I have to read this within the next three days if I want time to write a decent report. I'm not looking forward to it, to be honest.
I have to read this within the next three days if I want time to write a decent report. I'm not looking forward to it, to be honest.
Why? It is a great novel, River....give it a chance. It is a tight deadline reading it in only 3 days time. I do hate deadlines and pressure. Good luck with your paper. We have discused this novel recently, on this forum, believe it is this thread; so you should read the back posts to get a better idea of what the book is all about. Of course, you have a ton of reading for the next 3 days, so I can sympathise. Good luck!
"It's so mysterious, the land of tears."
Chapter 7, The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Thats too bad. I could never read anything with interest with the awareness of it being anything related to a textbook ever! Here's a great bengali novel which i've been wanting to read since i was a kid, but now that it's become included in my high school syllabi i began avoiding it (i didnt even know why first!). The very fact that it's a textbook made me repel it and drift off to sleep whenever i set my eyes on it.Originally Posted by River
Anyway, i finished reading S & L last night. Loved it. Though the ending was troubling (and the last few pages took me more time than i needed to finish the whole book), i enjoyed reading it. I particularly admired the artist in Paul and enjoyed watching where he goes.
This was my first Lawrence novel. It sure will make me read more now.
Last edited by symphony; 04-12-2008 at 10:35 PM.
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...the smell of flowers through metal labyrinths.
Hi symphony, I am so glad you appreciated and liked "Son and Lovers" - one of my favorite Lawrence novels. I am a huge fan of L's work! I don't know if you have noticed, but we have a monthly short story thread, devoted just to Lawrence's short stories. We also, discussed "Women in Love" (last year) and "Son's and Lovers" later in the same year, or beginning of ths year (now I forget which), on this forum site. Both discussions were great. I don't know if you are aware just how closely autobiographical "Sons and Lovers" is, to Lawrence actual life story. In fact, he would correspond to the character of Paul; Lawrence also loved art and to paint throughout his life and the people closest to him, were based on his family; Miriam was based on Jesse Chambers, who lived on a nearby farm.Thats too bad. I could never read anything with interest with the awareness of it being anything related to a textbook ever! Here's a great bengali novel which i've been wanting to read since i was a kid, but now that it's become included in my high school syllabi i began avoiding it (i didnt even know why first!). The very fact that it's a textbook made me repel it and drift off to sleep whenever i set my eyes on it.
Anyway, i finished reading S & L last night. Loved it. Though the ending was troubling (and the last few pages took me more time than i needed to finish the whole book), i enjoyed reading it. I particularly admired the artist in Paul and enjoyed watching where he goes.
This was my first Lawrence novel. It sure will make me read more now.
Soon we hope to read and discuss "The Rainbow", which would actually be the novel next in-line for you; it follows S&L. Later or prior to this, we will discuss "Lady Chatterly's Lover" which is a much later work for L. I hope any, or all of these, will interest you, and hope to see you in one of the threads.
I agree with you, when you said:"I could never read anything with interest with the awareness of it being anything related to a textbook ever!" I had this same thought when I was in HS - it really was a serious mental block I think. Years and years later, when I viewed the excellent miniseries of "A Tale of Two Cities", of which I know the novel was required reading in HS, I said to myself, "did I ever really read this story? This is just great read and a terrific love story; how did I miss that part of the book?" Well, I must have skimmed it, just to get by on a test. So, I dusted off my old book, and read it cover to cover, in a week's time and loved every word of it. I was so amazed; I had actually thought I had read this before....which now I doubt seriously.
Last edited by Janine; 04-12-2008 at 11:05 PM.
Chapter 7, The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Yes I read that in the introduction. I'm not sure if Clara stands for Louie Burrows or Frieda Weekley. Could easily be none of the two though.
I so want to join the discussions. But right now i'm in the neck of some very important exams and tied up till July. So i'm not sure i'll make it for The Rainbow but may be i'll catch up with you on another. I'll sure try to.Soon we hope to read and discuss "The Rainbow", which would actually be the novel next in-line for you; it follows S&L. Later or prior to this, we will discuss "Lady Chatterly's Lover" which is a much later work for L. I hope any, or all of these, will interest you, and hope to see you in one of the threads.
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...the smell of flowers through metal labyrinths.
Actually, we came up with this while discussing the book on this forum: apparently, from my research, Clara is actually based on a combination of women Lawrence knew; one may be Louie Burrows, but the other definitely was not Frieda Weekly, since he had not yet met her, I believe. Frieda was closer to being the model for Ursula in the "Rainbow" and "Women in Love". Interesting, isn't it? So Clara is actually a fictional character that Lawrence conjured up in his own mind.
Oh, that would be great. Don't worry, discussions will continue through the summer months, so you might be able to catch some short stories or one of the novels. We may not start "The Rainbow" till late anyway, since I am expecting my first grandchild, this month or early next. I know I will be too busy, then to begin the book discussion. They are all waiting patiently on me but they'll wait, so actually - the discussion of TR, may not take place till your summer vacation time. Hope you can join us then. It should be quite interesting. Virgil will be there and he knows a lot about TR since it is his favorite Lawrence novel. My favorite is "Women in Love", but I am sure a second reading of TR, will greatly help me to understand and appreciate that work, as well. Hope to see you in the summer in one of the discussion groups.I so want to join the discussions. But right now i'm in the neck of some very important exams and tied up till July. So i'm not sure i'll make it for The Rainbow but may be i'll catch up with you on another. I'll sure try to.
Your avatar is elegant and lovely. I recall you had another I really loved, too. You user name goes so well with that image, symphony.
Chapter 7, The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Oh I'm so glad you enjoyed that Symph. I actually loved the ending. It seems like the perfect ending of a young man in turmoil. Lawrence is such a brilliant writer. Anytime you wish to join our Lawrence short story discussion, feel free.Anyway, i finished reading S & L last night. Loved it. Though the ending was troubling (and the last few pages took me more time than i needed to finish the whole book), i enjoyed reading it. I particularly admired the artist in Paul and enjoyed watching where he goes.
This was my first Lawrence novel. It sure will make me read more now.
LET THERE BE LIGHT
"Love follows knowledge." – St. Catherine of Siena
My literature blog: http://ashesfromburntroses.blogspot.com/
I look forward to that, then.
Why thank you!Your avatar is elegant and lovely. I recall you had another I really loved, too. You user name goes so well with that image, symphony.
Yours is a lovely one as well, Janine.
Yes. I like endings that dont give off too much of the future, or too many obvious plans. I thought he ended it as much derelict as he promised by the title of that last section.
And oh, I also wanted to say that I really loved the verbal imageries, esp. the natural sceneries. First I thought he was dragging things a bit like all classics, but then I thought he didnt actually give off more than what it was, perfect in his way to let you feel the sunshine, the flowerbeds, the evenings. Not more, not less.
Will.Anytime you wish to join our Lawrence short story discussion, feel free.
Last edited by symphony; 04-15-2008 at 08:35 PM.
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...the smell of flowers through metal labyrinths.
i've read sons and lovers, the rainbow and women in love. though all very good, none moved me like sons and lovers. i found it to be one of the best books i ever read.
Hi country doctor, I love them all, but I do adore "Sons and Lovers" - it is an exquisite book and he wrote that at such a youthful time in his life - it shows great maturity and insight. Probably that and "Women in Love" are my two favorites! Glad that you appreciate Lawrence.
Chapter 7, The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Hi symphony, Thank you, but recently I have been toying with the idea of changing it. I have had that same Dali painting, which I love, since I joined up here.I look forward to that, then.
Why thank you!
Yours is a lovely one as well, Janine.
I did not mean to ignore your post; my old computer went to the graveyard recently and so the transition to a new one was pretty rough, but now I have a beautiful new machine and am loving it, thanks to some very kind and generous friends.
So do I, I like them to be open-ended or suggested. That drives some people crazy but to me that seems more like realism. I though "Sons and Lovers" ended absolutely appropriately - how else could it end? I adore the verbal imageries in Lawrence's work. I read his first novel, "The White Peacock" and I was entralled with his nature/floral descriptions. He describes snowdrops in the wood like no one else - the way he does it is so sensual and meaningful. Exactly as you say - he lets you actually feel the sunshine, smell the flowers and the breeze or the fragrant air in the evenings. It is always a pleasure to read these pastoral passages of Lawrence's. His poems are lovely also. If you have not read them, you should read some. They are so perceptive and beautiful and many are about animals or nature but always related to some deeper ideas, some deeper well in his being and blood. They are marvelous.Yes. I like endings that dont give off too much of the future, or too many obvious plans. I thought he ended it as much derelict as he promised by the title of that last section.
And oh, I also wanted to say that I really loved the verbal imageries, esp. the natural sceneries. First I thought he was dragging things a bit like all classics, but then I thought he didnt actually give off more than what it was, perfect in his way to let you feel the sunshine, the flowerbeds, the evenings. Not more, not less.
symphony, I hope that 'will' was to check out the short story thread. If so I just announced that we will be starting a new story in Sept. I hope you can participate. It is a great group we have and your are always welcome. That goes for you also, country doctor.Will.
Chapter 7, The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Loved 'Sons and Lovers'. It had a great intense claustophia to it that never slipped into parody, like Chatterley tended to do.
Has anybody picked up on the fact that Mrs Morel's first name is Gertrude- also the name of Hamlet's mother? Is Lawrence drawing the Oedipal parallel there?
Great idea! I've read Hamlet and going to read S & L soon. Will keep it in mind.
I must create a system, or be enslaved by another man's. ~ William Blake
Captivity is consciousness,
So's liberty. ~ Emily Dickinson
I read Women in Love a few years ago and quite halfheartedly as it was the part of our syllabus. I didn’t really enjoy it and Lawrence’s writing style was also new to me. But I liked Sons and Lovers the picturesque quality of its prose.
He sat down against his will, resting his back against the hard
wall of hay. They faced the amphitheatre of round hills that glowed
with sunset, tiny white farms standing out, the meadows golden,
the woods dark and yet luminous, tree-tops folded over tree-tops,
distinct in the distance. The evening had cleared, and the east
was tender with a magenta flush under which the land lay still
and rich.
It’s nice to see that some of my friends have discussed this book with religious fervour in this thread.
Special thanks to Virgil for this translation. I really wanted to know what Miriam has written in her diary.
"This morning the birds wakened me," he read. "It was still dawn light. But the little window of my room was pale, and then yellow, and all the birds in the woods burst in a lively and resounding song. The whole dawn shivered. I had been dreaming of you. Do you also see the dawn? The birds wake me nearly every morning, and there is always a sound of terror in the song of the thrushes. It is so clear..."
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