Lady Chatterley's Lover

Lady Chatterley's Lover

2010 • 400 pages

Ratings29

Average rating3.3

15

Having made copious notes, (would not have subjected myself to this were it not for a fortuitously timed intersection of online book club and library copy availability) where do I start to sum up my thoughts and feelings? 

I was surprised there was no firm final tragic parting of the lovers, as the text occasionally seemed to be leaning and which I think historical classics are often guilty of.

I feel like as forward thinking as Lawrence may have been in his day, he's so far behind where we are now in relation to sex and gender that I can't sing his praises.

I am glad that his challenge against the soul-crushing, polluting industries and capitalism of his day was out there for all to read, similarly his painful repetition of instances of classism indicating how destructive such a system is.

Connie and Oliver are flawed, but they work as object lessons of how a society set up with certain roles and expectations does a disservice to all involved, whether they act in accordance with the rules or try to step outside them. Oliver and Clifford also distill how wretched wars/conflicts/military's effect on humans is.

 My gut instinct that many historical classics decided to present their message via the medium of misery is holding steady, unfortunately, and it's not my preferred reading. 
 
 ⚠️Ableism, classism, racism, antisemitism, SA, spousal abuse, misogyny, transphobia (in A Propos after word)

August 26, 2023