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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
josiee's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
fanboyriot's review against another edition
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)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Sexism, and Sexual content
themoostconfused's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
issyd23's review against another edition
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🏏
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Classism
phoebemurtagh's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Forced institutionalization
espiargrant's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content
rieviolet's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism
Moderate: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Racism, Excrement, Death of parent, and War
vanessa_reads_a_lot's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
bill369's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I read this book for the Classics Reading Challenge and enjoyed it!
In the book, I didn't like any characters but in the movie, I did like Maurice's sisters. They were quite charming and stuck together. At least that's how I see it. I wouldn't say the characters are unlikable however they aren't very likeable either.
One of the first books with the homosexual theme and a happy ending. For its time it surely was revolutionary however because of its age there is a little nonsense regarding Clive's „recovery“. I like the way the story's written. The depth of the internal monologue makes the book quite arresting and only thanks to it I could understand the film in which it is quite hard to capture the part of the book happening in the character's mind.
Page 19, the average bliss.
The school clapped not because Maurice was eminent but
because he was average. It could celebrate itself in his image.
Page 135, the supreme achievement of humanity.
Yet he was doing a fine thing—proving on how little the soul can exist. Fed neither by Heaven nor by Earth
he was going forward, a lamp that would have blown out, were materialism true. He hadn't a God, he hadn't
a lover—the two usual incentives to virtue. But on he struggled with his back to ease, because dignity
demanded it. There was no one to watch him,
nor did he watch himself, but struggles like his are the supreme achievements of humanity, and surpass any
legends about Heaven.
I'm satisfied the story ended the way it did.
Forster is a well-known author and I'm glad I educated myself and read one of his novels. In the future, I plan to read some of his other works too. It didn't make a strong impression on me but it was well-written.
In the book, I didn't like any characters but in the movie, I did like Maurice's sisters. They were quite charming and stuck together. At least that's how I see it. I wouldn't say the characters are unlikable however they aren't very likeable either.
One of the first books with the homosexual theme and a happy ending. For its time it surely was revolutionary however because of its age there is a little nonsense regarding Clive's „recovery“. I like the way the story's written. The depth of the internal monologue makes the book quite arresting and only thanks to it I could understand the film in which it is quite hard to capture the part of the book happening in the character's mind.
Page 19, the average bliss.
because he was average. It could celebrate itself in his image.
Page 135, the supreme achievement of humanity.
he was going forward, a lamp that would have blown out, were materialism true. He hadn't a God, he hadn't
a lover—the two usual incentives to virtue.
demanded it. There was no one to watch him,
nor did he watch himself, but struggles like his are the supreme achievements of humanity, and surpass any
legends about Heaven.
I'm satisfied the story ended the way it did.
Forster is a well-known author and I'm glad I educated myself and read one of his novels. In the future, I plan to read some of his other works too. It didn't make a strong impression on me but it was well-written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Death and Suicidal thoughts