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.