
A Room with a View
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Narrated by:
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Joanna David
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By:
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E. M. Forster
About this listen
Exclusively from Audible
The story of a young and affluent middle-class girl, Lucy Honeychurch is wooed by George Emerson and Cecil Vyse whilst vacationing in Italy. Though attracted to George, Lucy becomes engaged to Cecil despite twice turning down his proposals. On hearing of the news, George confesses his love, leaving Lucy torn between marrying the more socially acceptable Cecil, or George, the man she knows would bring her true happiness.
In this piece of social comedy, E. M. Forster is concerned with one of his favourite themes: the 'undeveloped heart' of the English middle classes, who are here represented by a group of tourists and expatriates in Florence.
One of Forster's most admired works, here brought vividly to life by narrator Joanna David, it is a classic tale of human struggle. Should Lucy choose social acceptance or true love? Forster's disapproval of the restrictive conventions of British society are mirrored in the novel through his strong observation of character and society.
A Room with a View was ranked 79th on the Modern Library's list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. The 1985 film adaptation by James Ivory won three Oscars.
Narrator Biography
Joanna has an extensive array of credits over stage, film and television. Her more recent television appearances include The Living and the Dead, Death in Paradise and Downton Abbey. She has worked with many great film directors, for example, Woody Allen on You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger in 2010. Her more recent film work includes Another Mother's Son and The Boy with the Topknot . Joanna is vice-president of the Theatrical Guild.
Joanna David has narrated a number of Audible favourites including Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Hilary Boyd’s Thursdays in the Park.
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A marvellous book
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never tired of this sweet love story.
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A splendid novel centered on young Lucy Honeychurch, which both criticizes the restrained Edwardian era culture of England in which she lived and provides a little romance with the passion of Italy infused in juxtaposition.
Forster perceptively reviews the structure of society, and the imperfections and merits of each of its spheres, masterfully contrasting the reasoning of characters who are static (Medieval, dark, rooms) and those he sees as dynamic (Renaissance, light, views). To Forster, Italy represented the force of true passion, freedom and sexuality, as opposed to the societal constrictions of England at the time. Her trip to Florence opened Lucy to a new world of sensuality, and in a way this novel is a Bildungsroman.
Forster's novel, I think, should be applauded for the forward thinking views, in 1908, on feminism.
This is the type of fiction I especially admire, literature that through cunning comparisons "reveals truth" about society "that reality obscures." (Jessamyn West).
"When I think of what life is, and how seldom love is answered by love, it is one of the moments for which the world was made." E.M. Forster, A Room with a View
Critique of, and Bit of Romance in, Edwardian Eng.
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A nice reading of A Room
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Soothing
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Love d it
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Subtle and Brilliant
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a nonromance romance
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The narrator, Rosalyn Landor enjoyed herself and made the book a joy. There is a kind of poetry in the story which she expressed as her own. It was my first time with her. She is tops.
One Italian Spring
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Some characters I just could not stand, and some I could not understand. I think out of everyone, Mr. Emerson was the only one I actually liked. Sometimes his philosophizing threw me a bit, but he says some profound things. Some folks, like Eager and Lavish were just too much, caricatures, and I did not like them. Many of them struck me as just plain rude to anyone who wasn't just like them (i.e. the Emersons, and the Italians). Ms. Bartlett I particularly disliked. She was absolutely ridiculous... Fretting over everything, then her cousin witnesses a murder and she doesn't bat an eye, hardly remarks it a day later. But said cousin gets kissed and suddenly her whole future is in jeopardy and they must hasten away immediately... Granted, the social standards are different as to proper behavior, but that silly woman has no sense or perspective if you ask me. Very trying on my nerves, I can hardly imagine what it would have been like to travel with her. Or the others for that matter. I don't think I could have stood in a room for a full conversation with Cecil before insulting him or leaving rather than hear him. Lucy's mother was nice enough, though her behavior was too bad in the last few chapters. I would have hoped her to be more forgiving, or to at least try to understand how her daughter felt, rather than turning nearly petulant and basically insulting her.
Frankly, I can understand poor Lucy's confusion. It's easy to deceive yourself, and mold your thoughts and desires based on the expectations of others, even to the point of being blind to things and people who are counter to our happiness. But all was resolved as I had hoped - thank goodness for Mr. Emerson. I will beware of muddles and shall like to keep in mind his thoughts and advice on many things, like views, and standing in the sun.
Narration was fine, but not great. She did varied accents fairly well, but hardly had any gender distinction, and if any it wasn't consistent. I often got a bit lost in dialogue when voices were indistinct, Lucy's turning into Emerson's and vice versa, or Cecil's or the clergyman's suddenly turning more feminine. It was fine, but not a distinguished performance.
Apt social commentary, disliked most characters
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