Sons and Lovers (Wordsworth Classics)

Saw the movie with Sarah Lancashire, and liked it a lot,so decided to read the book, which was also well written. Don't have it in my "unforgettable" category however!

I won't spoil the story, but it is VERY VERY interesting

Pros:Writing Style – I love D.H. Lawrence’s writing style, it’s fun (for an autobiographical written during this time) and full of imagery that allows you to feel and see everything he’s painting. Although sometimes drawn out, his writing was the main thing possessing me to continue the novel.Plot – Surprisingly enough the plot (which is semi-autobiographical) is intriguing, especially for people who are interested in the psychological side of the novel. It’s not everyday I read a novel based on the Oedipus complex, so I was interested in how he was going to pull it off without crossing that line where it’s unforgivable – and Lawrence pulled it off splendidly.Walter Morel – His character was a beautiful disaster. I have it on good authority that the novel would have been exponentially superior to Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers. He is a character living a life he believed was suitable, however was condemned the moment he met Gertrude. I know it might seem weird to enjoy the antagonist of a novel but he was the only character with some substance.Cons:Characters – It’s rare that every character in a novel annoys the ever-living s*** out of me, but this book succeeded beyond my imagination. Paul never stops whining about being dissatisfied with living because it didn’t live up to his standards, and neither do the women in his life, which are Miriam and Clara. Miriam is a hard character to understand because you feel compassion towards her, but then you’re like girl have some confidence. Clara started off strong, a true feminist, but then she just became another dumb, annoying girl in Paul’s life. Along with his mother, Gertrude who’s conclusion was where the story should have started.Length – I’m not a person who is generally concerned with the length of a novel, if a novel is good it’ll take no time for me to gobble-up every word entirely; but this novel was too long when it didn’t need to be.Boredom – Basically I was plagued with serious boredom while reading this novel, which is probably the reason it took so long to complete it. My mind has been trying to wrap around the purpose of the novel but it doesn’t seem to have one, and I think D.H. Lawrence hypothesized that his life was much more provocative and thought-provoking than it actually was.Overall, this novel was painful and uniteresting but for some it might be beautiful and heartbreaking – therefore it really just depends on the person.

Print larger which made it easier to read. Great book, a must read.

D. H. Lawrence’s “Sons and Lovers” is a very enjoyable classic, bildungsroman, and tragedy. A classic is unusually understood as a book from an earlier period that is still enjoyed and still says something of interest to readers despite the passage of time. English author Lawrence’s 1913 novel meets this definition.His novel is written in a clear easy-to-read manner. He tells his tale with detailed insight into the character, thinking, and behavior of all the persons in the tale. One could call his descriptions psychological insights. We see all the people in the book behaving with simultaneous love and hatred of others, having a strong desire for something or someone while not wanting it, loving someone mightily while destroying their loved one.The story is about Gertrude Morel, an educated woman from an English middle-class family, who meets and marries a poor uneducated coal miner who can barely sign his name, who is unable to speak proper English, and who talks with the slang of the coal mines. After marriage, she discovers that he lied to her about his finances and did not keep his promise to give up alcohol. He spends hours in the local saloon after work and often returns home drunk.She comes to hate him. She transfers all her love to her three sons and one daughter and teaches them to hate their dad. She latches onto her children wanting their love. She does all she can to hold onto her eldest son, who tries to escape her hold, marries, and tries to build a home away from her, but sickens and dies. So, she transfers all her hopes to hold her son Paul.We read about the development of Paul from infancy, to adolescence, maturity, a need for sex, a sense of self-identity that he is unable to fully develop because of his intense love of his mother, a love she engenders in him, a kind of Oedipal feeling, and his desire to replace his father. Paul falls in love with two women, one after another. Miriam is younger than him. She loves him dearly and could help him and wants to do so. Clara is older than him and is married. Gertrude belittles both women and subtly draws him away from both.The description of the burgeoning love of Paul for the two women is brilliant. We read of his indifference, dislike, love, and hatred of both women. Clara is very similar and very different than Paul’s mom. Both are educated women who married uncouth men and grew to hate them. But Clara leaves her husband and has no need to seek love from another and to possess the other. She has outside activities, including work as a woman suffragist. Yet, she refuses to divorce her husband.Will Paul ever truly mature and become himself rather than a possession of his mom?

I have not read this book yet; but am not looking forward to it since the print is so tiny. Another thing to look out for when ordering books. I have ordered dozens and dozens of books online and with Amazon and have never had this issue. It looks as if I will need to wear some sort of magnify glasses to read it.

It's definitely a classic, but it is hard to "get into" due to the dialect and word spellings and pronunciations.

I had this as a set book for A-level many years ago and wanted to experience it as an adult rather than a naive virgin...I now know what "Miriam gave herself up to him" signifies.Lawrence's descriptions of nature are poetic: a cricket field is like "the bed of a sea of light". The best bits.Bits I skimmed: the long discussions/arguments between Paul and Miriam that cover the same ground, and to some extent those between Paul and Clara.Maybe I should have been more patient with the passages I found a bit tedious.This is undoubtedly a "classic" and gives a vivid portrait of working class life and young people striving for a better life. I should mention the descriptions of miners and mining and especially of Walter Morel. These are vivid. The starkly contrasted couple are another highlight.Glad I was exposed to it as a naive virgin. Pleased to read it again as a cynical old git!

I love this book and wanted to get a copy for my book worm god daughter. Arrived quickly and was excellent quality and value.

A wonderful vivid account of a working class family in the mining region of Nottingham/Derbyshire focusing on a Mother’s hopes and ambitions for her sons.

Had read this novel long back ,when I was a college student,was in the course. D.H.Lawrence has a unique style of writing novels & deals with relationships .So thought of reading it again .It's a good novel ,would certainly recommend it.

Delivered on 15th April as opposed to 11th which was stated. Probably due to the Easter break. Book in good condition as described and good value