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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Let me count the ways I love this book:
1. I love the modernist writing. The stream of consciousness. The shifting perspectives mid-chapter and even mid-paragraph. The way simple actions trigger chains of internal thought. The way it's amenable to - even demands - re-reading. I actually love Woolf's writing style, unlike some of her contemporaries. For example, I mostly admire but rarely love James Joyce's writing. And I very much do not like Henry James' writing.
2. I love the use of time in the narrative, with parts 1 and 3 focused on a day in the life of the main characters. And part 2, the shortest part, spanning 10 years and the loss of many lives in World War I. I love how part 2 mostly shows the passing of time through the summer house falling further into disrepair. I love how this use of time allows Woolf to explore significant themes like the meaning of life, finding an identity, and the changing of societal norms.
3. I love the ways Woolf's father and mother inspired the characters of Mr and Mrs. Ramsey. I love the ways both Woolf herself and her sister Vanessa inspired the character of Lily Briscoe (and Thoby inspired James). I love the way Mr and Mrs Ramsey are handled, as a typical patriarch and matriarch pair of Victorian societal norms which are being actively challenged with the changing times. There are parts of these characters that are outright bothersome if not detestable, but the characters are handled with a type of care that is rarely seen in today's novels. Both characters have parts of their characters that are dearly loved by their children, even as those same children loathe other parts of their parents' characters. It captures well the complexities of human nature and family.
4. I love that I had just read a Walter Scott novel (Bride of Lammermoor) before starting To the Lighthouse. It enhanced my understanding of Mr Ramsey and the questions of identity he faced. [You caught me, I cheated. This is something I loved about my reading choices more than something I loved about To the Lighthouse]
5. I love how this book lends itself to countless essays and reflections. It's a great book to read and both to teach. Unlike say Scarlet Letter which is a great book to teach because it also lends itself to countless essays and reflections, but is not a great book to read.
6. I love this specific edition of this book. The editor (Margaret Homans) does a great job selecting autobiographical writings, texts that inspired Woolf in her writing, and critical essays/reviews of the book for the appendices of the book. I also love that the literary sources (or pertinent excerpts) that Woolf cites in To The Lighthouse are included as appendices. I would flip to these literary sources as they came up in the story, enriching my understanding.
All-in-all, To the Lighthouse is a phenomenal book that I will likely re-read. It has also inspired me to explore Woolf's other works
1. I love the modernist writing. The stream of consciousness. The shifting perspectives mid-chapter and even mid-paragraph. The way simple actions trigger chains of internal thought. The way it's amenable to - even demands - re-reading. I actually love Woolf's writing style, unlike some of her contemporaries. For example, I mostly admire but rarely love James Joyce's writing. And I very much do not like Henry James' writing.
2. I love the use of time in the narrative, with parts 1 and 3 focused on a day in the life of the main characters. And part 2, the shortest part, spanning 10 years and the loss of many lives in World War I. I love how part 2 mostly shows the passing of time through the summer house falling further into disrepair. I love how this use of time allows Woolf to explore significant themes like the meaning of life, finding an identity, and the changing of societal norms.
3. I love the ways Woolf's father and mother inspired the characters of Mr and Mrs. Ramsey. I love the ways both Woolf herself and her sister Vanessa inspired the character of Lily Briscoe (and Thoby inspired James). I love the way Mr and Mrs Ramsey are handled, as a typical patriarch and matriarch pair of Victorian societal norms which are being actively challenged with the changing times. There are parts of these characters that are outright bothersome if not detestable, but the characters are handled with a type of care that is rarely seen in today's novels. Both characters have parts of their characters that are dearly loved by their children, even as those same children loathe other parts of their parents' characters. It captures well the complexities of human nature and family.
4. I love that I had just read a Walter Scott novel (Bride of Lammermoor) before starting To the Lighthouse. It enhanced my understanding of Mr Ramsey and the questions of identity he faced. [You caught me, I cheated. This is something I loved about my reading choices more than something I loved about To the Lighthouse]
5. I love how this book lends itself to countless essays and reflections. It's a great book to read and both to teach. Unlike say Scarlet Letter which is a great book to teach because it also lends itself to countless essays and reflections, but is not a great book to read.
6. I love this specific edition of this book. The editor (Margaret Homans) does a great job selecting autobiographical writings, texts that inspired Woolf in her writing, and critical essays/reviews of the book for the appendices of the book. I also love that the literary sources (or pertinent excerpts) that Woolf cites in To The Lighthouse are included as appendices. I would flip to these literary sources as they came up in the story, enriching my understanding.
All-in-all, To the Lighthouse is a phenomenal book that I will likely re-read. It has also inspired me to explore Woolf's other works
"The great revelation perhaps never did come. Instead, there were little daily miracles, illuminations, matches struck unexpectedly in the dark; here was one"
You could give me 100 years in a room with nothing other than pen, paper and writing guides and I still wouldn't be able to write prose as good as what this novel has. Woolf is a genius, period.
In terms of reading, I'd advise not overanalysing on the first read and just letting the beauty of Woolf's prose sink in. There's a LOT to analyse and it's not an easy read, but it's 100% worth it.
You could give me 100 years in a room with nothing other than pen, paper and writing guides and I still wouldn't be able to write prose as good as what this novel has. Woolf is a genius, period.
In terms of reading, I'd advise not overanalysing on the first read and just letting the beauty of Woolf's prose sink in. There's a LOT to analyse and it's not an easy read, but it's 100% worth it.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It moved me but also I felt lost throughout. Made me feel like I was sinking into water. I certainly felt an emotion or two, and now I need to think about what they were.
I love Woolf’s slow but intense revelation of the complexity of individuals and their relationships and her vibrantly rich, nearly tactile metaphors. What a brilliant mind- and sense-stimulating writer. I can’t believe no one has ever insisted I read her before.
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
English is not my first language and there are very few writers I appreciate the lyricism in their prose, one being Virginia Woolf. This book is as beautifully written as Mrs Dalloway, but harder to understand, especially in the beginning while you get used to the style.
Nothing much happens physically, but we get a deep dive into each characters mind and what they thing of each other, and how that changes from a moment to the other, highlot all our contradictions, as in the end, we're only human.
Nothing much happens physically, but we get a deep dive into each characters mind and what they thing of each other, and how that changes from a moment to the other, highlot all our contradictions, as in the end, we're only human.
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
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:
Yes
challenging
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes