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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
Loved the movie, so had to read the book. I thought it would mirror my interpretation; that this was a story about changing attitudes, and the rise of the contemporary homosexual. I was a little wrong.
The two scenes at the end are switched for the movie: the scene where Maurice confronts Clive, and the scene where Maurice meets with Scudder. Maurice leaves us behind in the book, standing dazed amongst the flowers with Clive. It is most unnerving as it distracts from the idea of it being a happy ending, and instead we are left feeling the defeat of Clive.
The two scenes at the end are switched for the movie: the scene where Maurice confronts Clive, and the scene where Maurice meets with Scudder. Maurice leaves us behind in the book, standing dazed amongst the flowers with Clive. It is most unnerving as it distracts from the idea of it being a happy ending, and instead we are left feeling the defeat of Clive.
Still a huge fan. Gosh I hope they hit this badboi with a remake soon. Or, slow down and smell the roses with a TV series.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I appreciate what Forster did here (especially the ending) but I think I'm not a fan of Forster's writing style. This is my third novel by him and I thought I would love all of them, but alas, that was never the case.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
“You do care a little for me, I know... but nothing to speak of, and you don't love me. I was yours once till death if you'd cared to keep me, but I'm someone else's now... and he's mine in a way that shocks you, but why don't you stop being shocked, and attend to your own happiness.”
What an honest portrayal of life as a queer person. It's hard to understand oneself and our desires, more so to act upon them knowing you'd only self loathe after. Maurice was incredibly relatable as a character, it was beautiful to see him endure his own internalized homophobia, how he hoped for his own happiness and eventually chased it for it himself risking his status in the process. It takes courage to act as he did the last third of the novel, I'd honestly gone mad with so much uncertainty. A happy ending is all I wanted for him.
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a lovely story, my main issue is that I found it way too fast paced, I didn't have enough time to see the relationships develop, and they were my favorite part of the novel.
Maurice is truly a relatable character and his journey of self discovery was interesting to follow.
Maurice is truly a relatable character and his journey of self discovery was interesting to follow.
Removed from its context, I still think I would have enjoyed this book well enough, although the datedness of the writing did slow me down a bit. The plot could be a bit slow, especially in the beginning, but it is a nice story about a man who manages to find himself a happy ending despite great odds. However, when you consider the context of the novel, that it is a gay love story with a happy ending written in 1913-1914, it becomes that much more powerful. To me, it is a testament to the fact that gay people have always existed and that queer joy is timeless. Even though the book was not published until the 1970s after the author's death, when it was still torn apart by critics for treating the gay experience as a human one, I am glad that it was written and that I could read it.