tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post8865080968375808166..comments2024-02-10T19:58:20.327+00:00Comments on Stuck in a Book: The Good Soldier - Ford Madox FordStuckInABookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-52344184385599183502015-08-10T12:58:48.214+01:002015-08-10T12:58:48.214+01:00Definitely a book to read slowly, and then probabl...Definitely a book to read slowly, and then probably to re-read more slowly still, and so on. Beautifully worked fiction where, as you say, the actual events of the plot are the not the key to its brilliance.<br /><br />My review: <a href="http://www.bibliofreak.net/2015/07/review-good-soldier-by-ford-madox-ford.html" rel="nofollow">The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford</a>Matthew Selwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00723650905588749638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-30493071053028081202013-12-17T21:54:41.784+00:002013-12-17T21:54:41.784+00:00This was one of the few books from my degree that ...This was one of the few books from my degree that I completely loved. I must read it again someday, and perhaps try some of Ford's other work as well.Nose_in_a_bookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07154323912093068113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-76558733913314844202013-12-06T13:27:30.015+00:002013-12-06T13:27:30.015+00:00But it is about war, in a way, the war between men...But it is about war, in a way, the war between men and women! The Good Soldier was my gateway book to the Parade's End tetralogy, which is wonderful as well, if you like Ford's style. which I do, but not everyone shares the feeling. gina in alabamanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-41445916684734996792013-12-03T00:33:52.026+00:002013-12-03T00:33:52.026+00:00I read this years ago, before I ever started blogg...I read this years ago, before I ever started blogging, and at the time I knew little about it, so I had no reason to be intimidated. Now, I only remember that I liked it, but I couldn't tell you anything else, other than I've been surprised to see it described as being difficult. I feel like I ought to reread it, because there are almost certainly complexities that I missed.Teresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09896331683344872038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-36398434502956154622013-12-02T14:45:55.304+00:002013-12-02T14:45:55.304+00:00What a shame! I had obviously come with opposite e...What a shame! I had obviously come with opposite expectations, and thus was pleasantly surprised.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-6234979105615803802013-12-02T14:45:35.828+00:002013-12-02T14:45:35.828+00:00I did relish writing that ;) I've actually re...I did relish writing that ;) I've actually read very little by James, but I think it's going to stay that way. And a very admirable reading goal, I must try that one year! It's not like I'm going to run out...StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-81506292477671636092013-12-02T14:45:02.352+00:002013-12-02T14:45:02.352+00:00I spotted that on Wikipedia! It seems that someone...I spotted that on Wikipedia! It seems that someone at the publishing house wasn't very adept at picking up on sarcasm...StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-23750487180098440012013-12-02T14:43:08.422+00:002013-12-02T14:43:08.422+00:00All-time favourites! Wow, high praise indeed!
The...All-time favourites! Wow, high praise indeed! <br />The connection to Lanchester is probably quite aleatory, but it struck me for some reason... and I don't think *anybody* deserves the censure of being mentioned alongside James! StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-46347389283423601862013-12-02T14:41:48.940+00:002013-12-02T14:41:48.940+00:00Our discussion went quite well, but everyone seeme...Our discussion went quite well, but everyone seemed to be a tiny bit bewildered by it! But I think the discussion really made things clearer for everyone, which is always the hope of book groups.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-71647363479318548372013-12-02T13:54:22.440+00:002013-12-02T13:54:22.440+00:00Oh Simon, I couldn't get on with 'The Good...Oh Simon, I couldn't get on with 'The Good Soldier'! I agree some of the writing is rather fine, but I found the main characters thoroughly objectionable and wearisome. It may also be because I'd heard the novel being so eulogised before I read it, that it just didn't live up to my expectations.Claire Thinkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07405745202810426972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-25165167976287887642013-12-02T09:59:42.281+00:002013-12-02T09:59:42.281+00:00"the multi-claused horror that is Henry James..."the multi-claused horror that is Henry James" - that's wonderful, Simon! I've only ever managed "The Aspern Papers" and that was a struggle... However, I have "The Good Soldier" lurking and I really *must* get round to it. My reading challenges are small at the moment for next year, so I think I will set myself my own goal of reading just what's on my shelves!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-71834415683797944522013-12-02T09:03:40.759+00:002013-12-02T09:03:40.759+00:00This is one I've had on the shelves for too lo...This is one I've had on the shelves for too long (it's hard to fit it in among all my translated fiction 'duties'!). I heard that his choice of 'The Good Soldier' as a replacement title was decidely, deliberately ironic...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07546287562521628467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-5555646860278396272013-12-02T08:45:11.537+00:002013-12-02T08:45:11.537+00:00It's one of my all-time favourites and I agree...It's one of my all-time favourites and I agree - not one to be read in a hurry. Your comparison with 'The Debt to Pleasure' is interesting; that hadn't occurred to me before. But how dare anyone use 'The Good Soldier' and the awful Henry James in the same sentence! How dare they!Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05947813616174735692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-57237344116405066192013-12-02T07:42:50.752+00:002013-12-02T07:42:50.752+00:00We read this for book group last year too - it got...We read this for book group last year too - it got a great discussion, I hope it has the same effect for you. It took me about 100 pages for the novel to click, but then I began to appreciate how the narrator is repeatedly going over things in his mind and remembering other things that change what he'd previously thought.Annabel (gaskella)http://gaskella.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com