I Read Books: Sons and Lovers
Gertrude Morel is unhappily married to a miner, Walter Morel. They have a number of children, including several sons, about whom her life revolves. We follow her life, then that of Paul, the second son, until eventually she dies. It has very finely drawn sketches of family life, work, food and housing, and how death is dealt with at the start of the 20th century.
But that’s not a reason to read the book unless you’re a weirdo who writes stuff set in that period. (Sorry) Instead, the reason this book endures is that Lawrence so finely sketches the way that Gertrude, disappointed in her husband, transfers the full force of her love and expectations onto her sons. And they in return find themselves disappointed in love because it can not compare to that of their mother.
There’s a few good bits about the role of women at that time that still have resonance today.
Read This: For a classic D H Lawrence novel about family, life, and love
Don’t Read This: For the rude bits which don’t stand up (and from what I’ve seen of Victorian erotica, didn’t even then. Can’t believe people complained about obscenity in it.)
Out of Copyright: And available online for free.
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