I'm not even sure where to start with this -- if I could give parts of it one star and parts of it five stars, I would, but I guess I'll settle with an average three star rating for the book. It won me over, but it took quite a while for me to relax into the intensity of the characters (my friend Daniel's suggestion to imagine them as Edward Gorey characters really helped). I was amused to find that the naked male wrestling in front of a fireplace from the Ken Russel movie version actually happens in the book! Also, some very weird sexual plant action. It's long. It's a little difficult. But, ultimately, this is one that just has to be experienced for yourself. I liked it way way better than Lady Chatterley's Lover .