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h1914's review against another edition
3.0
"A slight rigidity had passed over Katharine's face. Her lips were pressed together; her eyes were contracted, and they were still fixed upon the curtain. These superficial changes covered an extreme inner loathing such as might follow the display of some hideous or indecent spectacle. The indecent spectacle was her own action beheld for the first time from the outside; her aunt's words made her realize how infinitely repulsive the body of life is without its soul."
meg_leigh's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book, and just couldn't make myself do it. The writing is beautiful, but the story drags. Everything is always *about* to happen, without actually taking the plunge. Maybe that's the point--the idea that life is a series of almosts? That could be true, but it makes for a dull read.
When things actually happened, I could get into the story, but then I'd immediately be hit with thick pages of pretty prose that didn't advance anything. It didn't help that I also couldn't make myself like Katherine or Ralph. The way they use Mary, William, all the others around them like pieces in a chessboard was irritating. Again, maybe that's the point--we're all selfish, or some such. And again, maybe that's true, but it's not enjoyable to read for ~500 pages.
When things actually happened, I could get into the story, but then I'd immediately be hit with thick pages of pretty prose that didn't advance anything. It didn't help that I also couldn't make myself like Katherine or Ralph. The way they use Mary, William, all the others around them like pieces in a chessboard was irritating. Again, maybe that's the point--we're all selfish, or some such. And again, maybe that's true, but it's not enjoyable to read for ~500 pages.
amaustin's review against another edition
4.0
This book started out dreadfully slow. Though it was quite different from Virginia Woolf's other novels, I approached this novel with a similar sort of skepticism that I did her others. It is hard for me to look at any of Woolf's novel and see a clear "point" that is not buried under deflection or prose. Surprisingly this novel is very clear--and that was refreshing. Without worrying about missing or misunderstanding, I was able to enjoy the plot, the beautiful prose. I felt that of all her novels I've read thus far (Voyage out, Mrs. Dalloway, To the Lighthouse), the characters in this one were true characters with complexities and good points and faults, not just caricatures designed to symbolize some abstract purpose.
So to my surprise, I really enjoyed this book, particularly the latter half. I came to actually like Kathrine, though she is not a particularly sympathetic heroine, and I really liked Mary and Ralph. Even William, despite his many faults.
Overall, a good story with some of the most beautiful English prose I've ever read. She has a way of writing that captures the wild mess of human existence perfectly and in the way I feel it.
So to my surprise, I really enjoyed this book, particularly the latter half. I came to actually like Kathrine, though she is not a particularly sympathetic heroine, and I really liked Mary and Ralph. Even William, despite his many faults.
Overall, a good story with some of the most beautiful English prose I've ever read. She has a way of writing that captures the wild mess of human existence perfectly and in the way I feel it.
daytonm's review against another edition
4.0
Virginia Woolf, 1938: "I can't believe any human being can get through Night and Day."
Well, I got through this 1919 novel--and quite enjoyed it! It's definitely too long and the ending was somewhat disappointing, but the characters are engaging and the prose often beautiful. (Not beautiful in the way that To the Lighthouse or The Waves are beautiful--this is only her second novel, and she's not yet at the height of her powers--but still, she can write.)
I found myself deeply invested in at least one of the novel's two main love triangles (it's effectively one big love pentagon), but even more compelling are the ways the novel's young people do and don't challenge the mores of the era, Mary's political commitments and Katherine's yearning for a romantic and social life that go beyond the stale, rigidly gendered codes she had been trained to see as the only right way of doing things.
Well, I got through this 1919 novel--and quite enjoyed it! It's definitely too long and the ending was somewhat disappointing, but the characters are engaging and the prose often beautiful. (Not beautiful in the way that To the Lighthouse or The Waves are beautiful--this is only her second novel, and she's not yet at the height of her powers--but still, she can write.)
I found myself deeply invested in at least one of the novel's two main love triangles (it's effectively one big love pentagon), but even more compelling are the ways the novel's young people do and don't challenge the mores of the era, Mary's political commitments and Katherine's yearning for a romantic and social life that go beyond the stale, rigidly gendered codes she had been trained to see as the only right way of doing things.
heartsneedle's review against another edition
3.0
3/5
Marriage, Realist, Love Triangle
“You know how silent Katharine is. She was so silent, for such a long time, that in my foolish, nervous state I dreaded something, I don’t quite know what. And then she told me how, after all, she had made up her mind.”
Overall: The love triangle grew tedious, with the same conversations over and over led to an exasperating read caged in flowery prose.
Pros:
-- Katherine
-- Historical and royal aesthetic
Cons:
-- empty, dull dialogue
-- I don't care about the ending, at all, or the entire thing for that matter!
Marriage, Realist, Love Triangle
“You know how silent Katharine is. She was so silent, for such a long time, that in my foolish, nervous state I dreaded something, I don’t quite know what. And then she told me how, after all, she had made up her mind.”
Overall: The love triangle grew tedious, with the same conversations over and over led to an exasperating read caged in flowery prose.
Pros:
-- Katherine
-- Historical and royal aesthetic
Cons:
-- empty, dull dialogue
-- I don't care about the ending, at all, or the entire thing for that matter!
allie_shu's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
katkilduff's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
megbriers's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
the world's longest love triangle (? square? circle?). for a book that seemed to market itself as 'early 20th century scientist wannabe female lead' i wanted significantly commentary on katharine's astronomy and maths work, felt like that rapidly got dropped in the middle and was just used as a convenient way to make her one of the 'i'm not like other girls' girl
ketiesaner's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0