A Room With a View - The Book

[Zeljka]

A Room with a View, written only a century ago, is such a classic, many readers like to return to it more than once. I am one of them, although I never manage to give it a straight A after reading. I always come back for more and always end up with a tie between four and five stars.

What are your thoughts about this novel? Have you ever read it before? If you have, would you like to read it once again, and why? I know I will, I have already put it beside my bedpost :)

I found some wonderful discussion questions on LitLovers Site, which were originally printed out in one of Penguin editions of the book. We may start with some of them that I found compelling (if you wish, naturally, you can check the other questions too):

1) How are Lucy's character and mood captured in the descriptions of her piano playing throughout the novel?

2) Lucy and George both stand outside Britain's traditional class structure. What role does social class play in the novel? Why did Forster choose Cecil to deliver the statement: "The classes ought to mix...There ought to be intermarriage—all sorts of things. I believe in democracy."?

3) What is "medieval" about Cecil's attitude toward women in general and toward Lucy in particular? What role is she allotted in his notion of chivalry? Why does Lucy feel, after George throws her blood-stained photographs into the Arno, that it is "hopeless to look for chivalry in such a man"? What kind of companionship and protection does George offer in exchange?

4) A frequent criticism of Forster's plots is his reliance on coincidence and chance. What improbable circumstances are required to unite Lucy and George? Is George right when he says of their reunion in England, "It is Fate. Everything is Fate"? Does the novel suggest an external force that brings the lovers together?

5) There are many kinds of deceit in the book: betrayal by friends, secrets between lovers, and most importantly Lucy's self-deceit. Which kinds of lies are most harmful to the "personal relations" that Forster cherished?

Please remember, this is intended to be a discussion about the book. For the movies and their comparison with the original, please check the movies section.

[Elena]

I'm very sorry and quite embarrassed to say that I didn't like it - bored me to death... I HATE Edwardian-British empty chit-chat!
When I give such a low rating for a book that is a classic and LOVED by the masses, I honestly think that there must be something wrong with me or that I missed something MAJOR!! Haha - maybe both are true...

[Zeljka]

Elena wrote: "I'm very sorry and quite embarrassed to say that I didn't like it - bored me to death..."

Haha don't feel sorry - I happen to like silly chit-chats from time to time, but that's why it's great we are all so different, the world would be so boring if everybody would like the same things :)

[Elena]

Haha i guess that's true, too!

[Marren]

It was a likable read for me, at first I wondered about the themes clashing here and there, dragging and digging the romance but eventually I found solid footing and enjoyed the ride.

Cecil aka Mr. Fiasco aka Mr. Medieval thinks that women need men to guard them successfully along the journey of life. A man would ascertain that a woman is well read so she can engage in meaningful conversation etc. What interest about that mindframe in relation to Lucy is her willingly to go with the flow, however when Mr. George points out all what Cecil does wrong, its like she finally accepts the truth she knew all along. Cecil tells her what and when to do something but ahhh, didn't George fall in the same stew but she accepted it.