Thanks to Katy at A Few More Pages for hosting this meme. To participate, share the first line or two of the book you are currently reading and, if you feel so moved, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line.
I really enjoyed this classic with The Reputation. I actually had not intended for it to coincide so neatly with Banned Books Week, but it sure did! The back of my B&N edition claims that while it was “quickly banned in England and the United States as pornographic, [it is] sexually tame by today’s standards.” I have to say that it makes my eyes widen here and there, though! I’m not offended; I find it fascinating stuff. But I wouldn’t call it entirely tame. Just tame relative to the 1920’s, is all.
Enough, already. Here’s your beginning:
Ours is essentially a tragic age, so we refuse to take it tragically. The cataclysm has happened, we are among the ruins, we start to build up new little habits, to have new little hopes.
Rather obviously, the tragedy referred to is the first World War, which left England missing the bulk of an entire generation of men, those left behind largely broken and scarred. This fact is centrally important to the action of the book; Lady Chatterley’s husband is lame and impotent as a result of the war, her marital options drastically limited by it. Everyone’s life is irrevocably effected by the missing men.
My review of Lady Chatterley’s Lover posted a few days ago, here.
What are you all reading this weekend?
Filed under: book beginnings | Tagged: classics |
pagesofjulia 
I enjoyed this book. It’s been many years, though, so I must reread it.
I agree…compared to what’s out there, now, a bit “tame.” But I think, as I recall, there were sensual images that could rock our socks off, even now. But not in an offensive way.
Thanks for sharing.
Here’s MY FRIDAY MEMES POST and
MY WEBSITE
I enjoyed this book when I read it–about 20 years ago. And it’s true, there are sections that aren’t quite as tame as you might think. With that cover, though, you shouldn’t expect tame.
Here’s mine: http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2011/09/friday-memes_30.html
Oh, ha, I didn’t expect tame…
Oh wow, thanks for describing the plot. I’ve always heard the title or seen the title. Had no idea the woman lived under such difficult straits. I’ll bet this is on the banned books list too.
Oh, it’s been a long time since I read that one. And reading it during Banned Books Week is good.
I almost picked up a copy of this at the UBS, but then I chickened out. I’ll probably read it someday out of curiosity. 🙂
Thanks for participating in Book Beginnings!
I’d like to read Lady Chatterley’s Lover at some point, although Lawrence isn’t my favorite novelist. But that one needs to be read, and I’m curious to see what the fuss was about!