Rating:  Summary: A Good Study Review: This is not the drum I march to. But it was one of my teacher Ms Worby's favorites. And I can see why. Lawrence does present us with graphic images, dramatic confrontations, an oedipal complex, and a love triangle. The disputes between Clara and Miriam are especially memorable. Clara's vain attitude contrasts sharply with Miriam's genuine love for the protagonist Paul. In all honesty this book is never boring. The reason I could not get overly attached to this is I feel Lawrence lacks the charm that Dickens always throws into his novels. I have respect for this book, and I understand its significance in the world of literature. But I don't feel D.H. Lawrence is another Charles Dickens.
Rating:  Summary: Moving story Review: The plot of the story is simple but the narration is very impressive. Life of the main character ,Paul Morel, will be revolving around his mother. Paul will fail to replace his mother by any other woman. When his mother dies, Paul will lose focus and his life becomes chaotic. But it is not a tragedy and story ends with positive note. Following is my favourite part in the novel. Morel is a drunkard and his wife and kids do not like him. I liked the portrayal of change in environment of Morel's house when Morel is in the house and out of the house. The Miriam's character is very consistent. Finally, if you are used to reading classics, this is a must read.
Rating:  Summary: Tremendous! Review: Of all the 20th century books I've read, this is by all means the greatest. It's the wonderful - and at times heart-breaking - story of the Morels, significantly Paul Morel. It tells of his years as a boy and as a man, the women he painfully loves, and his struggle to obtain peace of mind. It's definitely a story worth reading, and one you're sure to like.
Rating:  Summary: Maybe my favorite book ever Review: This book is amazing. When I first started reading it I was afraid the book might drag at times but this was not the case. I never found myself becoming bored during the book, in fact, there were many times where I found it hard to put the book down. I have recomended this book to everybody, including to the person reading this review. Maybe the book is good for me because I can somewhat relate to Paul Morel's character at times. Now I am not saying that I am in love with my mother, but his akwardness in the earlier sections of the book really struck me. The scenes are so vivid in the book that a reader almost feels that they are there in England with Paul. I also loved how Lawrence would give the thoughts of the female characters as well as Paul. Again, I must say that the book was excellent and I look forward to reading it again soon.
Rating:  Summary: Emotional violation of a child Review: The story is brilliant. It is about how a woman (the mother, Gertrude) takes her son (Paul) as her lover instead of choosing her husband. She did not have the will to love the husband, and instead turned that will on a child. The title is not "Fathers and Lovers" or "Husbands and Lovers." The father is capable of being loved, but in Gertrude's mind, she is too good for the husband. Therefore, she turns her lover's heart towards a child ("Sons and Lovers"). In modern psychobabble, Gertrude doesn't recognize boundaries. The child is defenseless to the emotional power which penetrates him. He is absorbed and becomes one with the mother's heart and goals. It is similar to molestation but instead of a physical penetration, there is an emotional penetration. When the boy starts to grow up and should, rightly, begin to become whole with a woman, he is not free to take that step. His sexuality drives him towards an appropriate lover, and seemingly makes him appear available, but his emotional heart cannot take another woman into himself. There is already a lover who has penetrated his heart (i.e. his mother). For a man to be complete in love, he has to be able to enter a woman physically at the same time he takes her into himself emotionally. Paul can't allow another woman in emotionally because his mother is already there. Hence, even though he is able to enter a woman physically, the whole experience is deeply unsatisfying to both Paul and all the women in his life. The mother is not really satisfied because she can't have her lover completely (i.e. physically and as her life's mate), and the other women in Paul's life (with whom he could have a physical relationship) are left unsatisfied because he wills not to take them into himself emotionally, and thereby deprives these women of the experience of wholeness which accompanies surrender in love. Hence, the women he should be able to complete himself with (i.e. those with whom he can complete the physical act), he eventually wears out. They give up because he is not available. His heart belongs to another. E.g. Claire goes back to her husband even though Claire's husband is less refined, because Claire would rather have all of a working man, than only part of an artist. There are scads of women today who are throwing themselves at this inpenetrable wall of the mother's inappropriate molestation of her son's emotions, not really understanding why and how to work with it. Lawrence sheds insight into that process. The cure is to exchange the will to love the mother for the will to love the lover. Go for it!
Rating:  Summary: A wonderful read! Review: I never thought a book could be so enjoyable, but yet I found it confusing to muddle through the ideas that D. H. Lawrence presents and also the places that he talks about. The end of the book is really confusing because I found myself trying to figure out what had just happened at the end. But, overall I thought it was a wonderful read, especially if its a library book and you have to return it soon!
Rating:  Summary: Sons & Lovers, a child of its time Review: Sons & Lovers is by far one of the most insightful books I have read, following the story of a working-class family in early 19th century Nottinghamshire. It focuses on the second son of the aptly named Morel family, and his life and relationships within it. It is largely written from a psychological point of view, but it's lengthy description can drag on. An excellent book following the relationship between mother and son, the over-shadowing power of maternal influence, and although the chapters are hard work, the effect is strong and this book is definately a good read.It may be stuck in its time of writing, but a brilliant reflection of pre-World War One lower class life. An excellent read.
Rating:  Summary: Simple and soulful Review: It's been along time since I've read a book that was so pleasant and touching. The story is simple,yet, so full of depth. It's truly beautiful, and I'm sorry others aren't able to see this.
Rating:  Summary: excruciatingly artless Review: This has been the most artless novel I've tried to read this year. It was excruciatingly long and I could barely get to page 200. I could not finish it. I actually ran out and bought the Great Gatsby just to remind myself what a great novel is supposed to be. It was like Lawrence just decided to slap everything together about these dull people, all without consideration for the reader's patience. I don't think in the history of literature have I ever seen so much description of people looking at each other and walking around. And the dialogue was exceedingly hollow. The father could have been extremely interesting but almost all the time, I had no idea what he was saying with Lawrence's annoying use of colloquial country English. Of course, Lawrence is quite literate; he knows a lot about scenery and nature but that's not what makes a book great. It is plotting, lyricism, and resonance that makes a book fun to read, and not to mention selection and editing and the craftmanship of scenes and situations. Worse yet, his prose style is sickeningly robotic. It made me want to puke. So far this year, all the supposedly great Brit writers have been thoroughly disappointing.
Rating:  Summary: Sons and Lovers is a great view of an unguided soul's life. Review: Paul Morel, the main character of the book, Sons and Lovers, is an unguided soul that searches for some guidance in life. Clarity is what he seems to achieve through his topsy-turvy relationships with family, friends, and love interests. Paul's family, although traditional, has its issues. Gertrude, Paul's mother, tries to live her life through her sons' lives. His brothers have their individual problems as well. I enjoyed the book due to its simplicity in plot but its tough reading style. The british text really sets it in its time. On the other hand, I found the book boring at times. Overall, it gets a 3.
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