Modern Library

Around a year ago I came across the Modern Library's list of the top 100 books written in English. Having been a reader for several years, I challenged myself to see how many of those books I could read. My goal is to have read them all before I am forty, giving me 10 years now. I had read a few of the selections before, but for the most part I had never even heard of many of the books. The list was created by a panel of experts, I suppose Literature teachers. There is also a "reader's list", made after the first list and in challenge of many of their novels.

Having been taking the train to and from work has given my a lot of time recently to get through some of these books. The one I have just finished is D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers. It is the story of a coal mining family in England, early 19th century, centered around the relationships of Paul Morel and his mother and in direct opposition, Paul and his two love interests. The first girls name is Miriam and she is the plain and loyal friend of Paul's since his childhood. She is drawn to Paul because of his interests in art and culture, which is in contrast to her conservative farming family. Paul feels she would only "put him in her pocket" and suffocate him so he never commits to her. The second girl's name is Clara. Clara is the suffragetted, older women who supposedly knows the ways of the world. She is married, but has separated from her husband, Baxter. Paul eventually gets bored with Clara and develops a relationship with Baxter. Paul's mother is the center of his world. In a very Oedipus complex way, Paul always ends up listening to his mother about these girls, which keeps him from ever committing to anyone.

I would imagine that at the time this was written it was very controversial due to the promiscuity of Paul and the two women, one being still married. I found it pretty mild as having only two girlfriends in this age is probably pretty low. Throughout the book Paul is too wishy washy and can never seem to make up his mind or have any real desire to change a life he seems bored with. He seems awarded with the girls even after he has been with them for some time. What I did like was the working class society in which they live. Paul's dad is a coal miner, Paul's mother's job is to take care of the father. The two of them can't stand each other, but get through life by their daily routine. Miriam's family are farmers, Clara made lace. Everyone worked hard all the time and no one complained about it. They would sometimes walk 10 to 15 miles sometimes just to go see someone. I think a life like that would make you very appreciative of the things you have, which is how they react in the book.

Next up... either Darkness and Noon or I, Claudius

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