My Penguin Challenge!

Late last Fall I was given a large batch of Penguin Classic books. Being close to the end of the year, I decided that my New Year's Resolution would be to read at least five. I think I am doing pretty well, being that it is almost June (halfway through the year).

I first started reading Virginia Woolf's, "A Room of One's Own," as I have always enjoyed her novels. I struggled through it (to be honest, I probably have a chapter left). It is based upon a essay/lecture she wrote in 1928.

It reflects her rather elitist personality that she was apparently renown for. It's not flattering. On the other hand, she tells a story where she researches to find famous female novelists and comes up rather empty handed, due to the obligations put on women and the restrictions of the female sex in society.

Wonderfully feminist!!! The solution: a room of one's own to write and possess an income that can care for the writer. (She doesn't say marry a rich man to do this, ha ha!) It is still a book worth reading as many of these issues still exist. Smart Chick Lit.

Nice ugly cover, eh? This is the cover of mine. You can see why they re-do them!
Hell, if they kept this cover, no one would read this book.

Out of my selection, I chose D.H. Lawrence as my second Penguin choice. Why? Cause of all the stories about him writing rather naughty things of course! And yes, there are some steamy scenes but nothing like we see on television nowadays.

A wonderful coincidence with this book is the fact I had just finished watching "Edwardian Farm."

Edwardian Farm has Alex, Peter and Ruth live much like Edwardians had in the cold, wet English weather for the course of a year. It is absolutely wonderful to watch - you learn all these things like using seaweed as ground fertilizer! how to make Devon cream! how to train a wild horse! and my god, the cider they make looks AMAZING!

BBC's Edwardian Farm can be viewed on many a Public Broadcaster in Canada and the US.
It is one of the few fun history shows! Plus Ruth rocks! Check out YouTube for clips.

But it isn't all fun, that is for sure. They go into the pit mines (as the father, Mr Morel does, in Sons and Lovers). Women make lace or do laundry to attain income (like Clara and Mrs Morel do). The television series shows the popularity of growing flowers for the cities to attract income (and there is a lot of talk about flowers in the novel, that is for sure).

My point is, if you really want to enjoy this book and visualize it, watch the series. It provides so much context, so much so, they should show the series in classes where they study this book or any Edwardian book.

Okay back to the book ---if this "Sons and Lovers" was written today it would be called "Mama's Boy." It actually breeches on ridiculous how Paul (the son) is so devoted to his mother. Some descriptions of their love are almost a tad...um....incestuous. Paul is attracted to lovers but heaven forbid if he leaves the nest of his mummy.

"Sons and Lovers" is a little bit feminist too. Clara (a lover) dabbles with the suffragettes and the beginning of the feminist movement. She is fiercely independent, is not reliant upon a man, but struggles with society who forces her to live within its rules.

Quite fun! Would recommend it along side of the "Edwardian Farm." One compliments the other terrifically! And it is great to scream at Paul for being so tied to his dear Mommy. The man has serious issues.