This novel is about bisexual love--men don't love only women. One of the characters learns to accept his love for another man, and the book ends with his learning that love between men is possible. In terms of plot, the rest wasn't that compelling. The author didn't seem to put as much effort into the women of the title; maybe he portrayed them more completely in The Rainbow and expected his readers to be familiar with it? What kept me stuck in the book (read it in three days) was the beauty of Lawrence's writing. As ever, he is amazing, even if his characterization is a little off here.