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

I’ve never met the man yet who was capable of intimacy with a woman, giving himself up to her. That was what I wanted. I’m not keen on their self-satisfied tenderness, and their sensuality. I’m not content to be any man’s little petsy-wetsy, nor his ‘chair à plaisir’ either. I wanted a complete intimacy, and I didn’t get it. That’s enough for me.”

Lady Chatterly’s Lover is a risqué visit to the English countryside just after World War II…filled with passion, drama, and enlightenment.

It was after I watched the Netflix movie (with Emma Corrin and Matthew Duckett as Lady Chatterly and Mellors, respectively) that I was searching at the beginning of my To Be Read list for my next read. It was an obvious choice!

While the movie focused almost solely on Lady Chatterly’s marriage and sizzling affair, the book dives deeper into the parallel societal evolution going on at the time (the shift from titled property ownership and farming to industry), as well as sexism, classism, sex, and the (timeless) differences between men and women. Like many classics, there is a fair amount of pontificating, but I found it surprisingly relatable and enlightening.

Fortunately, the book doesn't shy away from steamy sex scenes and has the added perk of covering the philosophical aspects of romantic relationships. Though, Lawrence’s obsession with “loins,” “wombs,” and “bowels” was definitely chuckle-worthy and mildly distracting.

As a woman who was stifled on the “good girl” path for 39 years, I was cheering Lady Chatterley on and reveling in her newfound physical AND emotional intimacy with Mellors. You go, girl.

Content Warnings

reubenlb's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.0

smut for the antiquated - at times dated, but also refreshingly relevant for today (bringing children into an overpopulated capitalist society), when you can actually make it through the slog that’s the middle of the novel

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snohwhyman's review against another edition

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2.0

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penguinna's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

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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khnleesi's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.5

WAAAAAAAR IS OOOOVEEEEER!!

i can't believe this got published, not because there's a lot of smut and therefore "shocking" and "scandalous" to the eyes of the 1920's era, but just because it's terribly and horribly boring AND disgusting; why would you as a publisher want people this piece of trash?? why?

"you found it appalling? it came out in 1928 what did you expect?"well too much apparently!

so much for wanting to read the book before watching the movie adaptation............

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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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zosiablue's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Well. I had a lot of feelings reading this! First, it's the book every kid knows is filthy, but I didn't read it until age 42. It definitely would've felt VERY dirty if I read it as a kid. Second, it felt like the eroticism was clickbait to get to his real point: classism and socialism and feminism, and hating rich people, ambition, and status. Which, yeah man! Third, like main character Mellors switches between his Derbyshire and posh accents, it felt like the writing was sometimes very bad and then sometimes very brilliant. Maybe this was an editing thing!

Regardless, it was a funny little book that affected me even though none of the characters were likable. And in fact, many of them felt unsettling. (Connie's dad??)

And I was expecting a different ending! But the ending we got is good.

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clairew97's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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