The Well of Loneliness

ahead of its time

Keep the sharp objects away while reading this one. If it doesn't depress you, there's something wrong with you.

Self indulgent with amateurish prose and an overreliance on tired cliche.

Maybe it's just me.... but even in the face of the dire adversity that an 'invert' would have faced in this time , the book seemed just a little too negative for my taste. I understand the message and even understand the idea behind it, but is and was there not enough depressing events in the world, without inflicting this chasm of self pity on the rest of us?

i read this book. The pain of being a lesbian in a society which views anything other than homosexuality as as an illness comes through very strongly. although the time period separates me from Hall's story, it was the saddest thing to know that most of what happened in 1920's continues to happens. it may seem out of touch in some places, but then it was written in a different era. the book is...more

i read this book. The pain of being a lesbian in a society which views anything other than homosexuality as as an illness comes through very strongly. although the time period separates me from Hall's story, it was the saddest thing to know that most of what happened in 1920's continues to happens. it may seem out of touch in some places, but then it was written in a different era. the book is very negative, but given the prevailing set up, i think this was the accepted ending. but like i said, this still happens and its very sad. i would recommend it for anyone who is getting to discover themselves or have a friend or family member who is gay/lesbian.   hide

A favourite of mine, I can see what a shock it would have caused when first published (too far ahead of its time) but a poor exploration of the "causes" of homosexuality....though in keeping with the era in which it was written. I first read it when I was 15 and still (at 60) feel sad even when I think of Stephen.

The only reason this book is famous is because it was the first to openly depict lesbian love. It's not even well-written, and could have been at least 200 pages shorter and told the same story. What a waste of several days.

I agree with Virginia Woolfe on this one "One can't keep one's eyes on the page". Boring from start to finish, with a very unprogressive and lame ending. I can only chalk why it was banned to the Brits being over the top stodgy, because the raciest thing in the book is when she "kissed her full on the mouth like a lover". That's seriously the most risque line in the entire book. The writing...more

I agree with Virginia Woolfe on this one "One can't keep one's eyes on the page". Boring from start to finish, with a very unprogressive and lame ending. I can only chalk why it was banned to the Brits being over the top stodgy, because the raciest thing in the book is when she "kissed her full on the mouth like a lover". That's seriously the most risque line in the entire book. The writing itself is okay but many parts are drawn out to extreme levels. If the content didn't involve homosexual themes the book would have faded into obscurity within weeks.   hide

i loved the book...