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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
Read my full thoughts over at Read.Write.Repeat.
I won't go into particulars - the book is long and there would be a lot to cover. Suffice it to say that Lawrence portrays such truth in his depiction of each relationship. The relationship between mother and sons is a delicate balance of love, devotion, and a yearning to be free. William and Paul find it difficult to please their mother with their choice of lovers and, consequentially, the relationships between Gertrude and these young women are tense and uncomfortable.
I enjoyed the book, although I can't necessarily say it is one I will read again any time soon. I can see myself picking it up again when my own children reach dating or marrying age, if only as a reminder that I don't know as much as I think I do. After all, what is a good reminder for me now on the child-side of things will still be a good lesson when I stand in the parental role.
I won't go into particulars - the book is long and there would be a lot to cover. Suffice it to say that Lawrence portrays such truth in his depiction of each relationship. The relationship between mother and sons is a delicate balance of love, devotion, and a yearning to be free. William and Paul find it difficult to please their mother with their choice of lovers and, consequentially, the relationships between Gertrude and these young women are tense and uncomfortable.
I enjoyed the book, although I can't necessarily say it is one I will read again any time soon. I can see myself picking it up again when my own children reach dating or marrying age, if only as a reminder that I don't know as much as I think I do. After all, what is a good reminder for me now on the child-side of things will still be a good lesson when I stand in the parental role.
Good, classic story, but I wish a good editor had slashed it in half. There were times I wanted to give up on it, especially during the first half, but at the end I was glad I persevered and endured Paul's relationships even though I wanted to smack him upside the head from time to time.
The story of a disaster of a family. Well-written, but depressing and disturbing. It's hard to imagine enjoying this read.
Spicy hot take, but I think this book could be about mommy issues.
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was told of Lawrence's enchanting writing before, but I never expected it to sweep me off my feet as it did.
Following quite a simple narrative in terms of plot for a romance novel, "Sons and Lovers" is, on the other hand, a beautifully crafted character study, a bildungsroman of the male psyche tormented by the Oedipal complex, a saga of the Morel family of anti-heroes in all their glory.
I loved every bit of what this novel meant, from the way the author had decided to structure his story to the intricate descriptions of the environment which, although seemingly unrelated, took upon itself the emotions of the characters and became sort of like a mirror of their souls. I enjoyed getting to know the characters (and at the same time not getting to) and going with them on their mundane walk throughout life, love, lust, and consequences.
It is true that at times I felt like the story was starting to drag a bit, but Lawrence chose the best moments in which to insert a little plot twist, something to tug both at the attention and at the heart of the reader and pull him or her back into the story. The somewhat autobiographical note that the book carries with it is also an important element to take into consideration when regarding the content of the book, which I feel the readers should keep an eye out for because it adds an extra significance layer to the story.
I would certainly recommend this book to anyone since it reads quite fast and keeps tugging at your heart strings. It may be a little hard to get into, but it's worth giving it a try.
Following quite a simple narrative in terms of plot for a romance novel, "Sons and Lovers" is, on the other hand, a beautifully crafted character study, a bildungsroman of the male psyche tormented by the Oedipal complex, a saga of the Morel family of anti-heroes in all their glory.
I loved every bit of what this novel meant, from the way the author had decided to structure his story to the intricate descriptions of the environment which, although seemingly unrelated, took upon itself the emotions of the characters and became sort of like a mirror of their souls. I enjoyed getting to know the characters (and at the same time not getting to) and going with them on their mundane walk throughout life, love, lust, and consequences.
It is true that at times I felt like the story was starting to drag a bit, but Lawrence chose the best moments in which to insert a little plot twist, something to tug both at the attention and at the heart of the reader and pull him or her back into the story. The somewhat autobiographical note that the book carries with it is also an important element to take into consideration when regarding the content of the book, which I feel the readers should keep an eye out for because it adds an extra significance layer to the story.
I would certainly recommend this book to anyone since it reads quite fast and keeps tugging at your heart strings. It may be a little hard to get into, but it's worth giving it a try.
A magnificent tragedy - well worth wallowing within.
Do you ever read a book and immediately feel like you should go take a hot shower to wash the yuck off? This is that book for me.
The only word for it is toxic. Literally ever character in this book is repulsive, and yet I felt like much of the time Lawrence was trying to present them in a positive light. Since learning that this story was partially autobiographical, I can only imagine that to be true. Within was not one single redeeming character; all of them with the emotional maturity of a teaspoon, all of them just as bad at the end (maybe even more so) as they were at the start.
Perhaps this was an honest stab at observing true life, as it did feel unflinchingly realistic, but these were people that I would avoid at all costs in my daily living, and spending an entire 400 pages with them was an exhausting endeavor. Lawrence, undoubtably, has some very skewed ideas of what love and marriage was as seen by the abusive marriage of Mrs. and Mr. Morel and the cringe-worthy internal thoughts of Mrs. Morel, who somehow still "loved" her husband after twenty-some years of neglect.
It is also reflected in Paul's disgusting treatment of both Miriam and Clara. I cannot count how many times the word "hate" was thrown around in this book. The grotesque vacillations CONSTANTLY between hating these women and loving them made me viscerally angry. Either the author did not understand how to write true emotion or Paul is a sociopath; either is entirely likely. And don't even get me started with the horribly damaging relationship between mother and son--I'm too exhausted even thinking about it.
This book really has no saving graces for me--the writing itself is mediocre, the repetition severe, the actual construction of character done in an unconvincing way, the toxic masculinity of the character and the author repugnant--it leaves me very, very disappointed, and also terribly upset that I plan on reading Lady Chatterly's Lover for my 1928 book.
The only word for it is toxic. Literally ever character in this book is repulsive, and yet I felt like much of the time Lawrence was trying to present them in a positive light. Since learning that this story was partially autobiographical, I can only imagine that to be true. Within was not one single redeeming character; all of them with the emotional maturity of a teaspoon, all of them just as bad at the end (maybe even more so) as they were at the start.
Perhaps this was an honest stab at observing true life, as it did feel unflinchingly realistic, but these were people that I would avoid at all costs in my daily living, and spending an entire 400 pages with them was an exhausting endeavor. Lawrence, undoubtably, has some very skewed ideas of what love and marriage was as seen by the abusive marriage of Mrs. and Mr. Morel and the cringe-worthy internal thoughts of Mrs. Morel, who somehow still "loved" her husband after twenty-some years of neglect.
It is also reflected in Paul's disgusting treatment of both Miriam and Clara. I cannot count how many times the word "hate" was thrown around in this book. The grotesque vacillations CONSTANTLY between hating these women and loving them made me viscerally angry. Either the author did not understand how to write true emotion or Paul is a sociopath; either is entirely likely. And don't even get me started with the horribly damaging relationship between mother and son--I'm too exhausted even thinking about it.
This book really has no saving graces for me--the writing itself is mediocre, the repetition severe, the actual construction of character done in an unconvincing way, the toxic masculinity of the character and the author repugnant--it leaves me very, very disappointed, and also terribly upset that I plan on reading Lady Chatterly's Lover for my 1928 book.
It's engrossing, Lawrence knows human nature, he is able to weave life into a character's agency and paints the British Midlands very well.
