Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - O Amante de Lady Chatterley

Written in 1928, this book was banned for 30 years due to obscenity and explicit sexual scenes. It was the forbidden fruit, and let's be honest, the only reason anyone bothered picking it up.

This book tells us about Connie, who marries the rich baronet Clifford Chatterley. Shortly after their wedding, Clifford goes to war and returns with paralyzed legs. Connie slowly transforms from a loving wife into his servant, her feelings fading away. Every day of her existence is gray and meaningless until she meets Mellors, Clifford’s poor, low-class gamekeeper.

This novel was a challenge to the public moral standards of that time. The author addresses stigmatized topics such as divorce, female pleasure, and the absurdity of the class system. Nevertheless, I could never be happier to finally finish the book.

The main character is absolutely boring and has no personality, and Oliver Mellors, Connie’s lover, has made me sick since the very beginning. The violent way he treated his daughter and Connie herself, the disgusting sexist, homophobic, and racist things he was saying made me actually hate him. However, according to Connie, Mellors is the epitome of a “true man,” and the novel presents his traits as a beacon of pure, precious honesty that goes in contrast with all the fake manners of aristocracy. What were intended to be romantically beautiful scenes served as glaring red flags, making my eyes roll.

Despite the book’s significant role in literature, I could not stand it. Lady Chatterley’s Lover, once a big challenge to societal norms, has aged very poorly. I strongly recommend not wasting your time on this.

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tessoliviaallen's review against another edition

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lozbot27's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I loved this book. To me Connie is one of the most relatable and sincere female protagonists I have ever read. As a young woman still trying to understand her sexual pleasure preferences and how to be a part of a relationship and read the other person, this book reflects a lot of my vulnerabilities. But the discussions on class, industrialism, romanticism and female independence, disability, war, and sexual preference are some of the many reasons why I recommend people read this book. The men in the novel aren't entirely agreeable including Mellors, but they are interesting fully formed individuals. The language can be challenging but I felt it was accessible.

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sarahyjackson's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A re-read outside the classroom for a book club. Look, certainly parts of the text should be and are criticized. But I marveled still about the questions Lawrence puts to his readers about self, partnership, class, and more.

<Also, it is a profoundly unique experience to read a romance book in which the leads are not very likable.>

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