Reviews

Milenec Lady Chatterleyové, by D.H. Lawrence

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bibliophilelinda's review against another edition

5.0

This controversial novel is pure steel in its bold and brazen attempt to slice through the sexually repressive atmosphere plaguing the first half of the 20th century. Banned in nearly every country until the 50's and 60's, "Lady Chatterleys Lover" was one of the first commerical novels to use sexually explicit terms, describe the female orgasm and flagrantly depict a love affair between a working man and an upper class woman with no moral reprecussions or dithering. I absolutely love it!!! Lawrence writes in a lyrically beautiful style, and is able to interject crude language in such a way that it only enhances each sentence.

Constance Chatterley (Lady Chatterley or Connie) is married to the paralyzed and impotent Clifford Chatterley, a successful writer and businessman who talks a great deal about love and sex with his bachelor friends, but himself is passionless. Connie becomes frustrated both sexually and with their facade of a marriage. Upon her first meeting with the estates gamekeeper, Oliver Mellors, she feels an instant fascination. Eventually, the two become explosively passionate lovers, though Oliver is more conflicted about the affair than Connie. Oliver, though he gives every appearance of being a low-class folk, is actually alluded to having a gentlemans education but prefers to be considered of poor birth. After a while, Connie decides she would like a child, and Clifford agrees to let her find a "stud" (if you will) while she's on vacation across Europe with her progressive-minded Scottish family. Predictably, Connie is actually already pregnant with Oliver's child. In the end, Connie leaves Clifford for Oliver, who happens to be married and is himself seeking a divorce. They move near Connies family and live happily ever after, or something like that.

sraybern's review against another edition

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reflective sad 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? It's complicated

1.5

taygivs's review against another edition

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3.0

I only read this because everyone on TikTok has been talking about the Netflix movie of the same name. I’m eager to see it so needed to read the book first. I’m honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this because I didn’t expect to. There are some truly beautiful passages throughout. I found the messaging to be a little heavy handed and some of the characters to be a bit flat, but overall I enjoyed it.

jessthebookworm's review against another edition

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3.0

This novel was written in 1928 and was swiftly banned as being pornographic. Which is obviously why I needed to read it. I love banned books.

Connie (Lady Chatterley) marries Clifford before the War, and he unfortunately comes back from the War paralysed from the waste down. They live a secluded life, which starts to weigh heavily on Connie, and she begins "wasting away". She starts an affair, which is why this book was so scandalous. Her husband, knowing that he cannot give her any children, tells her that she may use another man to fall pregnant if she wishes, as long as the child is his heir.

Connie then starts another affair, even more scandalous than the last, as this time it is with her husband's game keeper, someone not in the required class at all.

The scenes, although not quite on the level of a bodice ripper, are quite graphic and I can definitely see why it was banned. Despite there being adultery, the language is quite strong for its day.

I did find some of the dialogue a bit bizarre, especially between Connie's father and the game keeper where he pretty much asks the game keeper how his daughter was in bed, and commends him for "setting fire to her haystack".

It is a classic for sure, but perhaps a little too philosophical for my tastes at some points which had me skimming a bit, but definitely worth a read.