Reviews with content warning for Antisemitism - Lady Chatterley's Lover

Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'

Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence

17 reviews

taleofabibliophile's review

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slow-paced

2.5

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ellen_suth's review against another edition

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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 don’t think we’d bother with it now if it hadn’t 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 don’t think you’re missing anything by opting for an adaptation instead - you’ll 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 Lawrence’s 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 don’t like sex. Seems like a skill issue, brother.

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riverofhorton's review against another edition

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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.

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howljenkins's review against another edition

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

2.5

far too much repitition of words and phrases for my taste

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hjb_128's review against another edition

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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

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writeasiread's review against another edition

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I hadn’t realised that the ‘romance’ was built on rape from the way people discuss this story.

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saintsaens's review against another edition

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reflective sad 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

3.5

I am quite conflicted about this book. I can see why it's deemed a classic, and how impacting it can have been at its publication in 1928 considering the sexual aspect of the narrative and the conflict regarding love and class. I can appreciate the writing style, the evolution in Mellors's character regarding love and women, and Connie, and the themes of nature vs industry, love vs sex, classism etc. At the same time, there are many things which did not sit right with me (how dismissive of the other women's experiences Mellors is - and how Connie barely blinks at it-, how she doesn't care that Mellors doesn't want a child and yet finds herself with one, how no one gives a damn about the kid that Mellors already has alive and kicking near him - that one was a shock when I thought back on it after closing the book-)... without even touching on the racism/antisemitism/orientalism peppering the book, there are enough aspects that made me wonder about it to not make it a great read.

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reubenlb's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense 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

3.0

smut for the antiquated - at times dated, but also refreshingly relevant for today (bringing children into an overpopulated capitalist society), when you can actually make it through the slog that’s the middle of the novel

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khnleesi's review against another edition

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slow-paced

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

0.5

WAAAAAAAR IS OOOOVEEEEER!!

i can't believe this got published, not because there's a lot of smut and therefore "shocking" and "scandalous" to the eyes of the 1920's era, but just because it's terribly and horribly boring AND disgusting; why would you as a publisher want people this piece of trash?? why?

"you found it appalling? it came out in 1928 what did you expect?"well too much apparently!

so much for wanting to read the book before watching the movie adaptation............

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tessoliviaallen's review against another edition

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