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reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The language that Virginia Woolf uses is the main appeal of this book. She is an incredible author but the plot is slow.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book just made me very sad without entertaining me in any way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Blood
Minor: Sexual assault
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Once you get used to Woolf's writing style, I think Mrs Dalloway is an incredibly interesting read. Reading it gave me insight into post-WW1 England, as well as the sheer numbing horror of war as seen by its affect on Septimus. Also, she does a spectacular job of illustrating the minute details of what goes on in a human mind over the course of time. I'm just not used to seeing this mapped out in fiction, and so it was jarring to read. Especially because of how un-tethered this makes the reader feel.
That being said though, I just generally tend to prefer novels that are more rooted in their characters and their characters' relationships, hence why this isn't one of my favourite novels of all time. Still a good one though.
That being said though, I just generally tend to prefer novels that are more rooted in their characters and their characters' relationships, hence why this isn't one of my favourite novels of all time. Still a good one though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, War
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Although I find stream of consciousness to be challenging even when the writer makes it clear when the narrative is switching between different characters’ perspectives or when it’s switching briefly to an omniscient narrator, I found this to be a worthwhile read. I enjoyed it most when I gave myself a good hour or more to read uninterrupted, rather than trying to pick it up when I had five or ten minutes to spare.
The similarities between Clarissa’s and Septimus’s thoughts are striking — both see beauty in life, think about how they love life, can find a deep appreciation for something as simple as a hot, sunny day; and yet both feel a sense of futility, and the pull of darker thoughts.
I recommend reading this when you have time to sit for hours and really immerse yourself in the ebb and flow of the text. And if you don’t have that luxury, I recommend re-reading a paragraph or two to reorient yourself in the text after you’ve been obliged to set it aside.
The similarities between Clarissa’s and Septimus’s thoughts are striking — both see beauty in life, think about how they love life, can find a deep appreciation for something as simple as a hot, sunny day; and yet both feel a sense of futility, and the pull of darker thoughts.
I recommend reading this when you have time to sit for hours and really immerse yourself in the ebb and flow of the text. And if you don’t have that luxury, I recommend re-reading a paragraph or two to reorient yourself in the text after you’ve been obliged to set it aside.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide