Sons and Lovers

Sons and Lovers

First published in 1913, Sons and Lovers is a highly autobiographical and compelling portrayal of childhood, adolescence and the clash of generations. The marriage of Gertrude and Walter Morel has become a battleground. Repelled by her uneducated and sometimes violent husband, delicate Gertrude devotes her life to her children, especially to her sons, William and Paul—determined they will not follow their father into working down the coal mines. But conflict is evitable when Paul seeks to escape his mother's suffocating grasp through relationships with women his own age. While 'Sons and Lovers' scandalized its original English readers for its oedipal implications and social criticism, it remains a powerful story of terrifying inner and outer conflict and intense sensuality.
Sign up to use

Reviews

Photo of Clay Carey
Clay Carey@clayclay
5 stars
Jul 24, 2024

I know this is a decisive book but it was just perfect to me. The projection and insecurity and attachment feels so genuine

Photo of Jeni Enjaian
Jeni Enjaian@jenienjaian
2 stars
Oct 30, 2021

I really did not enjoy this book at all. When I first started reading I thought that I might but it quickly devolved. Here are the complaints/critiques that I have about the book in no particular order. 1. For such a long book, Lawrence achieves very little depth. 2. The marriage briefly and shallowly described (the parents) is stereotypical Irish. I know that this book is supposed to be semi-autobiographical but this fact still rubbed me the wrong way. 3. Each character's motivations for his actions even when stated felt obscured and never truly explained. 4. The constant back and forth that continued through over two hundred pages between characters such as Paul and Miriam drove me absolutely nuts. I kept wanting to scream at them to make up their mind or at the very least put some conviction behind their actions. 5. Speaking of relationships, the relationship between Paul and his mother, especially as described at certain points late in the book, was creepy. It grossed me out really and made very little sense in the context of the book at that point. 6. Nothing in the book felt concrete or remotely normal. 7. The narrative is eminently readable but I found no reason to read it beyond a desire to read through the classics.

Photo of Katrina Wilson
Katrina Wilson@kwilson
3 stars
Jul 16, 2024
Photo of Maria
Maria@nocturnes
4 stars
Apr 2, 2024
Photo of Haleemah Sadiah
Haleemah Sadiah@haleemahsadiah
4 stars
Feb 3, 2024
Photo of Karolina Klermon-Williams
Karolina Klermon-Williams@ofloveandart
4 stars
Jan 14, 2024
Photo of adinda
adinda@doostoevskij
4 stars
Jan 7, 2024
Photo of Madison Storm
Madison Storm@cntemporary
5 stars
Jan 6, 2024
Photo of Pierke Bosschieter
Pierke Bosschieter@pierke
4 stars
Aug 21, 2023
Photo of Emma
Emma@emmao
4 stars
Apr 18, 2023
Photo of Ioana Kardos
Ioana Kardos@ioanakardos
4 stars
Feb 11, 2023
Photo of Charlotte Dann
Charlotte Dann@chareads
2 stars
Feb 6, 2023
Photo of Seth Kalback
Seth Kalback@skalback
5 stars
Jan 18, 2023
Photo of Jason Skicewicz
Jason Skicewicz@jskitz
4 stars
Oct 25, 2022
Photo of Yuvraj Jha
Yuvraj Jha@yuvraj
5 stars
Oct 21, 2022
Photo of Tanya
Tanya@tanyaara
4 stars
Oct 10, 2022
Photo of KKK
KKK@kandid
4 stars
Sep 7, 2022
Photo of Avani Pandya
Avani Pandya@avanireads
4 stars
Jul 9, 2022
Photo of Satty
Satty@esscee2105
4 stars
May 18, 2022
Photo of Kathy Rodger
Kathy Rodger @bookatnz
3 stars
Apr 20, 2022
Photo of Lily
Lily@variouslilies
4 stars
Mar 30, 2022
Photo of Liam Byrne
Liam Byrne @tvtimelimit
5 stars
Jan 17, 2022
Photo of Gwen Chodur
Gwen Chodur@gwenchodur
4 stars
Dec 23, 2021
Photo of Ruth Parker
Ruth Parker @ruth
4 stars
Nov 18, 2021