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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
A prescient exploration of the internal life of a gay man. Forster is nearly a century ahead of his time, describing conflicts and emotions that ring true today.
i’ll always have a soft spot for maurice, I can already tell that this will not be the last time I read this book
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can really see how good this book is and how important it is. The story is not too complicated and fun, although sometimes a little boring. The pacing is not great in my opinion, I don't really like it but it didn't have too much impact on the story. The writing style is quite lyrical and sometimes very long, but as the storyline wasn't hard to follow it didn't bother me.
"A happy ending was imperative. I shouldn't have bothered to write otherwise. I was determined that in fuction anyway two men should fall in love and remain in it for the ever and ever that fiction allows, and in this sense, Maurice and Alec still roam the Greenwood. I dedicated it 'To a Happier Year' and not altogether vainly. Happiness is its keynote— which, by the way, has had an unexpected result: It has made the book more difficult to publish. Unless the Wolfenden Report becomes law, it will probably have to remain in manuscript. If it ended unhappily with a lad dangling from a noose or with a suicide pact, all would be well, for there is no pornography or seduction of minors. But the lovers get away unpunished and consequently recommend crime."
The fact that this book was written in 1912–1913 fills me with so much emotion, I can't even express. I'm so happy it was published, albeit posthumously in 1971, but even so.... this book means so much to me.
I have so many questions for Clive, but how refreshing to have a book where the gay characters get a happy ending and the bigot does not! Or at least not an honest one.
This book is from 1913 and it didn't fall into either the 'Kill Your Gays' or the 'Unhappy Gay Ending' trope. Can we stop pretending now that gay stories have to be inherently sad to be interesting? Is it not enough to just yearn and loved and be loved?
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
so happy to have finally read this, the writing is very poetic at times and i loved getting a glimpse of 1913 england through the author's eyes
a classic for a good reason and it's one of the good ones
a classic for a good reason and it's one of the good ones