No, the subject line doesn’t refer to Wildebeest and Zebu. That’s a blog topic for another day. Ha…..
Last night I finally finished reading D.H. Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers but I think a more appropriate title is Sons and Haters.
(Before I continue I have to say that I really, really wanted to like this book because last week when I had the good fortune of visiting in person with the funny and wise
![[info]](https://i0.wp.com/p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
, she said she’d loved this book when she read it in high school. Sorry, Linda, but I didn’t feel the love).
I don’t understand the fuss over this book and why it’s on all those 100 Best Books In the Universe lists. It was so much telling and very little showing (not to mention the POV shifts happening so frequently I got jumpy). Lawrence point-blank told the reader what the characters were feeling, and much of the time the characters were hating on each other. He hated her; she hated him; he hated him; they hated her. (Don’t take my word for it. Go here to read chapters online and do a search for “hate.” I highly recommend Chapter XIV, The Release, for some fun examples).
This book made me so crabby that Zippy laughed whenever he saw me still reading it. He couldn’t understand why I didn’t just quit, and neither could I. I guess I kept hoping for some type of aha moment in which I’d understand the book’s classic status. I’m sorry to say it never happened.
Tracy Abell 
Okay, I won’t put that one on list list of Classics I Must Still Read…
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Yes, I think I did you a favor on this one. Throwing an alternate book on the pile instead. 🙂
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Uh, yeah… DH Lawrence is not my cup of tea either.
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“Not my cup of tea.” Hmm, you’re much more diplomatic than me.
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lol – sometimes!
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Yes, I know what you mean. I can do diplomacy when necessary. Usually.
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Tee-hee…I think Linda will understand. After all, one of your favorite books is one of my least favorite, right? 🙂 That, or Linda will sicc her dad on you, heh.
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Yeah, I’m more worried about Linda’s dad. But I remain impressed that Linda read it in high school and enjoyed it in high school. Wow.
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What? You met Linbin? Was she here and I missed her? Or did you go see her? Either way, I hope you all had fun!
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Linbin was here for a very brief visit. I met her at Rutgers two years ago in a blink-of-the-eye moment so was glad to get the chance for a bit longer visit.
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I loved it when I read it in college on a complete DH Lawrence bender. Haven’t peeked inside it since.
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