Scan barcode
A review by kbkittyb
Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
3.0
This one has me puzzled as to how I feel...
I enjoyed it and the writing is very intellectual and yet poetical. But there is something that doesn't sit quite right....
I think its the characters. All of them unlikeable. All of them too complex and distant to become fully formed to the reader. But I suppose that's the more philosophical point Lawrence was trying to make. But I won't get into that, he's done enough of that for the both of us.
Unlike others, I am of the opinion that this book deserves the title of classic in its own right. Some believe it is only a part of the literary cannon because of the scandal, and boy don't we all love a bit of that! But I disagree, it makes valid points about society that are still being made today. The language is often beautiful and sultry. He writes of love as a form of art - something to be enjoyed by all, with no judgement or conformity. He was ahead of his time.
So yes, it is very scandalous. And these scenes are a large part of the draw of this novel. But thats the point. In contrast to modern equivalents such as Fifty Shades of Grey, causing a scandal was the point, to make sex less of a taboo. Fifty shades and similar works are often badly written, have no lasting societal impact, and are only written for the money. Which is exactly what D H Lawrence was against all along. So I guess Mellors was proved right after all...
Sorry for the rant but overall, a book that leaves you with much food for thought. Exciting scenes, coupled with rather intense philosophical ones. So if you're reading it just for the smut, don't bother, you'll be bored.
An anticlimactic ending that felt rushed and unsatisfactory leaves me a little disillusioned but somehow hopeful.
I would encourage all fans of the classics to read this one. As a Nottingham lass m'self im a little biased. But a good, solid read with some thinly veiled spice. Enjoy!
I enjoyed it and the writing is very intellectual and yet poetical. But there is something that doesn't sit quite right....
I think its the characters. All of them unlikeable. All of them too complex and distant to become fully formed to the reader. But I suppose that's the more philosophical point Lawrence was trying to make. But I won't get into that, he's done enough of that for the both of us.
Unlike others, I am of the opinion that this book deserves the title of classic in its own right. Some believe it is only a part of the literary cannon because of the scandal, and boy don't we all love a bit of that! But I disagree, it makes valid points about society that are still being made today. The language is often beautiful and sultry. He writes of love as a form of art - something to be enjoyed by all, with no judgement or conformity. He was ahead of his time.
So yes, it is very scandalous. And these scenes are a large part of the draw of this novel. But thats the point. In contrast to modern equivalents such as Fifty Shades of Grey, causing a scandal was the point, to make sex less of a taboo. Fifty shades and similar works are often badly written, have no lasting societal impact, and are only written for the money. Which is exactly what D H Lawrence was against all along. So I guess Mellors was proved right after all...
Sorry for the rant but overall, a book that leaves you with much food for thought. Exciting scenes, coupled with rather intense philosophical ones. So if you're reading it just for the smut, don't bother, you'll be bored.
An anticlimactic ending that felt rushed and unsatisfactory leaves me a little disillusioned but somehow hopeful.
I would encourage all fans of the classics to read this one. As a Nottingham lass m'self im a little biased. But a good, solid read with some thinly veiled spice. Enjoy!