Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence

A quick rundown… The story of a woman, her two sons and the everlasting ties between them.

Strengths: A different way of approaching a story with three sequential protagonists; Paul is an amiable character.

Weaknesses: Dragged for me in places.

Why I read it: Have never read D.H. Lawrence before.

Pages: 544

Published: 1913

Publisher: Penguin Classics

Setting: England

Rating: 7 out of 10.

If you liked this, try: Brooklyn by Colm Toibin deals with similar family issues.

This was the first D.H. Lawrence book I’ve read and I’m still undecided whether it will be the last. If I had to sum it up in one word, the word would be ‘okay’. Not brilliant, not awful – just tolerable really.

The story is simple enough – the story of Mrs Morel, who seems to have married the wrong man (a miner who drinks a lot) and puts her effort into her firstborn son, Arthur. Arthur is given every opportunity, sometimes at the expense of his sister Annie and younger brother Paul. When Arthur returns home engaged, Mrs Morel finds it hard to deal with and picks fault with his fiancé. Arthur then dies and Mrs Morel sets her sights on Paul. She controls nearly every aspect of Paul’s life and is a continual source of friction between him and his first girlfriend, Miriam. It seems no one is good enough for Paul and Mrs Morel will be the only woman in his life.

Lawrence is excellent at being able to convey thoughts and feelings of his characters within a few words. The portrayal of the different relationships – Paul and his mother, Paul and Miriam is excellent. Mrs Morel and Paul both love and hate each other, yet they can’t break or change the bond between them. Paul knows his mother is interfering with his relationships, yet he still goes back for more. You would expect Mrs Morel to appear overbearing, but she doesn’t – it is clearly written that she wants the absolute best for Paul and will do her damnedest to get it for him. Like most mothers!

Very well written but not my favourite 20^th century classic (that is reserved for Richard Yates). Somewhat dull and bleak in places, but the strength is in the relationships between the characters.

Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe

A quick rundown… Moll Flanders (not her real name) will do anything to survive – prostitution, stealing, multiple marriages…

Strengths: Must have been very original for its time.

Weaknesses: Sometimes it’s difficult to work out which man Moll is speaking about, as she doesn’t use names.

Why I read it: Green Penguin Classics are awesome (and wallet-friendly).

Pages: 339

Published: 1722

Publisher: Penguin

Setting: England, USA

Rating: 7 out of 10

If you liked this, try: The Crimson and the White by Michael Faber

Moll Flanders was another of my cheap green Penguin Classics reads. This must have been rather a controversial story for its time, as Moll (one of the few named characters) is involved in many taboo subjects – sex before marriage, prostitution, gaol and incest to name a few. Even to myself as a modern reader, I was surprised at some of her exploits.

This book is somewhat different to what I’m used to. For starters, it has no chapters. Not that much of a problem, just difficult to find a good stopping place. The second issue is that hardly any of the characters are named – even Moll is a pseudonym. Moll’s husbands and lovers are not named – which is difficult when she has several of them! This did make it a little difficult for me to keep track of who was who, especially when Moll’s previous husbands turned up later in the story.

Those points aside, this would make a rollicking movie or mini-series as the nature of Moll’s downfall and eventual redemption are still topical today. I must seek one out. Moll is born in prison, yet grows up in a more gentle household engaged to one brother, but being paid for sex with the other. Her husbands disappear in various circumstances – on the run from the law and one turns out to be her own brother. I found Moll’s role as a thief to be the most interesting as the devious ways to steal things were rather imaginative (for example, telling someone their house is on fire!). Despite her trials, Moll has the ability to turn a situation to benefit her while remaining cheerful.

Certainly an interesting life, I just wish I could have kept better track of the husbands!

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

I read Sense and Sensibility as part of the Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Challenge 2011. The book (a pretty hardcover version) had been sitting on my shelves for some time, so it was a good opportunity to get onto it! Sense and Sensibility is the only Jane Austen novel I haven’t seen as a movie or series (yes, I know, shameful) so I was relying on Miss Austen herself to tell me all about this book.

I’m sure everyone knows the plot of this book (or can Google it), but in short, it’s the story of two single sisters of marriageable age and their trials and tribulations when it comes to men. There’s the cad, the gentleman (actually, two of them), a trip to London and a nasty illness. The sisters are very different – Elinor is sensible and restrained, while Marianne is passionate and impulsive.

The Austen wit is hard at work in this novel, and I enjoyed being able to chuckle at some of the actions of the characters (especially Marianne’s outbursts). It is finely written and captures the time well. I could picture Barton and the Dashwood’s cottage easily. I found myself on the edge of my seat at Marianne’s illness, wishing for penicillin – Austen captured well the despair that Elinor found herself in.

I did enjoy this book, but I still think Pride and Prejudice is my favourite. Elinor is a little too restrained for my liking, while Marianne is a bit too impetuous.

Read this if: you like your classics with wit and clever social commentary

8 out of 10.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

I bought Northanger Abbey as one of the Popular Penguins series. I had seen the television miniseries and thoroughly enjoyed it, with its parody of the Gothic novel.

Catherine, a young lady with not much fortune but an appetite for Gothic novels and a wild imagination, goes to Bath with friends.  There she meets Mr Henry Tilney and falls instantly in love with him. She also meets Isabella, who becomes a close friend. Isabella’s brother, John, falls for Catherine but she finds him odious in comparison with Mr Tilney. Isabella then becomes engaged to Catherine’s brother, but this is broken off when Catherine finds someone with a better fortune. Catherine leaves Bath to stay with the Tilneys at Northanger Abbey, where she romanticises many Gothic elements about her room and the deceased Mrs Tilney. She is then sent home in mistaken disgrace due to malicious gossip from John but everything is soon righted.

I enjoyed this, in particular the parody of the Gothic elements (the mysteriously dead wife and the secrets in the bedroom at Northanger Abbey) and that there were some truly awful characters in Isabella and John. There’s a lot of bite to this novel, it’s not just sweetness, pretty gowns and perfect romances. Austen pokes a lot of fun at her ‘heroine’ (as she often calls Catherine) and at her overdramatic and silly nature. (She is only 17 after all). Henry has a lot of insight into Catherine’s character and is the balance that she desperately needs.

I would have been interested to find out the ultimate fate of John and Isabella – did they get what they deserved?

Read it if: you like your classics with some bite

8 out of 10.

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

I must admit that my motivation to read this book came from the book and TV series by Michael Palin (who attempted to go around the world in eighty days strangely enough in the 1980s). Palin’s journey was inspired by this classic. 

As you can probably guess, this book deals with Phileas Fogg’s attempt to go around the world in eighty days in the 1800s. Accompanied by his new but trusty servant, Passepartout, he leaves the Reform Club, London promising to return back in exactly eighty days. Armed with a book of timetables of ships and trains (as well as good luck), they begin their journey. However, Detective Fix is on Fogg’s trail, suspecting him of stealing from the Bank of England. Add to this a ride on an elephant, rescue of a young widow, a meeting with the Sioux and a circus troupe (not at the same time) and like Fogg, this book never stops. One thing you will learn is longitude and latitude in an important but fun way!

I found this book fast paced and interesting. It read like a modern book to me, I had no problems with language or dreary bits. Fogg’s trip was interesting from both a cultural and historical perspective. Passepartout was just gorgeous with his devotion to Fogg and his journey. Okay, so it’s dated and the world has changed, but it was written a long time ago!

If you’ve never read a classic, I suggest you start with this one – it’s short and feels completely modern.

9 out of 10.

Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte

Anne Bronte was the only one of the Bronte sisters I had not read so far. I loved Jane Eyre and enjoyed Wuthering Heights so I thought I should try Anne out (plus I could not resist the green Penguin Classic cover and the price of $4.50 Singapore dollars).

The plot of Agnes Grey is quite simple – Agnes lives at home and is somewhat forced to go out into the world to earn a living to support her family. She becomes a governess and is placed with an awful family. She returns home and then works again with another family (slightly less awful). There she meets a man who she loses, then finds again when she sets up a small school with her mother. The ending? I’m sure you can guess!

It is quite easy to read despite that it was written in 1847. The main themes are spoilt children (nothing different nowadays) and the support of family (Agnes’ mother is a constant source of support). Agnes herself is a very moral character, somewhat serious and lacking in humour to me. She always believes she is making the right choice and the other party is wrong (as this story is told in the first person, it’s hard to tell who really is right). 

This wasn’t my favourite Bronte book (Jane Eyre wins hands down). Is The Tenant of Wildfell Hall  any better?

6.5 out of 10

(Not my cover- I couldn’t find the cover of mine on the internet! They are available from Book Depository though)

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

What can you say about a book that is such a classic? My mother recommended this book to me (a surprise as she’s not the biggest classics fan) so I bought it to read as part of my daily commute. I can’t believe I didn’t read it at a younger age (or even see a movie- I’m sure there is one) until now. This is the ultimate boy’s own adventure (even though I’m not a boy).

The first thing that struck me about this book is the voice of Huckleberry Finn- you feel like he is sitting beside you, telling his story. Mark Twain is excellent at getting all the characters’ voices to sound true in both accent and feeling. Jim is incredibly patient with the boyhood escapades of Huck and Tom. The supporting characters of the Duke and the King are hilarious in their ability to think up new schemes.

There are many themes covered in this book –class, racism but the book does not feel like it’s preaching at you. Huckleberry and Jim fall into a number of situations and scrapes but it all flows beautifully, just like the Mississippi, a rollicking yarn.

Read it to your children before they grow up! (OK, so it’s not all that PC with the use of the word ‘n****r’ but it is a great book. Not the Great American Novel – isn’t that The Great Gatsby? – but it is a lot of fun).

8.5 out of 10.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

I’m not sure what made me buy this book- I think it was probably part of a Vintage 2 for 1 deal (or just the fact that I love the way all the Vintage Classics ‘fit’ together on the bookshelf). I’ve never read a review for this book nor have I ever had a recommendation to read it. Now that I’ve read it, fans of this book are coming out everywhere!

Edith Wharton won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for The Age of Innocence and once you start reading, you can see why. Like Haruki Marukami, she paints in intricate picture in your mind of the characters and how they relate together.

Newland Archer (see where Candace Bushnell gets her character names from?) is about to marry May Welland when her cousin, the Countess Ellen Olenska returns from Europe in disgrace- she’s left her husband (this is the 1870s). Ellen is mysterious, bohemian and independent- all the things that Newland is looking for. He falls in love with Ellen, but still marries May. He is torn between duty and finding the passion that is so elusive in the restrained New York society. Will Archer find happiness if he throws everything he’s known away? More importantly, does he dare to?

I found Archer a little like Toru Okada in The Wind-up Bird Chronicle (the book I had read previously)- he’s happy for things to move him along rather than make things happen. This was frustrating- I wanted him to make a definite choice but he seemed unable to. I think he was a product of his time and class. Ellen, in contrast, seemed ahead of her time- she was decidedly independent in contrast to May, who needed approval from others (as well as opinions).

I think the best way to read this book is in large blocks- it didn’t work as well for me reading it in small bites after work. The prose deserved more than this! I found I enjoyed it most on lazy weekend afternoons.

7.5 out of 10.

I’m curious now to read other Edith Wharton books- can anyone suggest any?

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark

(Image from Goodreads as I forgot to take a pictiure in my holiday rush)

I’ve heard others discussing how much they loved this book, so I was pleased to hear that it was one of the latest releases in the Popular Penguins series. A short novella, I thought this would be a perfect short read before I went on holidays. Well, I’ve returned from my holidays and I still can’t really work this one out.

Miss Jean Brodie is a teacher at an Edinburgh school. She picks some of the girls from her class to be part of her set- some intelligent, some pretty and some neither. She is not a traditional teacher, telling them long stories about her ‘prime’- loves and losses. She is somewhat controversial- having an affair with a fellow teacher and suggesting that a schoolgirl should become the lover of one of her former lovers. Her ‘girls’ idolise her, even going so far to make up romantic fiction stories about her. The book follows her ‘girls’ to adulthood, until she is betrayed by one of them and forced to retire from teaching.

I’m not really sure what the fuss is about. Certainly teachers shouldn’t act like that in any time period and Miss Brodie is ahead of her time- rather a feminist, having affairs and travelling alone in the 1930s, not to mention idolising Mussolini! It is well written and the characters are well drawn. I’m not one to deeply analyse what I read for pleasure (I leave that to students) but while it’s enjoyable, it’s not life changing literature.

6.5 out of 10.

Summer Crossing by Truman Capote

In the lead up to the release of yet more Popular Penguins, I decided to make a small attempt to decrease the number of unread PP in my pile. Wanting a quick read before sinking into something meatier for the weekend, I chose Summer Crossing which could be described as more of a novella at 120-odd pages.

Summer Crossing was found long after Truman Capote’s death and it was up to his lawyer amongst others to decide whether it should be published. It appeared that Capote had edited the manuscript several times and only minor changes have been made by others to the novel.

In summary, the plot is about Grady, a rich teenage New Yorker, who is left alone in the city one summer while her parents travel abroad. During this time, she falls in love with Clyde, a Jewish car park attendant and makes some very rash choices that have very severe consequences. Sounds good, no?

I found this to be a fantastic outline for a great novel, but the actual manuscript to be verbose and jumpy- meaning that it jumps around from thought to thought. This could have been to me a perfectly brilliant novel, but I felt it lacked detail and background. What also really annoyed me were the long, rambling sentences:

Lucy McNeil’s own debut had been a famous and sentimental affair: her grandmother, a rightfully celebrated New Orleans beauty who had married South Carolina’s Senator LaTrotta, presented Lucy and her two sisters en masse at a Camellia ball in Charleston in April of 1920; it was a presentation truly, for the three LaTrotta sisters were no more than schoolgirls whose social adventures had been heretofore conducted within the shackles of a church; so hungrily had Lucy whirled that night her feet for days had worn the bruises of this entrance into living, so hungrily had she kissed the Governor’s son that her cheeks had flamed a month in remorseful shame, for her sisters- spinsters then and spinsters still- claimed kissing made babies: no, her grandmother said, hearing her teary confession, kissing does not make babies- neither does it make ladies. (p8-9)

Yes, that’s one sentence. Phew. Even though the last part about kissing is quite cute, it rambles on and on and on. I didn’t find this when I read Breakfast at Tiffany’s and I haven’t read In Cold Blood yet (not sure if I will now).

While it’s interesting, I think if you’re after discontented American youngsters in the 1950’s you would be better off reading Richard Yates’ Revolutionary Road which is much better executed in my opinion.

6 out of 10.

(Please excuse the awful picture- it was late and everyone was working at the table).