Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Maurice

Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Maurice by E.M. Forster

20 reviews

raix's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

Really impactful.
The older language was at times hard for me to understand, so there were certain things I didn't quite pick up on until I sought out clarification outside the text. Maurice isn't exactly a sympathetic character (misogynist, incredibly snobby about class), and yet I really felt for him in regards to his sexuality and his later struggles with (and acceptance of) it.
For a book like this to have been written in 1912 I found really groundbreaking (I'm sure others have said this as well, but I didn't expect it to be as groundbreaking as it was). For a gay character to have been written at that time who ends up fully accepting himself was really touching to read. I mean, that happy ending...! It was like something that could be commonplace in the modern day. I think we often talk of historical queers as having not had the same understanding of things as we do now, but this book shows that's not always the case. Maurice's realization that it's him who is free, and the others who are caged by society's rules... well, my generations version of that was the All The Things She Said music video. The world truly does belong to us.
This review is all over the place, but I found myself affected by this book much more than I expected to. The ending left me unbearably happy, is all I can say.

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thesoftestcowboy's review against another edition

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fast-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

3.25

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thatchickengirl23's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

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josiee's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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fanboyriot's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

♡ Gay Classic

♡ Good Humor

♡ Angst with a Happy Ending

I genuinely didn’t think I would like this book as much as I did. I’m not a big classics reader, but this book was so lovely and truly iconic for its time. Also the fact a gay book written in 1913 has a happy ending leaves no excuses for the gay books here in 2024 being so sad.

The author really brought the characters to life so well, setting up the perfect atmosphere, and writing a compelling queer love story before it was accepted to do so. It’s a shame the author didn’t get to see how well loved his book would be.

Spice Level: 🌶️ (1/5)

Angst Level: 💧💧💧 (3/5)

POV: Third Person

Release Date: 1972

Rep: Gay (Main Character), Queer (Side Characters)

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themoostconfused's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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issyd23's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

‘I’ve not been straight with you’ ‘indeed Mr Hall’ Happy pride! 4🏏

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phoebemurtagh's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

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espiargrant's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This novel was a quick read, although my interest waned slightly in the middle, which slowed things down. I feel as though a fair amount of this book went over my head, as I don't often read classics, which makes this difficult for me to rate. But as far as classics go, it was quite palatable.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, and the characters felt complex and layered. However, some of the changes they undergo occur a bit too quickly to be believable. I think that Alec Scudder should have been introduced earlier in the story to give his character and his relationship to Maurice more room to develop.
Ultimately, I'm glad I read it, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a short, emotional, queer coming-of-age classic.

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rieviolet's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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

5.0

I've been meaning to read this book for so long and, for one reason or another, I kept postponing it but what a mistake, I really really loved it! It was not an easy read emotionally, the characters go through a lot and are not always likeable but it is a very engaging narrative and it makes you feel deeply. Also, the final payoff is so worth the very bumpy road to get there, bless you E.M. Forster.
Maurice's final speech to Clive was just *chief's kiss*, so so satisfying, I was in the background cheering him on and screaming "You tell him, you tell him!".

The prose was so rich and impactful, I've just finished reading it and I can't wait
to immerse myself in it again in the future.

His journey was nearly over. He was bound for his new home. He had brought out the man in Alec, and now it was Alec’s turn to bring out the hero in him. He knew what the call was, and what his answer must be. They must live outside class, without relations or money; they must work and stick to each other till death. But England belonged to them. That, besides companionship, was their reward. Her air and sky were theirs, not the timorous millions' who own stuffy little boxes, but never their own souls.

The novel had already been a roller coaster of emotions and then came the author's terminal word and I have to say he finished me off for good, but what a lovely way to go, what a lovely way! I hope we will come to an even kinder year.

A happy ending was imperative. I shouldn’t have bothered to write otherwise. I was determined that in fiction anyway two men should fall in love and remain in it for the ever and ever that fiction allows, and in this sense Maurice and Alec still roam the greenwood. I dedicated it ‘To a Happier Year’ and not altogether vainly.

And in my experience though loyalty cannot be counted on it can always be hoped for and be worked towards and may flourish in the most unlikely soil.

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