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taleofabibliophile's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Classism
Moderate: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Death, Racism, Antisemitism, and Death of parent
bookishevy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"A woman has to live her life, or live to repent not having lived it."
I've always wanted to read this book, so when I saw a free version on Audible, I downloaded it immediately.
This book explores the extramarital affair between Constance (Connie) Chatterley and her husband's gamekeeper Oliver Mellows. Connie's husband Clifford is paralyzed from the waist down due to an injury sustained in WWI. Connie grows bored with Clifford and his fellow intellectuals. Her young body yearns for something physical, especially given how sexually liberated she was as a teen. Clifford can't satisfy her. What's a girl to do?
Although this wouldn't pass for spicy today, I can see why it was so controversial when it was privately published in Italy in 1928 to avoid censors and only available to subscribers in England. But Lawrence couldn't get an international copyright, so there were a lot of pirated versions available. I imagine people clutching their pearls while reading such obscenities. Lawrence really pushed it with his descriptions of sex.
But the story is about a lot more than a torrid love affair. Class and industrialization are also explored. Clifford comes from an upper-class family that made its fortune in mining, and he wants to increase technology to make mining more efficient. He doesn't care about the workers. He actually despises the working class, making Connie's affair with the gamekeeper all the more satisfying. Connie is more in touch with nature and hates how the rise of industry is making her surroundings ugly.
There are also discussions about how men like Clifford don't really like women. They see women as their property; there to serve a specific purpose. Connie is Clifford's wife but can only serve as his companion. He can't provide her body the stimulation it craves.
Even though I've always wanted to read this story, I didn't think it would hold my attention, but thanks to Lydia West's amazing performance and Lawrence's many metaphors for orgasm, I was thoroughly entertained. đ€Ł
I've always wanted to read this book, so when I saw a free version on Audible, I downloaded it immediately.
This book explores the extramarital affair between Constance (Connie) Chatterley and her husband's gamekeeper Oliver Mellows. Connie's husband Clifford is paralyzed from the waist down due to an injury sustained in WWI. Connie grows bored with Clifford and his fellow intellectuals. Her young body yearns for something physical, especially given how sexually liberated she was as a teen. Clifford can't satisfy her. What's a girl to do?
Although this wouldn't pass for spicy today, I can see why it was so controversial when it was privately published in Italy in 1928 to avoid censors and only available to subscribers in England. But Lawrence couldn't get an international copyright, so there were a lot of pirated versions available. I imagine people clutching their pearls while reading such obscenities. Lawrence really pushed it with his descriptions of sex.
But the story is about a lot more than a torrid love affair. Class and industrialization are also explored. Clifford comes from an upper-class family that made its fortune in mining, and he wants to increase technology to make mining more efficient. He doesn't care about the workers. He actually despises the working class, making Connie's affair with the gamekeeper all the more satisfying. Connie is more in touch with nature and hates how the rise of industry is making her surroundings ugly.
There are also discussions about how men like Clifford don't really like women. They see women as their property; there to serve a specific purpose. Connie is Clifford's wife but can only serve as his companion. He can't provide her body the stimulation it craves.
Even though I've always wanted to read this story, I didn't think it would hold my attention, but thanks to Lydia West's amazing performance and Lawrence's many metaphors for orgasm, I was thoroughly entertained. đ€Ł
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Classism
ellen_suth's review against another edition
challenging
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? Yes
2.0
Do yourself a favour and just watch a modern adaptation. This book is too angry and self-important to really deliver on the premise of a meaningful romance. Every time you start to like Connie or Mellors, they have to snap you out of it by going on a rant about the gulf in nature between men and women, the evils of modernity, or how putrid and soulless the working class is. Very much a product of its time, with casual racism, homophobia and a LOT of antisemitism to boot. As other reviews have said, I donât think weâd bother with it now if it hadnât caused such a stir for its obscenity. There are some valuable insights into sexuality and good old British classism here that are very cutting for a book and writer of this era and I find it admirable that Lawrence clearly had a strong empathy for the women of his time, which can be seen in his writing of Connie.
Unfortunately, the book is markedly more icky and uncomfortable than the adaptations I have seen on the front of consent, though. Nothing is ever outwardly non-consensual but Mellors does seem to almost take advantage at vulnerable moments for Connie, which was really off-putting for me, having only seen adaptations where Connie was definitely the instigator.
I just donât think youâre missing anything by opting for an adaptation instead - youâll get all the same themes in a fraction of the time and without having to endure Mellors trying to make himself unlikeable at every opportunity by spouting one of Lawrenceâs belligerent rants about how cold and unloving women are. It is pretty amusing though to finish a description of Mellors lasting all of ten seconds in the act while Connie lies there like a blow-up doll and then on the next page he goes on a rant about how women donât like sex. Seems like a skill issue, brother.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual content, and Classism
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, and Sexual harassment
riverofhorton's review against another edition
I found it far to dense on the politics, which would be fine had I wanted to read this for the politics. I don't say this often, but I found the (more recent) film to be far more enjoyable than the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Excrement, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
barefootsierra's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
Minor: Gun violence, Rape, and Murder
directorpurry's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Pregnancy
Moderate: Animal death
hjb_128's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Antisemitism, War, and Injury/Injury detail
wordsmithreads's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Infertility, Misogyny, and Classism
Minor: Pregnancy
jedore's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
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
4.25
Iâve never met the man yet who was capable of intimacy with a woman, giving himself up to her. That was what I wanted. Iâm not keen on their self-satisfied tenderness, and their sensuality. Iâm not content to be any manâs little petsy-wetsy, nor his âchair Ă plaisirâ either. I wanted a complete intimacy, and I didnât get it. Thatâs enough for me.â
Lady Chatterlyâs Lover is a risquĂ© visit to the English countryside just after World War IIâŠfilled with passion, drama, and enlightenment.
It was after I watched the Netflix movie (with Emma Corrin and Matthew Duckett as Lady Chatterly and Mellors, respectively) that I was searching at the beginning of my To Be Read list for my next read. It was an obvious choice!
While the movie focused almost solely on Lady Chatterlyâs marriage and sizzling affair, the book dives deeper into the parallel societal evolution going on at the time (the shift from titled property ownership and farming to industry), as well as sexism, classism, sex, and the (timeless) differences between men and women. Like many classics, there is a fair amount of pontificating, but I found it surprisingly relatable and enlightening.
Fortunately, the book doesn't shy away from steamy sex scenes and has the added perk of covering the philosophical aspects of romantic relationships. Though, Lawrenceâs obsession with âloins,â âwombs,â and âbowelsâ was definitely chuckle-worthy and mildly distracting.
As a woman who was stifled on the âgood girlâ path for 39 years, I was cheering Lady Chatterley on and reveling in her newfound physical AND emotional intimacy with Mellors. You go, girl.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Medical trauma, and Classism
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: War
theloosepage's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content