Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Good Soldier
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
This is the saddest story I have ever heard. So begins Julian Mitchells stage adaptation of Ford Madox Fords classic novel, The Good Soldier, a tale of deceit, delusion, and disintegrating marriage in pre-war Britain. Two seemingly upstanding couples find their friendships enveloped by scandal and tragedy, as the faade of wealth and privilege falls away and details of their indiscretions emerge. A fascinating new stage adaptation from an award-winning writer.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
quote
TheSpineView
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image
dabbe 🧡🖤🧡 5mo
31 likes2 comments
blurb
Leftcoastzen
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image
Eggs 💚💚 11mo
LeahBergen This has been waiting on my shelves for ages! 11mo
Leftcoastzen @LeahBergen I remember liking it . I also struggled to find a nice copy in the pre internet years, more attached for that reason as well. 11mo
49 likes3 comments
review
Crystal83
The Good Soldier | Ford Maddox Ford
Pickpick

I listened to the audiobook of this book. I wanted a book to listen to when I am working on my blanket that I am crocheting. I enjoyed the narrator a lot. I like the book too. I wanted to try this author out before I read so more of his books. I rated this book a 3.75 out of 5 stars.

quote
TheSpineView
The Good Soldier | Ford Maddox Ford
post image
review
Brimful
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image
Pickpick

Published in 1915 and regarded by many as his masterpiece this novel reflects upon the damage done by prewar sexual conventions. The story is told in a meandering way by an unreliable narrator and can be difficult to follow. Nonetheless a worthwhile read with beautiful writing and complex observations. I think FMF was advocating polyamory and that there is a touch of misogyny - the women shoulder the blame for the tragedies in the story

BkClubCare This is on my Oct Spin Bingo list. Wait, I think it‘s “Bingo Spin” 🧐 2y
Brimful I look forward to hearing your thoughts! 2y
7 likes1 stack add2 comments
quote
Brimful
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image

It is very difficult to give an all-round impression of any man I wonder how far I have succeeded with Edward ashburnham. I dare say I haven‘t succeeded at all. It is very difficult to see how such things matter. Was it the important point about poor Edward that he was well built , carried himself well, was moderate at the table and led a regular life-that he had in fact all the virtues that are usually accounted English

blurb
Brimful
The Good Soldier | Ford Maddox Ford
post image

Picked this up in a charity shop and stopped in the sun to read a few pages on my cycle home. Instantly compelling!

review
Schwifty
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image
Pickpick

The narrator of this short novel, the hapless, yet somewhat suspicious John Dowell, charts the series of infidelities between another couple and his wife and the tragic deaths which befall many of the involved parties. Dowell seems to be both bystander and participant and possibly worse, although much is left to the reader to decide. Is Dowell a victim of tragedy or a serial murderer? What are his and the others' true motives? It's worth a read.

blurb
DrSabrinaMoldenReads
The Good Soldier | Ford Maddox Ford
post image

I am continuing to think a lot about this book, the characters and the relationships. It reminded me a lot of what Tolstoy amazingly did in “Anna Karenina”. Ford amazingly portrayed the full complexities of human emotions and relationships...all of the good, the bad and the ugly. Human nature is really, really difficult to understand and is in reality very messy. I will keep trying to figure this out but know I never fully will.

review
DrSabrinaMoldenReads
The Good Soldier | Ford Maddox Ford
post image
Pickpick

I found this book to be amazing. The psychotherapist part of me loved it the most. I may be wrong in this but I think those who do not do my job may not be aware that such toxic, incredible, unbelievable...people and relationships actually exist undercover among seemingly “normal”people. This novel is fiction but, truly, as Dowell says, “It‘s a queer and fantastic world...with broken,tumultuous lives” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#1001Bookstoreadbeforeyoudie

25 likes1 stack add
blurb
DrSabrinaMoldenReads
The Good Soldier | Ford Maddox Ford
post image

Lord knows, I wish I could stay home and finish reading this book. It is sooooo enjoyable!

readordierachel Beautiful cover! 4y
34 likes1 comment
quote
DrSabrinaMoldenReads
The Good Soldier | Ford Maddox Ford
post image

I found another great book, written in first person narrative, that I am really enjoying. I am not trained in English literature and do not know what kind of writing this is but I love his descriptions of people and things.

twohectobooks I really liked this one! 4y
25 likes2 comments
review
S.Web
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image
Pickpick

I‘ve read two of Ford‘s novels now and they were both so good. It‘s so surprising to me that Ford has basically been forgotten at this point. His books deserve to be more widely read.

blurb
Centique
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image

#maymoviemagic #younevercantell

#younevercantell what‘s at the heart of a novel when your protagonist narrator is naive of the truth himself! John Dowell‘s recollections of his role in the unravelling of a relationship may also be unreliable.

I loved this when I read it many years ago. But you know me, mad for a slow atmospheric classic with some awe inspiring sentences. 😋 I also loved The Fifth Queen. Any other fans out there?

LeahBergen I have this waiting on my shelf. 👍🏻 5y
Centique @LeahBergen I almost tagged you to say that probably nobody else would like this except me and @leahbergen 😂 😂 So i hope you do like it! 5y
LeahBergen 😂😂 I always thought it sounded like a book I‘d love! 5y
See All 14 Comments
emtobiasz I read this one for a British Lit class in college! I remember liking it, but not a whole lot else about it. I‘ll have to revisit sometime! 5y
batsy Long been on my TBR. I think it's because Francine Prose recommended it in one of her nonfiction books for its beautiful sentences 🙂 5y
batsy This Prose book, which I think might be up your alley as well :) 5y
Centique @batsy oh wow! This looks so good. I honestly think this could be the book I never knew I was looking for. In my enthusiasm for reading I usually miss noticing the craft of writing - and I need to pay more attention so I can learn for my own writing. Thank you! 5y
Centique @emtobiasz yay! I‘m glad I‘m not the only fan 😊👌 5y
Cinfhen Nice choice, Jo 5y
Liz_M I remember enjoying this when I read it a couple of years ago. Apparently it was during one of my many reviewing slumps, so I didn't ate or review it. 😕 5y
Centique @Cinfhen at your service m‘lady 😝 5y
Centique @Liz_M I know the feeling! I only started rating books 3 years ago so there‘s So Many I‘ve read and can‘t remember 😬 5y
batsy My pleasure, P! I know that feeling all too well and I appreciated how Prose made me stop and see the structure and construction of these beautiful words/works. 5y
RohitSawant Interesting! And I'm all for slow atmospheric reads interspersed with brilliant sentences 🙌🏼 5y
80 likes1 stack add14 comments
quote
Tanzy13
Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image

review
Kristy_K
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image
Pickpick

I imagine this book would have been very scandalous for its time. Our narrator, John Dowell, tells the tale of he & his wife‘s friendship with the Ashburnhams & the subsequent affair between his wife & Edward A. He goes on to talk about many of Edward‘s dalliances and you get the feeling John at times envies Edward. While there is some tragedy, on a whole this book reads with lots of dry humor and naïveté.

⭐️⭐️⭐️?

#LitsyAtoZ #classic #LetterF

Reviewsbylola Sounds salacious! 5y
Freespirit I have not heard of this book. It sounds good! 5y
Kristy_K @Freespirit I randomly picked it up during one of Barnes and Noble‘s classics sale. I had no idea what it was about until I started it lol. 5y
Freespirit @Kristy_K sometimes that‘s the way to pick up a great book! 5y
65 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
TheAnitaAlvarez
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image
Pickpick

“This is the saddest story I‘ve ever heard” begins this novel, which talks about two couples and their disintegration as the world changes around them. It‘s a very short novel, but it manages to involve you in the world of this health spa and pre-WWI Europe in general. There‘s interesting gender dynamics in both relationships, considering the context of early 20th century.

#RoryGilmoresReadingChallenge

zsuzsanna_reads One of my favourites. 6y
Jinjer This post is from 2 years ago but in hopes that you're still around, I will ask the question. What edition is this? I don't see that cover on Amazon or Goodreads and I really like it. LOL 4y
83 likes12 stack adds2 comments
review
twohectobooks
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image
Pickpick

I was astonished by how much I liked this after struggling with Parade‘s End. A conversational tale of infidelity between one American and one English couple, told by the long-suffering American husband, or at least that‘s what he‘d have you believe....

#modernlibrarytop100

blurb
twohectobooks
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image

#tbrbingo update since I‘m not going to finish anything else by the end of the month

Progress is still slow! The biggest mistake I‘ve made is not including free spaces for #bookclub books.

DivineDiana Slow and steady wins the race! 👍🏻 6y
twohectobooks @DivineDiana if I keep up this pace I should get at least one bingo by the end of this year haha 6y
DivineDiana 👏🏻📚🤞🏻 6y
9 likes3 comments
quote
twohectobooks
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image

Society must go on, I suppose, and society can only exist if the normal, if the virtuous, and the slightly deceitful flourish, and if the passionate, the headstrong, and the too-truthful are condemned to suicide and to madness.

DivineDiana 😧 6y
15 likes1 comment
blurb
twohectobooks
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image

Argh, not again!

One of the few downsides of #library books

blurb
twohectobooks
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image

@Kaye via @tournevis

1️⃣ This is the saddest story I have ever heard.
2️⃣ 239
3️⃣ superstitious
4️⃣ Florence, Jimmy, Mrs Maidan
5️⃣ grey
6️⃣ classics, probably
7️⃣ the, moment
8️⃣ red
9️⃣ FMF
🔟 4th of August, different years
1️⃣1️⃣ 1915
1️⃣2️⃣ Graham Greene (if I understand this correctly)
1️⃣3️⃣ Nope, about 30%
1️⃣4️⃣ ???
1️⃣5️⃣ Yep, half of Parade‘s End. Like this one better.

Kaye Oh...DARN. I finally knew one, but the title‘s already listed. I‘ve read the beginning of this so many times but never read very far. I‘m not sure why because it seemed like great writing. Will you tag me when you put a review on ? 6y
twohectobooks @Kaye oops, didn‘t realize I was supposed to hide what the actual book was! Will try to remember to tag, shouldn‘t be too long till I‘m done. 6y
Kaye Is ok, no worries. Thank you 👍🏼 6y
10 likes3 comments
blurb
twohectobooks
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image

Started last night for #modernlibrarytop100

I think I‘m going to like this one.

review
actuallyalison
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image
Panpan

Sorry for the lit-vomit! I was horribly busy during the semester and am just now getting around to posting all the things I've read.

This book felt like Lord Jim and The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Maybe I'm not a fan of modernist work after all, or maybe it's the time period. I wouldn't say you'd regret skipping this book unless you love the time period and the writing style.

blurb
LMJenkins
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image
35 likes1 stack add
review
HotCocoaReads
The Good Soldier | Ford Maddox Ford
post image
Mehso-so

This could also be titled, The Bad Husband. Yes, it‘s an interesting exploration of marriage and people and attractions and lust. The story is told in an interesting way—as though I (as silent reader) am really sitting in a room by the fire with Dowell. He‘s telling the story but forgetting bits and pieces of the story along the way. It‘s told in a haphazard non-linear way that‘s actually difficult to read... I‘m going to think more on this. 🤔

wanderlustforwords I never knew what this was about. Sounds I need to add it. 6y
wanderlustforwords It looks like you weren‘t thrilled but it‘s free on Kindle, so no harm in trying it. 6y
HotCocoaReads @wanderlustforwords I do think it‘s worth reading—I‘m very curious to hear what you‘ll think about it. 6y
wanderlustforwords Hi Jeana! Now I can talk to you in two places! 😁 6y
HotCocoaReads @wanderlustforwords You may see a little repetition over here 😂 Mainly I use my photo seconds here that don‘t make the cut on BG 6y
22 likes5 comments
blurb
Liz_M
The Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image

And I finally completed my Bingo challenge! The tagged book is on the Rory Gilmore reading list. #bingo, #litsyreadingchallenge2017, #lrc2017

AceOnRoam 👏👏👏 6y
mhillis Wow!! That‘s great🎉 6y
8 likes2 comments
blurb
Lcsmcat
The Good Soldier | Ford Maddox Ford
post image
blurb
Moray_Reads
The Good Soldier | Ford Maddox Ford
post image

I know @LeahBergen also choose this one but Ford Madox Ford was a great modernist but is sadly under-recognised and I love his work. Despite its flaws I think Parade's End is his masterpiece but the Good Soldier is full of human weakness and contradiction, he constructs his characters' psyches in a way few writers manage #aprilbookshowers #goodinthetitle

GatheringBooks i love folio society and this looks like a super gorgeous edition 7y
LeahBergen Oooo! What a nice edition! 👏🏻 7y
47 likes3 stack adds2 comments
blurb
LeahBergen
Good Soldier | Ford Madox Ford
post image

How's that for a compelling first line? #TitleWithGood #AprilBookShowers

Ole And a fantastic book 7y
TheLondonBookworm Classic! 7y
Blaire Such a great book! 7y
106 likes6 stack adds3 comments
blurb
Thekelburrows
The Good Soldier | Ford Maddox Ford
post image

Two Fords is more than one Ford. #math

quote
farahanada
The Good Soldier | Ford Maddox Ford
post image

"This is the saddest story I have ever heard"

blurb
Deserthorror
The Good Soldier | Ford Maddox Ford
post image

The original unreliable narrator.
Before Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train there was Ford Madox Ford. And everyone else pales in comparison.

shawnmooney I want to read his 800-pager, 'Parade's End,' and then watch the acclaimed TV miniseries starring Benedict Cumberbatch. 8y
Deserthorror I haven't tapped into that one. He's such a great writer I bet everything he touched is gold. 8y
2 likes2 stack adds2 comments