It is 100 years this week since Sons and Lovers was first published, as Blake Morrison has just reminded us in an excellent essay, which makes for a very appropriate moment to consider his work in the reading group.

That piece starts with DH Lawrence's review of his own book: "I tell you I've written a great book," DH Lawrence informed his publisher Edward Garnett, after sending him the manuscript of Sons and Lovers in November 1912. "Read my novel – it's a great novel."

Blake Morrison agrees that its great. FR Leavis did too and proved it by including the book in The Great Tradition. Morrison also gives us Philip Larkin's opinion: "Cock me! Nearly every page of it is absolutely perfect."

Contemporary reviewers liked it too. Today we like to view Lawrence battling against phalanxes of prudes, but most of the contemporary notices I've sniffed out are very favourable. Even the old Gray Lady, The New York Times, described it as a book of "rare excellence".

But today? As Morrison says, Lawrence's reputation is at a low at the moment – he just lays it on too thick for modern tastes. It even seems like years since one of his works was adapted for film or TV.

I'm afraid I'm among the doubters. After reading Morrison's superb essay, I'm prepared to give him another shot. But I have to admit that the last time I tried to read DH Lawrence I found him ridiculous. This is an author who reports speech using the words "he cried" or "he half-shouted" more often than "he said". Not to mention a terrible fondness for capitals and EMOTIONAL emphasis. But perhaps I'll understand more this time around. Perhaps I won't – but it's certainly worth a shot, and I hope you'll join me. The only question is which book we should choose. The natural choice, it being 100 years old and all, is Sons and Lovers, but since Lawrence is a writer who excites such passion, and since the reading group is a (mainly!) democratic forum, I thought we should have it out in the comments and submit Lawrence's substantial bibliography to the vote. Simply name the book you'd like to read in the comments below and we'll count them up and see where we are this time next week …