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logickat's review against another edition
3.0
Aaahh the angst! Lawrence's poor characters experience such deeeep, complex emotions. You think two people in love are just in love- nope. It's complicated, conflicting, and ever so cerebral. I enjoyed the story, but I got bogged down by some of the verbose descriptions of the characters' perceptions of life.
neilcake's review against another edition
3.0
Thank christ that's over. On one level it's an incredible piece of work, but on the other it gets very turgid at times... for a long time.
It's strange because there are so few actual "scenes" in it - y'know, parts where people talk to each other and things happen. When there are scenes, they are often gripping and exciting, but the vast majority of the book is just describing in great detail what people are feeling - to a degree that no one would ever actually be aware of themselves. To that end, it is an amazing insight into mental states and suchlike, but where the hell does it all come from? Is there any actual validity in it? I mean, it's convincing enough, but there's so damn much of it. I'm a great over thinker, but I don't think I've even approached the level of rumination about myself that Lawrence has managed about the main characters in this novel.
So as I say, amazing, fascinating... and also boring.
It's strange because there are so few actual "scenes" in it - y'know, parts where people talk to each other and things happen. When there are scenes, they are often gripping and exciting, but the vast majority of the book is just describing in great detail what people are feeling - to a degree that no one would ever actually be aware of themselves. To that end, it is an amazing insight into mental states and suchlike, but where the hell does it all come from? Is there any actual validity in it? I mean, it's convincing enough, but there's so damn much of it. I'm a great over thinker, but I don't think I've even approached the level of rumination about myself that Lawrence has managed about the main characters in this novel.
So as I say, amazing, fascinating... and also boring.
luloobs's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Memorable scenes, especially of rural weddings and points of transition. The characters’ inner lives are painted very richly but the way they feel and how this translates to the way they behave is not always easy to understand or relate to.
sportula's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
melindahp23's review against another edition
4.0
The saga of three generations of women is written beautifully, but can certainly drag on especially in the beginning. If you can push through to the third generation it is so worth it! She is an impressive woman and I am still amazed it was written in 1915! It was great right up until the last chapter, which left me with a huge question mark. All in all, I’d say read it! It’s a fantastic, relatable story all these years later!
zzmags's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful book, detailing the life of a family in rural England. Lawrence masterfully reveals the inner lives of his characters as they move through phases of youth, passion, and middle and old age. But he reserves special attention for one character, Ursula, who embodies a spiritual longing deeply tied to the natural world.
jocelynbarth's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cloudshard's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
danelleeb's review against another edition
4.0
The story of 3 generations of the Brangwen family, it begins with Tom Brangwen, who marries Lydia, the Polish widow. Their daughter (Tom's by marriage) Anna, marries Will Brangwen, and Anna and Will's eldest is Ursula. Much of the book revolves around Ursula and her relationship with Anton Skrebensky.
Like most of Lawrence's works, this was looked on as, ahem, inappropriate. (Months after it was published in 1915, police confiscated copies from the publishers and it was suppressed by court order. It has LOTS of sexuality, but also, it was very critical of modern England - not great when you are in the midst of a war.)
There is sex, there always is with D.H. Lawrence, but I think this novel grapples more with relationships, and the roles and expectations in relationships. The timing of this novel - from about 1840 to 1915, only adds to that and shows the shift of the Victorian era to a more modern time. So much plays into it.
Lawrence is not one of my favorites, though I do find myself reading more and more of his works and being in awe of his writing.
This was torment indeed, to inherit the responsibility of one's own life. (p. 281)
She turned away, she turned round from him, and saw the east flushed strangely rose, the moon coming yellow and lovely upon a rosy sky, above the darkening, bluish snow. All this so beautiful, all this so lovely! He did not see it. He was one with it. But she saw it, and was one with it. Her seeing separated them infinitely. (p. 414)
Like most of Lawrence's works, this was looked on as, ahem, inappropriate. (Months after it was published in 1915, police confiscated copies from the publishers and it was suppressed by court order. It has LOTS of sexuality, but also, it was very critical of modern England - not great when you are in the midst of a war.)
There is sex, there always is with D.H. Lawrence, but I think this novel grapples more with relationships, and the roles and expectations in relationships. The timing of this novel - from about 1840 to 1915, only adds to that and shows the shift of the Victorian era to a more modern time. So much plays into it.
Lawrence is not one of my favorites, though I do find myself reading more and more of his works and being in awe of his writing.
This was torment indeed, to inherit the responsibility of one's own life. (p. 281)
She turned away, she turned round from him, and saw the east flushed strangely rose, the moon coming yellow and lovely upon a rosy sky, above the darkening, bluish snow. All this so beautiful, all this so lovely! He did not see it. He was one with it. But she saw it, and was one with it. Her seeing separated them infinitely. (p. 414)