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Liked It “Even teaching it for a few years, I never understood why it was such a scandalous book. I found the characters' tensions interesting, and the ending was satisfying.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “So I understand the significance of D.H.- his style, his themes- in the context of the early 1900's and of what was going on in literature- and of what was about to shake down in literature within the next several decades (if you are coming from the presupposition that "text" specifically...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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Bill C wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Sons and Lovers tells us most about the emotional source of his ideas," observed Diana Trilling. "The famous Lawrence theme of the struggle for sexual power--and he is sure that all the struggles of civilized life have their root in this primary contest--is the constantly elaborated statement of the fierce battle which tore Lawrence's family." Sons and Lovers is one of the landmark novels of the twentieth century. When it appeared in 1913, it was immediately recognized as the first great modern restatement of the oedipal drama, and it is now widely considered the major work of D. H. Lawrence's early period. This intensely autobiographical novel recounts the story of Paul Morel, a young artist growing to manhood in a British working-class family rife with conflict. The author's vivid evocation of the all-consuming nature of possessive love and sexual attraction makes this one of his most powerful novels. For the critic Kate Millett, " Sons and Lovers is a great novel because it has the ring of something written from deeply felt experience. The past remembered, it conveys more of Lawrence's own knowledge of life than anything else he wrote. His other novels appear somehow artificial beside it."”“So I understand the significance of D.H.- his style, his themes- in the context of the early 1900's and of what was going on in literature- and of what was about to shake down in literature within the next several decades (if you are coming from the presupposition that "text" specifically reflects culture, or at least, feeds on and then back into the histories out of which it was arguably conceived). His work smacks of Romanticism (in the historically aesthetic sense of the word), or at least, clings to some of its sensibilities, blending them with what I would deem Modernist angst. Not to invalidate D.H.'s role in said cultural dynamic, but I found Sons and Lovers to be somewhat tedious- and for long stretches at a time. It certainly had (for me) its redemptive passages and at times, beautifully crafted (and balanced) language and imagery.
banana STOMP wrote this review Tuesday, October 20 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I got the whole Miriam-represents-spirit and Clara-symbolizes-body/sensuality thing. In some dark, nerdy corner of my mind, I like the development of the space vs. time philosophical mindf@$# that emerged most clearly towards the end. And of course, I dug the constant dominance/submission tension- and thought it meshed perfectly with the fabric of the storyline (I admit that I have a tendency to impose Hegel's Master/Slave Dialectic on a lot of what I read in this genre and/or time period....) Nonetheless, I don't think I was entirely satisfied with the way in which D.H. chose to resolve that struggle: the ending was left wanting, in my opinion. ”
“College assignment - Not looking forward to this...”
Alejandro G wrote this review Thursday, October 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Even teaching it for a few years, I never understood why it was such a scandalous book. I found the characters' tensions interesting, and the ending was satisfying.”
Bil wrote this review Wednesday, October 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I did like this book but I got totally frustrated with the mother. I think she was a bit too involved in her sons lives all the way through. ”
Roisin J wrote this review Wednesday, September 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I wasn't sure what to expect here. I had a vague idea it'd be about some high society aristocratic family. But no, it's actually set in a working class pit village in the north of England. Much of the action is set around Nottingham. I rather liked the word 'pigeon' as a term of endearment.
Punxsutawney Paul wrote this review Friday, September 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The action follows the Morel family. The husband is a hard-working hard-drinking wage slave who is fairly contemptible. The wife is a long suffering mother of 4 and one of the main characters. She has three sons, and the action is primarily about them and their partners.
We see several different types of relationship described: the abusive relationship of the Morels. A relationship where one partner is a sponger with no real love for their partner. An innocent relationship where neither partner can bear to think of the other as a sexual being. A passionate relationship without love. And several presumably healthy relationships.
On the whole it was reasonably readable. Not great though. Dry in places. Entire months of activity will sometimes be summed up in a few words of random and petty conversation. The erotic nature of some of the relationships was more honest than in other classic novels, but not very interesting. It marks an interesting transition period in literature between the old 19th century morality and a newer 20th century morality. That's what stands out for me.”“Read Lawrence for the prose. It is really good writing.”
Ryan C wrote this review Saturday, September 5 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“It can be informative for once.
Maryam X wrote this review Monday, August 31 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
But I don't like it.”
“I love Lawrence. I was scared to death, but I'm in love now. I thought this story was absolutely phenomenal, and I loved the development of the relationships between Paul and his ladies, including his mother. I can't wait to crack open the next slice of Lawrence.”
Lauren S wrote this review Thursday, August 6 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“It is always difficult to write a review on a book that was just okay. Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence was just okay. The books is not a page turner. It doesn't make you want to just read and read until you get to the end. But it is easy to lose yourself in the pages and not notice the time go by. It's like Steinbeck's East of Eden in that perceptive (or East of Eden is like Sons and Lovers).
MahoganyRain wrote this review Friday, July 31 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Sons and Lovers is a nice example of a character based storyline. There really is not plot. The story is a look in the life of Paul Morel. The story begins when his parents meet. Lawrence describes the circumstance of Paul's up bring and how he becomes the man he is.
The story mostly surrounds the complex relationship Paul has with his mother. They have a strong interdependent bond. The back of the copy of the book that I read called it Oedipus complex. But (for me) it seemed more like Paul was a mamas boy. They both provided each other with something that was initial missing in there lives. Paul provided comfort, understanding, and a listening ear to his mother. She provided him with a sense of direction. There was never the since that Paul wanted to get rid of his but rather that his father couldn't (or wouldn't) provide his mother with what she needed, so instead he did it.
There is also the relationships that Paul develops with two women, Clara and Miriam. Like the relationship with his mother, the relationships he has with these women are also based on co-dependency. With Miriam it is emotion and with Clara it is sexual. Paul seems to know this and the women seem to know this, yet they continue on with these relationships. It is a little frustrating. There is never the since that Paul is developing as a person, that any of the central characters are developing as people (except Clara, a little). They all seem to just go on and on with the same patterns of behavior. It gets a little tidiest after awhile.
The writing is great. Like a lot of classics Lawrence is good at giving details, sometimes to much detail. As stated earlier this book is not a page turner. It is really easy to put down and forget. Yet, it is also just as easy to pick up and finish were you started off from. The pages seem to pass by quickly and it never feels labor intensive.
Pros: Character based, Writing, Relationships
Cons: A lot of descriptions, Character based, Relationship
Overall Recommendation:
Sons and Lovers is a great example of a character based novel. It would not be the first classic that I would recommend if asked but it would be someone in the middle of the list.”
