D.H. Lawrence's Short Stories Thread

[Pensive]

Hi Pensive, sorry for not answering sooner. I went out for the day and had to buy a new mouse while I was at it. This one is driving me silly. I sure hope the new optical one wireless is easy to install. I am sick of installation headaches this week.

I really hope your trouble with mouse would be over soon. Mine is also quite problematic but I had to open it and clean its inner side to make it better.

Yes, I do agree whole-heartedly about Elizabeth. Lawrence really does well in a story with depth such as this one and how conflicted people are feeling in a situation like Elizabeth is experiencing, when they bring her dead husband home. It is an amazing scene, I think.

Yes, it was sad but effective.

Thanks for all your patience with me this week; you are so thoughful and sweet. I have so many distractions presently I can't keep my mind on these threads. I really appreciate you telling me to take my time and also appreciate that you read the story when you are busy yourself preparing for school.

Oh no problem. I am actually sorry myself, busy with some ill health and school too so I hope you don't mind if I am a bit late.

I knew you would be able to relate it to "S & L's" right away. I think it is very reminiscent of his parents and how they felt about each other - also conflicted. I read something short in one of my commentary books that suggested they were the models for this story. When I get settled a bit I will scan it to post. It is quite interesting and insightful. Also, if you noticed the mother of the husband she is very characteristic of the Lawrence's faternal grandmother. I thought he depicted her well in the story. I think for a time they lived with her. Did they do so in the novel? I can't remember that now and need that re-reading desperately, planned for the fall, sometime soon.

You are right. Elizabeth especially resembles Lawrence's mother a lot. (from Sons and Lovers) I don't think the children ever lived with their grandmother in the book but maybe my memory is deceiving me (though I really hope it's not)!

I like them, too. You should eventually read "Women in Love". The mining plays a big role in that story, as well, being the profession of the management of the mines by the Crich family - father and son, Gerald - Gerald is one of the main characters.
I like films about mining families and what they go through daily living with such danger.

I, for sometime, followed its discussion on Forum Book Club and it really seemed interesting to me. Thanks for the recommendation. I would try it out if I ever get my hands on it... That's another book added into my reading list and I have already got so many! Had planned to read them in summer but couldn't (yes, a but). Ah poor us, how much we plan and how often those plans fail...

Pensive - thought you would like these photos -- these in the area where Lawrence lived and wrote about - first is Brinsley Colliery and second is Brinsley Colliery Headstocks.

Thanks for posting the pictures, Janine. Your posts are informative.

[Janine]

I really hope your trouble with mouse would be over soon. Mine is also quite problematic but I had to open it and clean its inner side to make it better.

I took mine appart finally and cleaned it and it still sticks, so I went out and did buy a new Logitech cordless optical mouse - never needs cleaning or so they say. It is still in the bubble packaging and not plugged in yet. I am going to get to it today...hopefully. I had wondered if my son would appear with a few spare mouse(s?, mice? micekins?) he no longer needed - he said he had some. Had he had a nice optical one I would have returned this one but looks like now I will be keeping it. I could not deal with another electronic woe this week. I only got the right TV cables hooked up yesterday and then my son went off to work and to his house and he said the DVD remote setting are all messed up. He is going away for a few weeks so I have to adjust the TV itself....oh woe - headaches --- see what I mean?

Yes, it was sad but effective.

Absolutely...glad we agree.

Oh no problem. I am actually sorry myself, busy with some ill health and school too so I hope you don't mind if I am a bit late.

Oh sweet understanding, Pensy, thanks so much for being so patient with me. I am sorry about ill health - hope it is nothing serious. I knew school must be starting soon and that will have to be your first concern as well. Maybe we should just get this story going in October and not worry now with it. Take your time to come back to it. I have to read it again anyway and I don't think Virgil read it yet either and he wanted to participate. Also he found 3 new Lawrence enthusiasts and I will attempt to recruit them for the discussion (I will tell them the story starts in October - what do you think of that idea?)

You are right. Elizabeth especially resembles Lawrence's mother a lot. (from Sons and Lovers) I don't think the children ever lived with their grandmother in the book but maybe my memory is deceiving me (though I really hope it's not)!

So funny, I recently saw the film version and the mother seemed to live a time with the family. That might be all wrong but the characterization of her seemed accurate. I also read things about Lawrence's real grandfather and grandmother on the mother's side and also the father's side and so it seemed like the woman mentioned - the dead man's mother - was fashioned after Lawrence's real grandmother. I, too, do not recall it being so in the book with her living with the family, but several of us on Lit Net plan on reading/discussing it soon so I will re-read and find out - right? Will you enter into that discussion of "Sons and Lovers"? It should be a good one and you will be ahead since you read it recently enough.

I, for sometime, followed its discussion on Forum Book Club and it really seemed interesting to me. Thanks for the recommendation. I would try it out if I ever get my hands on it... That's another book added into my reading list and I have already got so many! Had planned to read them in summer but couldn't (yes, a but). Ah poor us, how much we plan and how often those plans fail...

The one on here or another forum? The one on here was quite intense and involved --- I of course loved it! everyone!

Thanks for posting the pictures, Janine. Your posts are informative.

Well, you are welcome. I have so many books on L now I love sharing them with you and others. I love the photos. Seems several of my books have ones I don't find online and some online are new to me also. I love digging up Lawrence photos and related articles. I suppose now it is a life pursuit with me. Someday I may qualify as a Lawrence scholar - who knows.

[grace86]

Oh gosh Janine I've completely forgotten about the story! Hmm...seems like work today will be rather slow, hopefully I can pick it up today or sometime soon. The story is for all of september right?

Counfounded stupid busy schedule....grrrrr....need to get my reading done before school!!!! arrgggh.

[Janine]

Oh gosh Janine I've completely forgotten about the story! Hmm...seems like work today will be rather slow, hopefully I can pick it up today or sometime soon. The story is for all of september right?

Counfounded stupid busy schedule....grrrrr....need to get my reading done before school!!!! arrgggh.

Grace, now I am thinking we should just make it for next month - this month is flying by. What do you think of this idea? I was waiting to hear from Pensy to see what she thought. Same story though. Go ahead and read the story and then you will be one step ahead, if we delay it a bit. I don't think Virgil read it yet either. He had wanted to participate and so did Quark. We all seemed to get so busy this month.

[Virgil]

I agree. This month is bad for me. I'm hoping on October being better.

[Quark]

I have no problem with waiting a few weeks to discuss the story. It might be better if we delay until everyone has read it and gathered their thoughts. Hopefully, during the pause we could pick up a few more Lawrence fans, too.

[Janine]

I have no problem with waiting a few weeks to discuss the story. It might be better if we delay until everyone has read it and gathered their thoughts. Hopefully, during the pause we could pick up a few more Lawrence fans, too.

Hi Quark, definitely we hope to do so. Several people posted in a thread saying how much they enjoyed Lawrence's style and writing. I will email them directly, as you did in for the Chekhov thread, and try and get them to join in with the short story and maybe "Sons and Lovers" when we read that.

Glad you agree to delay would be the best policy here. I have also had some health issues recently, which I am looking into; saw my doctor yesterday infact and will have some tests soon...no big deal.

Also, Quark, I am sorry I have not been so active in the Chekhov thread as I hoped to be. I hope if I get these health problems resolved, I can be more active.

Virgil, glad you agree, too. I know you have been super busy and now need the time to go see your mother as she is recovering. You can't be worrying about this thread this month. This thread can sit a few weeks.

[Quark]

I have also had some health issues recently, which I am looking into; saw my doctor yesterday infact and will have some tests soon

Health issues? That sounds scary.

[Janine]

Health issues? That sounds scary.

Well, not as scary as a pain...literally. I do have some chronic ailments and IBS, but that has gotten way worse lately, so I am having things checked out more closely. I just could not keep my concentration for now on Lit Net. I am hoping these tests reveal something that can be easily treated. Don't worry. I seem to be a person who develops chronic annoying, not terminal condtions and many are hereditary, unfortunately - darn those genes! I have survived a lot in the past years and I will survive this too.

So if we could delay this thread till October it would be much better for me. Thanks for understanding everyone....J

[grace86]

Yeah I could wait until October...hopefully then...I've managed to enroll in a Shakespeare's Tragedies lit class this quarter, I have no clue how that is going to be. But I am all up for October. I can read the story at a longer pace.

Janine are you guys planning on reading Sons and Lovers? When...what about book club? Oh and Virgil I've also not finished Don Quixote . Guess we're all pretty busy.

Janine I hope your tests go okay and Virgil my prayers are with you and your family.

[Pensive]

Sure, if everyone else wants to read it in October, I can wait. Nice to hear Virgil has found some other people interested in Lawrence's works too.

[Janine]

Yeah I could wait until October...hopefully then...I've managed to enroll in a Shakespeare's Tragedies lit class this quarter, I have no clue how that is going to be. But I am all up for October. I can read the story at a longer pace.

Janine are you guys planning on reading Sons and Lovers? When...what about book club? Oh and Virgil I've also not finished Don Quixote . Guess we're all pretty busy.

Janine I hope your tests go okay and Virgil my prayers are with you and your family.

Grace, thanks for waiting, then. We can all take a breather. Your classes will start soon and I know you will be plenty busy. Same with Pensive. I don't know how you girls do it all. I guess you have that 'young energy'.

Yes, Virgil has my prayers too, for him and his family. I have told him so already in his blog and PM's. He said he probably would not be online for 4 days or so. We will miss him greatly. Hope his 10 hr drive went well and safely.

Grace, I have been thinking that - you and Virgil did not finish DQ - would be a shame not to. Virgil said he stopped at one book and there are two. I guess that would be ok, but don't delay too long, or you might forget what was in book #1. At least I would.
Yes, don't you recall us just saying back aways that we would all read "Sons and Lovers" in the fall. Quark said he was interested, too and some others, as well. Virgil said I have to be the recruiter of the Lawrence enthusiastists. I have more L books now, than him... Realistically, not sure we can do both novels before the new year - "Sons and Lovers" and then "Lady Chatterly's Lover". In my opinion we should just play it by ear and see how the first novel goes. No, it is not the official book read. I think they only do one author a year and WIL was for Lawrence this year. We would be doing S & L's strickly on our own, by making up a thread.

Hey, Grace, Wonderful getting the class! Shakespeare tragedies are practically my favorite thing! well....except maybe for L books, but maybe... actually... they are running parallel....they are quite different enough...like a different genre. I have seen the film version of "Hamlet" and several other versions and listened to the audio tapes dozens and dozens of times. I can nearly quote lines now - something I am not particularly good at doing usually. I love the tragedies the best and some of the histories as well, since they border on tragedies. I adore the film and the play - "Henry V" and I don't even like war particularly or the concept of it, but it is still amazing and so intense and profound. My favorite scene is in the camp at night when Henry (King Hal)recites his long solioquy about the responsibility and the weight (burden) of being a king. I nearly weep at that scene everytime. Kenneth Branagh's film is amazing and when he lowers his head and one single tear rolls down his left cheek, I feel so touched by that, I can hardly bear it. It is perfect.
"Richard III" is bordering on tragedy and it is such a complex and fascinating play. Bye the way, the film "Finding Richard" by Al Pacino is so interesting and funny, too! He walks through Manhattan asking people about Shakespeare and what they think of his works. Some answers are pretty hilarious. Then they do exerpts of the play - Pacino actually plays a pretty good and convincing Richard. I was amazed. I own only the tape - very hard to get. It is a play with much conniving and treachery much like Othello, Richard being like Iago in his covert actions and sinister plans. Great stuff!

Ok, back to the true tragedies - believe it or not last night I was watching "Othello" - one of the tragedies...one of my favorites! I love that film by Parker. I have watched it countless times, but this time I was seeing it on my new LCD HD TV and it is phenonmenal color and clarity. I was in seventh heaven. I have the soundtrack too which is so neat. I play it all the time.
I also, like others of the tradedies. Guess I am just a tragic type reader.
I had a Shakespeare class in college many many moons ago. Wow, Grace, I wish I could fly out and go to your class with you. I loved that class!

Pensive, so glad you are in agreement to about delaying till October. You are so sweet and understanding. I want to re-read the story before then, anyway. I think that two readings always benefits me in discussing the story. I seem to pick up on things I had previously skipped over or not noticed just how significant they could be.

We can always, just loosely (randomly), visit this thread until we officially start the discussion.

[Janine]

OK, Gang - listen up! I am back now thinking about the short story and also about starting the thread for the book read and discussion of "Sons and Lovers". I will try doing that today to begin this month and most likely that will extend into next month, too. For now though I want to resume this short story as soon as we possibly can. If you can participate - great! I know some of you are busy now with school work so I will understand if you have to skip this one. I read the story once but now will review it in more depth and begin - hopefully I will post something tonight or tomorrow to get things rolling.

Odour of Chrysanthamums


Happy reading!.....your leader....hahaha!

[Virgil]

OK, Gang - listen up! I am back now thinking about the short story and also about starting the thread for the book read and discussion of "Sons and Lovers". I will try doing that today to begin this month and most likely that will extend into next month, too. For now though I want to resume this short story as soon as we possibly can. If you can participate - great! I know some of you are busy now with school work so I will understand if you have to skip this one. I read the story once but now will review it in more depth and begin - hopefully I will post something tonight or tomorrow to get things rolling.

Odour of Chrysanthamums


Happy reading!.....your leader....hahaha!

*Salutes* Yes Ma'am. I'll read it over the weekend.

[Janine]

Virgil, I have been emailing everyone about the "Sons and Lovers" thread and this thread as well. I emailed those in "book you are recently reading" thread (think that is the title) and we may get some new recruits. This coming month should be hopping! Weekend reading of 'O of C' should be great - we can start discussing on Monday. Thanks for pointing out to me the new L enthusiasts!