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kari_f's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Clarissa Dalloway is a woman who loves all of the big and little pleasures that life has to offer, but she also has bouts of existential dread.
The book takes place during a single day, with the big events in her life being the planning of a party and the subsequent rekindling of relationship with old friends. Much of the story is told through memories, and we see the how traumas, events, and connections of the past impact the characters in the present.
It took some time to get used to the writing style, as Woolf uses indirect discourse and doesn’t consistently use quotation marks. As the narrator, she has free access to her characters’ minds and gives the reader this same access. She sometimes uses rambling sentences that span multiple pages, and the narrator voice often intermingles with character voices. It reads as a very “stream of consciousness” piece.
In short, Woolf does all of the things that school students are told not to do in their writing. However, she clearly knows the “rules” of writing and deliberately breaks them. While it may seem chaotic, it feels true to life and is a unique format to read! Because we flit in and out of their thoughts, we can easily see the connections and gulfs between people. We see the thoughts swirling around in their heads, as well as each character’s struggle to communicate effectively with others.
The book touches on a variety of topics as England recovers from the WWI, to include social commentary on capitalism, war, gender roles, loneliness, conformity, sexual orientation, class differences, and mental illness. Many of the characters display judgment or intolerance toward others, especially when it comes to social class. PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicide are common themes explored while also being stigmatized due to the repressive time period in which the book is set. The author, who had her own mental illness challenges, has strong words to say against doctors who mistreat patients suffering with said struggles. All in all this was a unique and interesting book!
✅ for enjoyers of classics, feminist writing, and/or stream of consciousness stories
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
b_caligari's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Death and Grief
amandabcook's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Mental illness
Minor: Colonisation
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