The search to find the perfect book...
I'm in the mood to read a classic, difficult book. It's important to know the classics, I think. But what? I buy so many cheap ones and never get round to it. Ivanhoe? Woman in White? I think I'm in the mood for some DH Lawrence which is strange 'cos I hated "Sons and Lovers". With. A. Passion. What an awful story! Little sissy mother's boy can't choose between two women 'cos neither live up to the standard his mother set. He is so Oedipal, you want to kick him. And the girlfriends just take it!
The worst and strangest book I ever read (you didn't ask but I'm going to tell you) was written by a woman who mum knew. I think she paid to have it published herself which makes sense as no self respecting publisher would have agreed to take it on. It was called "Cassandra" but wasn't actually really about her at all. She was a servant to this rich guy who's mum was trying to have him killed because she preferred his older brother. (???) Anyway, he ends up marrying the servant. But why name the book after her when she barely features and has no real effect on the story?? In du Maurier's "Rebecca", Rebecca was dead throughout the entire story but it made sense to call the book that. The point is, the memory of Rebecca leaves a shadow over her husbands new marriage, dominating the relationship. S'why the new wife is never given a name because this pales her into insignificance.
I could talk about books forever. Sometimes it's good to read a bad one just to criticise it. But if anyone has any reading suggestions, please tell. :)