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numerous_bees's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
3.75
Maurice is a very dated book, even the author admits that in the endnote, written around 1960 (the manuscript itself was written in 1913-14). It is a period piece, full of social connections, assumptions, and restrictions that are alien to a 21st C reader, and it can sometimes be hard to fathom the meaning or motivation behind some of the characters' decisions and actions.
That said, it is a deeply true, authentic story of being closeted that feels entirely relatable, depsite being over 100 years old.
Maurice is a painfully lonely, isolated, and often unlikeable man who struggles towards happiness, raging agianst his inability to find or secure it, lashing out against the people around him who often have nothing to do with his pain, and trying to numb himself to his emotional needs. Despite his snobbishness and unpleasantness, I rooted for him throughout and was not disappointed by the ending.
That said, it is a deeply true, authentic story of being closeted that feels entirely relatable, depsite being over 100 years old.
Maurice is a painfully lonely, isolated, and often unlikeable man who struggles towards happiness, raging agianst his inability to find or secure it, lashing out against the people around him who often have nothing to do with his pain, and trying to numb himself to his emotional needs. Despite his snobbishness and unpleasantness, I rooted for him throughout and was not disappointed by the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Classism
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, and Classism
bazilexa's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime and Homophobia
constructism's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.75
this book was written 111 years ago in 1913. its writing style was a welcome challenge wrapped up in a compelling cast of characters who are not good people, but when together, are able to be beautifully defiant of their times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Outing, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Death, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Medical content
stylax's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.25
i felt it started incredibly well, the first 75% of the book was well thought out and moving. however i felt it became a bit unsure towards the end but ultimately it was a beautiful piece of literature and was incredibly inspiring to a young gay guy, that we have come so far and yet we still feel the same
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
thesoftestcowboy's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Abandonment
therecoveringbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Classism
thatchickengirl23's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Classism
Minor: Death, Sexual content, and Medical content
yilliun's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Giovanni’s Room but make it English and more academia vibes.
So tender and sweet while set against the harsh realities of LGBTQ+ relationships of the late 19th/ early 20th centuries.
So tender and sweet while set against the harsh realities of LGBTQ+ relationships of the late 19th/ early 20th centuries.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Classism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Outing
Minor: Sexual content
bethanwx's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
Though a significant novel in queer literature, I found this hard to love. The pressure of compulsory heterosexuality from society is felt throughout and Maurice's growth to embrace who he is is satisfying. However, I found none of the characters particularly likeable and Alec feels unwritten.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Classism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts