How Far Can You Go?

How Far Can You Go? tracks a group of Catholic students at University College London from their undergraduate days in the 1950s through to the late 1970s. The novel, which won the 1980 Whitbread Book of the Year award, follows their evolving relationships with faith, love, and each other during a period of massive social and religious change. The characters navigate the complex intersection of Catholic doctrine and modern life, particularly around issues of marriage, sexuality, and contraception. Their personal struggles intensify as the Catholic Church undergoes dramatic reforms through the Second Vatican Council, forcing them to question long-held beliefs and practices. The narrative examines both the restrictive nature of 1950s Catholicism and the subsequent upheaval when these rigid structures begin to crumble. The characters must find their own paths through this shifting landscape while dealing with universal human experiences of love, loss, and doubt. This satirical yet compassionate novel explores themes of religious identity, sexual morality, and the challenge of maintaining faith in an increasingly secular world. Through its examination of changing social and religious norms, the book raises questions about the nature of belief and the impact of institutional change on individual lives.

Readers describe this book as a sharp satire of Catholic life in Britain during major social changes of the 1960s-70s. Many appreciate Lodge's humor and insight into how young Catholics navigated evolving church doctrine and sexual attitudes. Liked: - Authentic portrayal of Catholic guilt and uncertainty - Balance of comedy with serious themes - Complex development of multiple characters - Clear explanations of theological debates Disliked: - Too many characters to follow - Second half loses momentum - Some found the narrative style detached - Religious references can be hard to follow for non-Catholics One reader noted: "Lodge captures exactly how it felt to be young and Catholic in that era of upheaval." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (787 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (31 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.9/5 (124 ratings) Most negative reviews focus on the book's pacing and dense theological discussions rather than its core themes or writing quality.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde The exploration of morality, sexuality, and social constraints in Victorian London mirrors Lodge's examination of Catholic restrictions on personal freedom.

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh This chronicle of an aristocratic Catholic family through changing times presents similar themes of faith, doubt, and religious identity in twentieth-century Britain.

The Graduate Wife by Mary McCarthy The narrative follows a group of college students into adulthood, focusing on their intellectual and moral development against the backdrop of social change.

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger The protagonist's journey through disillusionment and questioning of societal norms parallels the spiritual questioning in Lodge's novel.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark Set in a Catholic school, this novel examines the tension between religious doctrine and personal freedom through the lens of education and growing up.

🔹 The novel's original title in the UK was "How Far Can You Go?" but it was published in the US as "Souls & Bodies" to avoid confusion with a self-help book. 🔹 David Lodge drew heavily from his own experiences as a Catholic student at University College London in the 1950s, incorporating real events and locations from his university days. 🔹 The book won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award (now Costa Book Awards) in 1980, one of Britain's most prestigious literary honors. 🔹 Vatican II, a central event in the novel, was the Catholic Church's largest reform since the 16th century Council of Trent, dramatically changing everything from Mass language to dietary restrictions. 🔹 The book's structure mirrors the Catholic "Stations of the Cross," with characters progressing through various spiritual and personal trials, reflecting traditional religious symbolism in a modern context.