Looking Back... In an effort to transfer my book journal entries over to this blog, I'm going to attempt to post (in chronological order) an entry every Friday. I may or may not add extra commentary to what I jotted down in these journals.
Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence
Fiction/Classic
1928
Finished on 6/20/2002
Rating: 3.5/5 (Good)
Publisher's Blurb:
Lyric and sensual, D.H. Lawrence's last novel is one of the major works of fiction of the twentieth century. Filled with scenes of intimate beauty, explores the emotions of a lonely woman trapped in a sterile marriage and her growing love for the robust gamekeeper of her husband's estate. The most controversial of Lawrence's books, Lady Chatterly's Lover joyously affirms the author's vision of individual regeneration through sexual love. The book's power, complexity, and psychological intricacy make this a completely original work—a triumph of passion, an erotic celebration of life.
My Original Thoughts (2002):
Started out a little slow, but I eventually got engrossed in the story and wound up enjoying it more than I thought I would. Not shocking by today's standards, but I can see why it would raise eyebrows in the 20s and 30s!
My Current Thoughts (2026):
I'm surprised this classic novel wound up in my 2002 reading journal. If hard pressed, I would have said I never read the book. I have a vague memory of starting it, but I could have sworn it was a DNF for me. I read it with an online Banned Book group, so maybe that was my inspiration to not give up.
You took me decades back with this one.
ReplyDeleteMystica, I enjoy sharing these "Looking Back" posts. 2002 seems so long ago, doesn't it?!
DeleteI remember reading this with my book club years ago, but didn't like it all that much... maybe 3 stars. It must have been pre-goodreads. My old book journal is in CT, otherwise I'd look it up.
ReplyDeleteJoAnn, I only have a very slight memory of this book, which I read with an online group. Definitely not a favorite classic!
DeleteI've never read this one, but it is referenced fairly often in movies and TV shows so I feel like I have a sense of it. But, really I don't. Funny what is salacious in different eras.
ReplyDeleteHelen, it is one the we hear about a lot, isn't it? Kind of like Lolita, which I've never read. I think you're safe to skip this one.
DeleteI had an English teacher who was a huge DH Lawrence fan & scholar and had a large poster of him in class. I haven't read him since high school and would like to read two or three of his novels again. I don't remember them now. But she was a pretty big feminist and influenced me.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I never read DH Lawrence in high school. It sounds like you had a very good English teacher.
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