The rainbow (1915)

This one was okay. If you’re looking for a classic English novel there are a lot better ones to choose from. My main complaint is that there would be a whole section devoted to one generation, but once you moved onto the next section with the next generation there would hardly be any mention of the first set of characters. At one point there was mention of one of the characters from the first section, only to let you know that they had died two years prior. It seemed really abrupt, like Lawrence got sick of the characters he’d written about and wanted to focus on and introduce some new ones – reader be damned! I guess [Women in Love] is a sequel devoted to two of the younger Brangwens so I’ll be reading that at some point to what happens to them. ( )

I thought that the first half, describing the early life of Anna, was great. Through 'Anna Victorix', I would have said that this was one of the best books I had ever read. The writing was beautiful and very moving at times. The characters were very sympathetic and, in this book, that mattered greatly for me. The second half, which described the early life of Ursula was not as satisfying. There were wonderful scenes and some more beautiful writing, but the storyline seemed awkward and forced at times. At the end, Ursula carries much of the weight of communicating the author's view of industrial society, but she is so changable and relies so much of emotion that she is not a reliable, or maybe just not a convincing, voice by the end. ( )

At times less, at times more infuriating than Women in Love. Worth it certainly for the excruciating portraits of people grinding out a life in jobs and relationships they hate. Surely the last Lawrence I'll ever have to read, surely? ( )

Though I related more to the characters in this text (in comparison to Sons & Lovers), especially Ursula, I felt that it was somehow...lacking?
I enjoyed seeing contrasts between the couples and their anguish in trying to fully connect with one another. I know that the Cathedrals were an important motif in this novel, but I didn't feel that they spoke to me. Of course, judging merit solely on my relationship with the work is rather foolish. From what I understand, the contents of this book were very controversial at the time it was authored, which does not surprise me. Its take on nationalism and its forthright, beautiful sensuality alone make it worth reading. The depth with which Lawrence goes into each character's wants, fears and very essence act as a bonus, and for me, a reason to delve more into his oeuvre. Though slow at times, this was a great way to spend a few evenings. ( )

The Rainbow is a book I’ve been long curious to read, not only because it was banned shortly after it was published for its explicit content and taboo subject matters, but because I grew up in Derbyshire and, like the Brangwen family, came from a Polish background.

As you’d expect of a Lawrence novel, the writing throughout is beautiful, powerful and emotive. Its key strength lies in the way that controversial topics of the time are touched upon with such frankness: homosexuality, feminism and religious deviance amongst them.

Still, for a modern reader, the lack of a storyline will frustrate; this storytelling of three generations of Brangwen living leaves a lot unresolved, meaning that just as the reader feels they’re just about engaging with one particular character and one particular plotline, they’re cast aside from them to focus on another.

One can’t help but get the impression that Lawrence was trying too hard to characterise as many ideas of social deviation as he could, at the expense of drawing the reader in with one main character and subplot.

Still, this might be the point of The Rainbow: not to indulge the reader with a character they can imagine themselves as, in an adventure they can lose themselves in, but to open up to them the possibilities of what they can be outside of social constraints, to shock and surprise with explicit sexuality, and open the reader up to new ideas of empowerment. ( )