This book was first published in 1915 and it takes place in rural England. Although the author uses the "_____" technique to keep the date obscure. Although it's the time of horses and gigs etc. so it appears to be at the end of the 19th century to me.

It is 12 February 2024 and I am just now starting into "The Rainbow" by DH Lawrence as published by Modern Library. This is another of my DH Lawrence adventure after The White Peacock which I finished reading not too long ago. Mostly recently I finished reading Lucky Jim which you can read my thoughts on here.. . .

It is now 20 Feb 2024 and I am to page 238 (end page number is 467, so still a ways to go). This book, well, did you read the quote I noted from the last book I read "Lucky Jim." No? well go over there and take a look and then come back. I'll wait. Oh welcome back! That didn't take you long at all. Must be a fast reader! Anyway, this book seems to be a carrying on of that quote perhaps, in part at least. I have no idea why I am reading this book. This book is largely about marriage and families and kids (lots of kids). It is enjoyable so far though; although I do not have kids, and have never been married. Having been in some pretty darn good long-term relationships (all in all) I can relate to some of the things in the book. Particular this idea of when you get into a relationship there is an almost constant struggle for the two people to maintain their individual selves as well as their relational shelves. This book does a very good job I think of capturing that struggle and vascillation between highs and lows of love, from love to almost hate, from fulfillment to destruction. He likes to use those words "destroyed" and "hate" for example. He really captures the ups and downs of married life. He also captures pretty good the connections between parents and children it seems to me. So someone who is married and has kids I think would really enjoy reading this book; provided the modern reader can get through some of what I guess I will call the 'artful fluff.'

Remember, DH Lawrence wrote "Lady Chatterley's Lover" which is among my favorites of all time. That was a saucy one (although not as saucy as "Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure" by John Cleland in the 18th century). This one also has some saucy scenes as two of the characters (husband and wife) Will and Anna rekindle their flame for one another in marriage (kind of like modern couples do with the 50 shades thing or opening their marriage to satisfy their lustful pleasures). And DH Lawrence seems to have developed a keen delight with ankles, feet and toes!

If this didn't pique your interest in it, then it's probably not the book for you. It is an enjoyable read; but surely one which someone would remark to me 'I'm surprised you're reading that.' Given my random selection of classics to read (I generally do not read the back or about them before I read them and I do not read the introductions of them either as a matter of course) so that is not all that uncommon for people to think that about books I read. You would be so reckless with your reading time would you? For me, it has lead to reading some great works which I probably wouldn't have read if I picked books to read the way most people do. So in that regard, I encourage you to do that with the next books you read.

It is now 25 February 2024 and I am into the last 100 pages now. So will be finishing it up fairly soon. It is still enjoyable. As far as the time frame, despite the "____" technique referenced above. The narrator referenced that The Boer War in south africa has started and when I am reading now is still underway. So that was 1899 to 1902. So that helped narrow the setting down a little bit. It continues to be an exposition of relationships, courting, love and in this section added a little bit of feminist ideas involving young Ursula who just graduated high school and is seeking to survive in a "man's world" inspite of her parents. There is an excellent exposition in this period of the book about teaching, classroom control and teaching generally. I really enjoyed that section very much. There is even some inappropriate behavior by one of the female teachers regarding her student approaching the ideas of "Lolita" or an independent publication by an author right here near where I live in Michigan which was a good read called "The Mentor and Her Muse" by Susan Sage (one of the few, non-classics I read because I did an interview with her previously regarding her book). I was reminded of it while reading the storyline in The Rainbow about Ursula while she was in school.

It is 1 March 2024 and I just finished reading The Rainbow this morning. I am kind of crunched for time (because it is theatre time tonight, going to see a live play. That is always enjoyable, I encourage you to look for a local professional theatre in your area! Anyway, that's a digression isn't it? Well as above the book was a good exposition on relationships forming and going on. There is so much in there that can be related to. It really did seem to be a carrying-on of the idea expressed by a different author in the book "Lucky Jim": "Women are all dead keen on marrying men they don't much like." (you can read my thoughts on that one here). In this instance however, one of the characters chose NOT to marry. Although, was that the right decision? I can say that I did not really care for the ending. It was kind of flat I thought. However, over all the book was enjoyable despite my comments above about why am I reading this book anyway (being one who is not married and without kids).

I did enjoy the section involving teaching in an elementary school as well as the college time of one of the characters. And SHE enjoyed using a microscope in her Botany class! I know someone who enjoys using a microscope! There are some cynical views of college in there which seem to be timely as well. Anyone who has taught school (like I have, at the elementary level) would also very likely enjoy that section as well during one of the character's teaching careers. The book has a little bit of sauciness to it at points. Some of it is done very abstractly.

Anyway, it was an enjoyable read. Not in my favorites of all time. Yet, still enjoyable. Now I will hopefully have a little romance in my life with "The Blithedale Romance" by Nathaniel Hawthorne as published by Penguin Classics.