The Forsyte Saga - Part 1 - A Man of Property

The next book that I decided to pick off the list of course had to be a monster of a book. Fortunately, this book is actually a collection of smaller books (three books and two "interludes") so I am able to finish one book, read another book in between and go back to The Forsyte Saga. Written by John Galsworthy, it is the story of three generations of Forsyte's. A group of farmers who become wealthy, the definition of "new money". In their acquisition of wealth and property, they have forgotten what it means to be truly happy. The book even says of the Forsytes, only twenty pages in, of their emotional sentiment "There was little sentimentality among the Forsytes. In that great London, which they had conquered and become merged in, what time had they to be sentimental?".

The Forsytes are a large family. So large in fact that there is a family tree in the beginning of the book that was so very useful when trying to figure out who was the son of who or married to who or what. We are introduced to the majority of the family, but this book is concentrated on these family members: Soames and Irene Forsyte, "Old" Jolyon and "Young" Jolyon Forsyte, June Forsyte, and Philip Bosinney, June's fiancée. All six characters intertwine with tragic results. June is the daughter of "Young" Jolyon, who abandoned her to take up with his mistress about 20 years prior. He has two children with her and eventfully marries her once June's mother dies. Her grandfather, "Old" Jolyon, is the one who raises her and will leave his fortune to her. Neither of them has any contact with the younger Jolyon. He has basically been excommunicated from the family. 

Soames is the son of James Forsyte, "Old" Jolyon's brother. He is married to Irene, who has become good friends with June. They are close in age and have a lot in common. Irene is unhappy in her marriage with Soames, even though he tries to show his affection by buying her expensive clothes and even has the grand idea to build her a house in the country. He thinks by taking her out of the hustle and bustle of London and without all of the distractions, she will learn to love him again. The building of a country house is brought about by June, who's fiancée, Bosinney, is an architect. June has promised her grandfather that she will not marry him until he makes about 400 pounds a year. If he is able to pull off this house for a family member, he might get the business to make him a fortune. Soames decides to go with Bosinney, though they are fighting with each other over money right from the beginning. 

While all of the house building is happening, "Old" Jolyon has become lonely in his old age. He has no zest for life. He comes to this realization while attending the opera alone "More poignantly than ever he felt that it was all over and done with him. Where were all the women, the pretty women, the house used to be so full of? Where was the old feeling in his heart as he waited for one of those great singers? Where that sensation of the intoxication and life and of his own power to enjoy it all?". He tries to blame these opera failings on Wagner. However, he knows that there is a deep down desire to reconnect with his son, even after all that his son has done (abandoning his family, etc. etc.). He reminisced when his son remarried, he sent him a check for 500 pounds. His son sent the check back, thanking him for the money. "Old" Jolyon puts it in the trust for the children and every year added to it. He hadn't corresponded with his son since then. He plans on changing that.
As the novel evolves, relationships begin to blur and troubles begin to arise. Soames has noticed that Bosinney has been spending more and more time at the house with Irene and less and less time with June. June has also noticed this, but at first ignores this because Irene is supposed to be her greatest friend. However, as time progresses, it is hard for either of them to ignore that something indeed was going on between Bosinney and Irene. Irene has always been cold to Soames, but has become increasingly and (alarmingly) colder. She rejects even to go walking with Soames. June, on the other hand, can't even get an afternoon with Bosinney. Finally, they attend the opera together, un-chaperoned and June can't stop herself from saying something to Bosinney, that he no longer allows June to do nice things for him anymore. When Bosinney doesn't reply, she says "You know I want to do everything for you - that I want to be everything to you" and demands that Bosinney take her to see the house he was building for Soames on Sunday (knowing very well that Swithin (her Uncle) and Irene were going to be there) and Bosinney rejects her. This is one of the final times that June and Bosinney will spend together.
The crescendo up to the climax is a slow, but steady and worth while wait. I don't want to reveal all of the spoilers, but so far, this is my favorite novel. I have already read the second book and the two interludes, so I really need to catch up with the blog entries. I will hopefully post the review of the first interlude by the end of the week.

Other books I have read have been another Hercule Poirot novel, this time Mrs. McGinty's Dead and another Martha Grimes's Richard Jury novel. Plus, Gone Girl, which I really didn't like but I read it for book club. Screw Gone Girl. Screw it. Terrible ending. Just awful.

Okay, I am done being a curmudgeon about Gone Girl. Currently reading the third book of the The Forsyte Saga, To Let. Can't wait to check off this monster of a book!

Until next time (and book suggestions are always welcome!)

Happy Reading