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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
ngl i found it very hard to get myself to care for this until halfway through the book when she turned into a woman and i don't know whether that's just the misandrist in me speaking or if that is genuinely where the book starts getting better. anyway. i wanted to like this more than i actually did. there was just too much happening too quickly which made it hard to really get invested in the plot, but then there were also a lot of long meandering reflections that distracted from the plot, which didn't help either. virginia is definitely a talented and witty writer, there were multiple parts that made me giggle, and i can see why this has been such an impactful book. it definitely is unique and it took some real craftsmanship to write. it is just sadly not for me, although i do intend on reading more of virginia's work because i did really like her style of writing. maybe another of her books will be just right for me.
challenging
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is funny
But slow, and light on the plot,
Cool idea, want more
But slow, and light on the plot,
Cool idea, want more
challenging
inspiring
reflective
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:
No
““I'm sick to death of this particular self. I want another.”
Orlando – Virginia Woolf
This novel is nothing if not ambitious. A time-traveling, gender-shifting romp through English history, this novel has rightfully earned its place as a foundational text in gender studies and queer literary canon. It’s especially resonant in trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming circles for its bold, playful interrogation of gender identity, a subject rarely treated with such fluidity in early 20th-century literature. That Woolf drew inspiration from her passionate relationship with Vita Sackville-West only adds to the novel’s allure; one can easily read “Orlando” as an extended, lyrical love letter. The inclusion of actual photographs of Sackville-West (see image 5) within the novel further blurs the line between fiction and intimate tribute.
But while “Orlando” shines in its conceptual daring and emotional depth, Woolf’s famously meandering prose can be a hurdle. The novel often veers into long, introspective detours that, while poetic, sometimes bog down the narrative. Readers new to Woolf (or those who prefer a more straightforward plot) may find themselves struggling to stay engaged.
Moreover, the novel’s treatment of race is jarring. There are moments (particularly in descriptions of Black and Romani characters) that reflect the prejudices and casual racism of Woolf’s era. These depictions feel especially discordant in a book otherwise so progressive/revolutionary in its treatment of gender and sexuality, and they demand acknowledgment and critique.
In the end, “Orlando” remains a brilliant, uneven, genre-defying work. It is deeply flawed and yet deeply important. A novel that challenges, frustrates, and ultimately endures. For readers interested in queer history, gender fluidity, or modernist experimentation, it’s essential reading. Just be prepared to meet it on its own meandering, messy terms.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism
woolf wrote this with her lover in mind and i could really empathise with her love and respect for vita sackville-west throughout the story. a considerable part of this novel is set at a grand estate in the english countryside which is said to be inspired by vita’s actual home that she sadly lost and mourned all her life. virginia wanted to give back and immortalise a piece of her lover’s home with this book and if that is not the most ROMANTIC gesture ever i don’t know what is.
challenging
reflective
medium-paced