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cowardlyteaman's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was very positively surprised by this book.
I must say, that my hopes weren't too high after The Picture of Dorian Gray was so infamously known for it's early homosexual representation, which imprisoned Oscar Wilde. Although the uncensored version includes a tirade of a clearly homosexual confession, the remaining book was really just Dorian being corrupted by his own and others' obsession with his beauty. Which is gay, but not homosexual.
However, that was not the case here! Forster did not try to hide a clearly homosexual story behind something else — it's very explicitly about Maurice's journey to finding himself.
It's written well and it was surprisingly efficient for a classic. I often feel like classics have a lot of ... irrelevant tirades to show off the author's education and intellect. I was never bored or felt urgent to skip parts during this read.
As for the characters, they all clearly have issues. I do love that there are flawed characters here. Maurice is explicitly described as a dumbass every other chapter.
And on that note, I find the balance with humour especially pleasant. The dialogue is very realistic to me and I like how it reflects human nature.
It's not too long and it was a great read to get me out of a reading slump.
It's noteworthy that I'm a gay man myself and might find the book slightly more engaging than others, but anyone with an interest in classical romance dramas would enjoy this. It has the forbidden love, classism, the internal conflict, betrayal, and all that, only with two men rather than a woman and a man.
I must say, that my hopes weren't too high after The Picture of Dorian Gray was so infamously known for it's early homosexual representation, which imprisoned Oscar Wilde. Although the uncensored version includes a tirade of a clearly homosexual confession, the remaining book was really just Dorian being corrupted by his own and others' obsession with his beauty. Which is gay, but not homosexual.
However, that was not the case here! Forster did not try to hide a clearly homosexual story behind something else — it's very explicitly about Maurice's journey to finding himself.
It's written well and it was surprisingly efficient for a classic. I often feel like classics have a lot of ... irrelevant tirades to show off the author's education and intellect. I was never bored or felt urgent to skip parts during this read.
As for the characters, they all clearly have issues. I do love that there are flawed characters here. Maurice is explicitly described as a dumbass every other chapter.
And on that note, I find the balance with humour especially pleasant. The dialogue is very realistic to me and I like how it reflects human nature.
It's not too long and it was a great read to get me out of a reading slump.
It's noteworthy that I'm a gay man myself and might find the book slightly more engaging than others, but anyone with an interest in classical romance dramas would enjoy this. It has the forbidden love, classism, the internal conflict, betrayal, and all that, only with two men rather than a woman and a man.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, Classism, Medical trauma, Homophobia, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Alcohol, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying, Death, Pedophilia, Biphobia, and Death of parent
cassreading's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I already know I like EM Forster, and this book was not a disappointment. His insight into the human mind and his prose are wonderful to me.
Alec's storyline seemed to come out of nowhere in some ways. It doesn't get as much development as Clive's. But I think it's thematically interesting in terms of class. It feels like Alec almost like breaks into this previously upper class story, where The Poor Lower Classes have previously only circled the margins.
This is a piece of gay history, and I was pleasantly surprised by its relative kindness. Good read.
Alec's storyline seemed to come out of nowhere in some ways. It doesn't get as much development as Clive's. But I think it's thematically interesting in terms of class. It feels like Alec almost like breaks into this previously upper class story, where The Poor Lower Classes have previously only circled the margins.
This is a piece of gay history, and I was pleasantly surprised by its relative kindness. Good read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia
A character thinks sexually about a minor and makes an unsuccessful pass at them. Thoughts are not described in detail.
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