A classic, but with a cast of simpering, feeble and supremely annoying characters, it can make for heavy reading at times. While it's well written, the pace is slow and the relationships utterly suffocating.

A quick courtship that deteriorates into an unhappy and stifling marriage that takes up the first chunk of the book. Then children come along, as the mother shifts her affections to her sons. It's quite clear that this will not end well.

The trouble is (and I'm sure that this is heresy of some form), our central characters of Paul and his mother are just so utterly tiresome. Paul Morel is so unlikeable, Gertrude so messed up, Miriam so weak, that you just can't bear to be around them for too long. Even more so when you find yourself going through the same events over and over again.

Poor old Miriam's pupils must dilate a dozen times, and how much do we really need to hang about while Paul gazes at flowers?

On the plus side, I liked Clara, but struggle to understand what she saw in Paul.

A bit of a grind, but if you are in an Oedipal mood, this will be right up your Straße. I should say, the last bit, after all the storm and stress, is wonderfully written, but bleak as can be.