D.H. Lawrence's Short Stories Thread

[Janine]

Quote by Virgil,

Well, I didn't say it was bad or disappointing. It was a good story.

Sorry, Virg, didn't mean to misquote you. I thought it was a 'good' story, too.

Quote by Quark

Well I paused for your response to my post, but instead you took a mini-vacation. Perhaps it was a well-deserved break, but meanwhile the threads went silent. I don't think we were in any threat of oblivion, though. Was that comic overstatement?

Yep, Quark, you are right; at least I was trying to sneak in a mini-vacation. I have still been on this computer nearly everyday, but last night, I came home from eating out and wanted to watch a DVD and so I did not even turn the computer on....that is a first for me! I should just make myself turn it off every night at a certain time; I have been getting ridiculous lately, staying up much too late. Actually, don't worry, Quark, the part about 'falling into oblivion' was just a joke, but this way I did get all your attention and the thread back onto the first page again. Hahaha - the incest thread is still leading at the top - actually kind of pathetic, I think.

I enjoyed the dialogue, too. I also liked how the thoughts of the wife were written and how Lawrence developed the sense of distance between husband and wife. Other parts of the story disappointed me, though. The characters weren't as nuanced as some of the other characters we've seen, and the story-telling was a little clumsy at times--like Lawrence using the blue dresses to draw a parallel. I'm sure this will provoke more ire from you, but there were some problems with the story. Not everything in a Lawrence story is perfect. Overall, it was still pretty good. Like Virgil hinted, it wasn't the best story we've read, but it certainly wasn't the worst. Somewhere in the middle is where it falls in my estimation.

I read the story a number of times and everytime I read it I actually enjoyed it more so. I thought it was sort of a fun story - kind of black humor! Of course, at the time it was written, this humor was at the expense of others. Yes, I still do think the two blue dresses were significant and especially that L mentions the difference in the quality. I did not think this was clumsy writing. The more I read excerpts from this timeline book I have about L and thinks he mentions about the short stories, I realise just how meticulous he was about them and would often rewrite the story or parts, especially the endings, several times over. This is what makes me think it was not mistake of contriving to make the two dresses blue and contrasting. My only thought was why the secretary chose that particular dress and yet maybe she did not have others that were suited for the occasion. I will have to beam myself up to Lawrence and see if he can answer that for me today.

Recently I got the list of Lawrence anthologies that my book story can order. I'll have to email the list of what they have so you can help me make a decision.

Well, two anthologies I know of are "The Prussian Officer and Other Short Stories', "England My England and Other Short Stories" - I own the second one, which I am looking at now. We discussed two of the stories in that one, and some others are strong possibilites. I read a few recently, I would consider discussing. There is only 10 stories in that edition. I counted all the stories in the "Complete Short Stories" (Vol 1,2,3) last night and came up with about 43. This does not include the longer shorts stories such as Love Among the Haystacks/St. Mawr/The Man Who Died. I read about 17 stories this year, a few others when younger. I seriously think I own the other edition I mentioned first (in this post), but I can't seem to locate it right now. I think it is online, or on this site. Some of the stories may be repeated in that book, too and many we already read. I will check the listing.
Ok, bottomline - best thing is to PM me and send me the anthology list from your bookstore. If you have my regular email address send there, because my box is filling up, at too fast a pace; it hit 100% the past two days and I had to go and delete quickly.

Something to add now - just checked "The Prussian Officer and Other Stories" on here and there are 12 short stories and we have discussed 5 of those in this thread. The others are possibilities, but that only leaves 7, although some are longer ones like 'The Daughters of the Vicar' which we probably will eventually discuss, since it is one of his major and most popular stories. I have read some commentary on that one, but it is quite a bit longer, and I can't see doing that one, for awhile now. I'm too busy.
I compared the two collections, to see if any stories were repeated, and they were not, but that would only be half of the Lawrence short stories - 22 of the 43 or so he wrote. This is just why I ended up buying all three volumes of the "Complete Short Stories", which I had to buy used. Maybe your bookstore can order them now. They may have come back in print.

[Dark Muse]

I read the story a number of times and everytime I read it I actually enjoyed it more so. I thought it was sort of a fun story - kind of black humor! Of course, at the time it was written, this humor was at the expense of others. Yes, I still do think the two blue dresses were significant and especially that L mentions the difference in the quality. I did not think this was clumsy writing. The more I read excerpts from this timeline book I have about L and thinks he mentions about the short stories, I realise just how meticulous he was about them and would often rewrite the story or parts, especially the endings, several times over. This is what makes me think it was not mistake of contriving to make the two dresses blue and contrasting. My only thought was why the secretary chose that particular dress and yet maybe she did not have others that were suited for the occasion. I will have to beam myself up to Lawrence and see if he can answer that for me today.

I have to agree with Janine on this one. Me acutally agreeing with someone? Shocking I know. If I am not careful I am going to get the reptuation as being the trouble marker. But anyway, I quite enjoyed the story myself, and personaly I do not find anything really sloppy about it. Though I do not know if I would go quite so far as to say it was "black" humur per sae, but I did find it to be quite amusing.

And yes, I am still alive. I know I have not been around in a while.

[Quark]

the incest thread is still leading at the top - actually kind of pathetic, I think.

I don't think we're going to win against that thread. How do you compete with a provocative topic that requires no reading? Even I've peaked in to see what's going on. Of course that was only to check out what islandclimber posted since we haven't seen that guy in a while. He wrote something like a dissertation on the topic which incensed Virgil.

Maybe your bookstore can order them now. They may have come back in print.

Actually, I decided to Amazon it. The prices on the list my bookstore gave me are quite excessive--think over $30 a book.

I have to agree with Janine on this one. Me acutally agreeing with someone? Shocking I know.

Careful, you don't want to lose your edge.

[Dark Muse]

*Grins* I do not think there is much real fear in that. I will likely remain The Devil's Advocate so to speak of the group

[Virgil]

I have to agree with Janine on this one. Me acutally agreeing with someone? Shocking I know.

Why D-M? We tend to agree often I think.

[Dark Muse]

Hehe yes, I suppose it is usually Janine whom I find myself in disagrement with. Nothing personally of course, we just have a different persepctive on things.

[Janine]

I don't think we're going to win against that thread. How do you compete with a provocative topic that requires no reading? Even I've peaked in to see what's going on. Of course that was only to check out what islandclimber posted since we haven't seen that guy in a while. He wrote something like a dissertation on the topic which incensed Virgil.

Yeah, really...when you get a thread requiring no reading, did you notice how quickly people flock to it? A contraversy pulls them right in! Oh, what did you say "incensed Virgil?" hahaha - wouldn't be the first time...he says he is "mad, bad and dangerous to know". Oh well, this is why I am against these wild topics in this forum. Are they really necessary? I thought we all congregated here, because we wanted to share our enthusisam for literature, even extending to film, movies, music, etc. I can't see where the 'incest' topic was related at all, but maybe I am missing something.

Actually, I decided to Amazon it. The prices on the list my bookstore gave me are quite excessive--think over $30 a book.

Wow, that is way too expensive and you probably would not get all the stories, anyway. PM me and I will tell you the right books to look for on Amazon. I saw them listed pretty reasonably not long ago. I looked them up for you. I checked out the sellers and they seemed like good ones. No, of course that all changed be I will check again. It will have to be a used set but I know you can find them and probably under 20 for all three, maybe even under 10 for all three. Don't PM me today. I have to go out and I need to clear out the box later, when I come home. Someone told me they could not get through on my PM box - really it is only at 98% full so it should have gone through - but anyway - just wait, maybe till tomorrow. We will find you the books you need.

Careful, you don't want to lose your edge.

Don't worry, Quark, Dark Muse only agrees with me on occasion - she won't lose her edge, will you, DM? I count on you being my contraversial member of the group. It keeps things lively in here! Otherwise everyone might fall asleep.


Does everyone think I should look for another story to start soon? I admit I have been reading/reviewing a few; two, so far interested me and they both were rather weird ones, but possibilities for the future, just not sure for right now. One is very long and will be great for later on...maybe the summer. It will require a lot of discussion. So, if you give me the 'go ahead' I will try to pick another shorter story - say by Monday. What do you all think?

[Dark Muse]

Hehe no I will not. I am little Miss. Controversial

I definately am in favor of a shorter story. I have 12 books to read now between two classess, and usually have to read one entier novel and several short stories (some not so short) a week.

[Janine]

Hehe no I will not. I am little Miss. Controversial

At first I thought you wrote little 'Miss Congeniality" and I really laughed. Now I agree - yes this fits you much better!

I definately am in favor of a shorter story. I have 12 books to read now between two classess, and usually have to read one entier novel and several short stories (some not so short) a week.

Dark Muse, yes, I agree - too much going on in my life this coming month to be too involved on this forum. It is just temporary, but necessary.

Wow, that much reading is quite demanding. I hated that about school. Why do they assume everyone reads at the same pace? I was a super slow reader and not too quick to this day. I felt like I was penalized for it. Wouldn't it be better, in the long run, to read less and read it well and understand it fully, than cram and read a dozen things? I can't see why teachers can't see this idea and this concept clearly. Even Lawrence said, it was far better to read one book several times, than 100's just once - well, not his exact words but I do agree with the concept. Once, Grace, on this forum told me in a PM that she had to read about 6 Shakespeare plays in a couple of months. What, are these professors crazy? I said it was too much to absorb - they were the really intricate plays, too - one was "Hamlet" - that would take 2 months to discuss.

Anyway, are any of the short stories Lawrence ones? Maybe we could discuss one of your required stories.

[Dark Muse]

Yeah, the one thing that always annoys me, is that sometimes the teachers act as if thier class is the only one you are taking, or the only one that really matters. Though part of the problem for me now is that I am taking night classess, it was the onle time that these classes were held, and night classess only meet once a week, so the classes are longer but they have to cover more mattieral in shorter time compared to classes that meet 2 or 3 times a week as the day classess typicaly do.

Hehe, I wish, the only Lawrence we read was Sons and Lovers at the very begining. Right now we for that class we are doing The Dubliners by Joyce.

And my other class is American Fiction.

[Janine]

Yeah, the one thing that always annoys me, is that sometimes the teachers act as if thier class is the only one you are taking, or the only one that really matters. Though part of the problem for me now is that I am taking night classess, it was the onle time that these classes were held, and night classess only meet once a week, so the classes are longer but they have to cover more mattieral in shorter time compared to classes that meet 2 or 3 times a week as the day classess typicaly do.

I do hate cramming! I can see why now - the night classes would suit me well. I am a night person entirely...can't really think clearly until about 6 o'clock.

Hehe, I wish, the only Lawrence we read was Sons and Lovers at the very begining. Right now we for that class we are doing The Dubliners by Joyce.

Sad about Lawrence. If you had read the short stories you would be ahead of the game. I read "Dubliners" and we just had that discussion thread on it last month. I don't think it was that active a thread, though; but, you could check it to see if you could gather some information on the stories, especially as a group.

And my other class is American Fiction.

[Dark Muse]

Sad about Lawrence. If you had read the short stories you would be ahead of the game. I read "Dubliners" and we just had that discussion thread on it last month. I don't think it was that active a thread, though; but, you could check it to see if you could gather some information on the stories, especially as a group.

Hehe yeah, but her calss is mostly novels, exepct of the Dubliners, and my other class is mostly short stories.

But my teacher HATES Lawrence, OMG. And I think most the class did not really care for Sons and Lovers either.

So far The Dubliners is at least better then Portrait of the Artist. I hated reading that the second time, even more thant the first time I read it. It just seemed like pointless dribble.

[Dark Muse]

We had done Sons and Lovers by Lawerence

[Virgil]

No one seems to like Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man. I adore it. But I have to admit, I like Dubliners more.

Which Lawrence story are you reading/discussing?

I like Portrait. We had it as a book forum read one month and you can read my thoughts on it here: http://www.online-literature.com/for...ad.php?t=17101.

But I think Sons and Lovers is the greater work.

I think we're in between stories right now. Waiting on janine to select the next one.

[Janine]

We had done Sons and Lovers by Lawerence

Dark Muse, what are you saying? Wake-up, DM, This is the "Lawrence Short Story" thread! You must be overworked in school.

Antiquarian, we did discuss "Sons and Lovers", a few months back, but in it's own thread.

And Currently (this month), we have been discussing 'Two Blue-Birds' in this thread and before that 'Sun' and 'The Man Who Loved Islands', and many, many more. See first page of thread up until today.
If you want to read this story, A, it is a short one (it goes along quickly with much dialogue) and you could add your intuitive thoughts to it; OR, if you prefer wait until I pick the next story, which may be posted this monday, or next; depends on if I have the time to read some stories and settle on one, for the next that we will discuss. We could start early, because this story has been pretty well discussed by now, considering all the commentary we have posted.
If you do read "Two Blue Birds', now keep in-mind, this story is not so typical of Lawrence's other stories we discussed; we talked about that fact, in the first few posts of this story discussion; you might want to review. It is much more witty, but quite sardonic.