one with no prior exposure to Galsworthy. Had never seen the BBC version or read it. I expected a Merchant & Ivory experience. I was so intrigued to find that, instead of being melodramatic or stuffy, it's a wickedly funny satire. I grinned from start to finish. The narrator is perfect. This type of humor has to be delivered deadpan. It is a family saga with all the tragedies and connections that entails, and the plot is wonderful. I'm surprised, however, that nobody had ever told me it's funny. Oh well. As James Forsyte would say, "I don't know. Can't tell. Nobody tells me ANYTHING."

This is a long audiobook you will be sorry to see end. The characters are wonderfully developed and the era is convincingly described. The interlude "Indian Summer of a Forsyte" is one of the most moving audio books I have heard.
It takes about thirty minutes to get used to the narrator and the long list of characters. But after that you are hooked.

I was so looking forward to this months credit because I have wanted to listen to this book.. it has everything I love in an audio book.. and the reviews seemed good...

the story may be good.. but I will never know! I can't stand the reader. My computer voice simulator has more expression and tone and LIFE.

There is no life to the reading... no feeling... no emotion. The reader would be better suited to a technical manual.

I hate to give a poor review to a story with such promise. But the reader makes it impossible to do otherwise.

This is the 1st audio book from the hundreds i own that I am sure I will not listen to. I couldn't past the first 35 minutes.. how can I do 42 hours of this.

:(
Mikki

Although some people might be at first daunted by the length of this book, by the end of it they might possibly be like me and wishing for it to go on. I ended up purchasing a copy of the book so that I could have a copy of the family tree. This really helped in the beginning to keep track of the characters. As another reviewer mentioned, it took a bit of time to get used to the voice of the reader, but by the end I don't think anyone could have done a better job. The story itself is terrific, a wonderful glimpse into those times. This is truly great literature and a most entertaining listen. I highly recommend this book. You will find yourself thinking about it even when you aren't listening to it.

It's pretty hard to top "War and Peace." And I guess I'd have to say that the Tolstoy book is still my all time favorite. But after now listening to at least 100 audiobooks over the past few years, I would have to put The Forsyte Saga right at the top. Lovely writing. Beautiful creation of three generations of the Forsyte family. An arc of the story that is ultimately satisfying. I am now looking for other stories with a similar arc--i.e., multi-generational story telling. This was a magical listening experience for me. Stick with it, even though the opening segments may seem daunting in naming so many characters. The payoff is wonderful.

I thoroughly enjoyed all 42 hours of this book. I was quite sad when I finished it, having felt attached to the characters in the book. I guess that is what you get when you read a classic such as this. The author is a true master at painting a picture of his story and making you feel as though you are part of the drama. I highly recommend this book!!!

I had not expected much when I downloaded this and am not sure why I did -- Nostalgia perhaps due to a vague memory of late 1960-ish B&W BBC series I saw as a child when we had only one TV channel -- but I loved every second. I ended up listening to all nine novels of the Forsyte Chronicles (3 novels X 3) but liked the three in this collection and the first two of the next trilogy best. I'd rate those first five of the Chronilces as five star reads, with most of the remaining getting a strong four stars from me. I ended up renewing my Audible account early to obtain them.

I expected some kind of well-written soap opera, but the series turned out to be literary social commentary through the narration of events and character response. Who would have thought we could be brought to care so much about a character like Soames? I can understand why Galsworthy won the Nobel.

A unique and enticing look into the period. An in-depth tale into a wealthy family of the age. Soames Forsyte " The Man of Property" is a disagreeable yet upright figure. Irene the beautiful "Lady in Gray" is a captivating warm personality. Her story is tragic, one of lost love. The story intertwines with Irene's life and the men who want to possess and own her. I felt the narrator did a superb job.

From the first moment, I was transported back into another time by this very long and very poignant story. I know someone has complained bitterly about the reader, but I found the monitone reading perfectly suited the tone of the story. Of every book I've listened to, this is by far and away my favorite.

I listened to the whole book and did not want it to end despite its length.

The reader is most excellent and skillful. I was also put off at first by his apparently plodding style, but I became quite comfortable and eventually looked forward to it. He managed surprising subtle changes in the characters' moods and dispositions.

Personally, I found myself too much like Soames but I really enjoy this masterful tale of an age at its height and during its passing.

Just wait until you get to the chapters called Indian Summer and the Awakening!

Wait until you hear a boy describe beauty to his mother... Ah feels a little teary-eyed already.

Ben