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agw11588's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
theacaposito's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
notthatcosta's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Overall this proved much stronger than the film, with the exception of the Clarissa segments - but I credit Meryl Streep with elevating the source material. I think the book generally benefits with the lack of exposition that's required from the characters because it's almost entirely internal monologues, which reveal far more of their motivations and desires than the film could possibly convey.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
erineloise's review
5.0
Melancholic with barely any plot? Of course I was obsessed.
The writing style was absolutely gorgeous and I was mesmerised by these characters the whole way through 🥰
The writing style was absolutely gorgeous and I was mesmerised by these characters the whole way through 🥰
marc129's review against another edition
3.0
Great book, but a tiny bit of disappointment, here, but only a really tiny bit, and that's just because I first saw the movie and that also is really good. The idea of Cunningham to pay tribute to Virginia Woolf by working in three time periods and with three split characters (including Woolf herself) is simply brilliant, because with it the special complexity of the person Virginia Woolf really comes into its own. It took me a little bit longer (compared to the movie) to get into the story, but certainly the last third of the book contains fragments of great subtlety and delicacy.
According to me, the very characteristic of Woolf is that hypersensitivity, that 7th sense she had, and that perhaps was also fatal for her, and this book really brings this in full daylight. I can not add much, unless maybe the following quote, on one of the last pages, that also gives an explanation for the title of the book: “Yes, Clarissa thinks, it’s time for the day to be over. We throw our parties; we abandon our families to live alone in Canada; we struggle to write books that do not change the world, despite our gifts and our unstinting efforts, our most extravagant hopes. We live our lives, do whatever we do, and then we sleep—it’s as simple and ordinary as that. A few jump out of windows or drown themselves or take pills; more die by accident; and most of us, the vast majority, are slowly devoured by some disease or, if we’re very fortunate, by time itself. There’s just this for consolation: an hour here or there when our lives seem, against all odds and expectations, to burst open and give us everything we’ve ever imagined, though everyone but children (and perhaps even they) knows these hours will inevitably be followed by others, far darker and more difficult. Still, we cherish the city, the morning; we hope, more than anything, for more. Heaven only knows why we love it so.”
Rating 3.5 stars.
According to me, the very characteristic of Woolf is that hypersensitivity, that 7th sense she had, and that perhaps was also fatal for her, and this book really brings this in full daylight. I can not add much, unless maybe the following quote, on one of the last pages, that also gives an explanation for the title of the book: “Yes, Clarissa thinks, it’s time for the day to be over. We throw our parties; we abandon our families to live alone in Canada; we struggle to write books that do not change the world, despite our gifts and our unstinting efforts, our most extravagant hopes. We live our lives, do whatever we do, and then we sleep—it’s as simple and ordinary as that. A few jump out of windows or drown themselves or take pills; more die by accident; and most of us, the vast majority, are slowly devoured by some disease or, if we’re very fortunate, by time itself. There’s just this for consolation: an hour here or there when our lives seem, against all odds and expectations, to burst open and give us everything we’ve ever imagined, though everyone but children (and perhaps even they) knows these hours will inevitably be followed by others, far darker and more difficult. Still, we cherish the city, the morning; we hope, more than anything, for more. Heaven only knows why we love it so.”
Rating 3.5 stars.
abigaildrozek's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
fkshg8465's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I loved The Bell Jar. So I wanted to love this book too. I admired the story enough, but I hated the storytelling. I also found it disturbingly depressing, like at the end of the day, what's the purpose of living at all? I recently read I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. That book also seemed to say life is meaningless. Yet, this one, in contrast, made me not want to live!, whereas Harpman's book made me feel like the protagonist had a full life, even those dire circumstances. I should've DNF'd it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Suicide, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War
aversari's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
irisbn's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75