2.21k reviews for:

The Waves

Virginia Woolf

4.13 AVERAGE


Virginia Woolf´s "The Waves" captivated me in a way that "Mrs. Dalloway" could not. This novel, with its six distinct voices and innovative structure, left me breathless and deeply moved. It is a tapestry of consciousness, a masterpiece that explores the depths of the human condition. Wool´f departure from the traditional narrative allows for a symphony of shared experiences. Each character, from the yearning poet Bernard to the introspective outsider Louis, represents a facet of our own identities.

The prose in "The Waves" is nothing short of requisite. Woolf´s words paint vivid landscapes of thought and emotion, mirroring the constant flux of consciousness. Through her masterful language, she transports us into the hearts and minds of these introspective characters. Personally, I preferred reading from Louis´ and Rhoda´s perspectives and experiences. Louis´s yearning for acceptance and Rhoda´s struggles with self-doubt felt incredibly personal. Although Jinny´s character didn´t quite connect with me, her focus on social appearances served as an important contrast, highlighting the diverse range of human experiences explored in the novel.

It´s important to note that this novel demands your full attention (I, personally, was struggling to understand the beginning of it and had to reread a few parts, but after you understand the message it´s just incredible). It delves deep into the complexities of the human psyche. Although it is difficult and you might want to give up at times, I recommend this read 100%!

It is difficult to critique the Waves; it is a text that is felt but only in an absolute way—invading the flow of the mind, emotions, and the deep course of existence. I read it a long time ago. It is still in my memory; it inhabits and enriches me. I resonate with the essence of what is delivered and discovered a form of perfection in literature. The state has liberated but to better vibrate and diffuse, with a richness that many current novels, dull and cold by dint of wanting to be stripped of constraints, have never been able to match. It is a dream, but the time of this dream is the whole essence of life that passes.

I went from one to the other holding my sorrow—no, not my sorrow but the incomprehensible nature of this our life for their inspection. some people go to priests; others to poetry; I to my friends, I to my own heart, I to seek among phrases and fragments something unbroken—I to whom there is not beauty enough in moon or tree; to whom the touch of one person with another is all, yet who cannot grasp even that, who am so imperfect, so weak, so unspeakably lonely. There I sat.

[1931] This is a beautiful, beautiful book. Three hundred pages of pure poetry. I admit, this was a hard read for me. But the writing is so lovely and the way the story (?) was told was so interesting that I stuck with it. I gave up trying to fully understand it, settled for getting the gist, and just let the language wash over me. And that was enough to get me through. I'm rating my own personal reading experience, three stars, I liked it, but I'm pretty sure this is actually a five star book.
challenging 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

it’s a 4.5.

i have never read anything like this and will never read anything like it again. Woolf has managed to create, yet again, with the utmost artistry, a book of raw humanity.

very experimental in a sense & beautiful prose

Wybitna proza modernistyczna, wyśmienicie poprowadzony strumień świadomości. A do tego dziesiątki, jeśli nie setki porównań, personifikacji, pięknych rozmyślań. Z tego właśnie składają się „Fale" Virginii Woolf.

Książka opisuje życie szóstki bohaterów, dzieląc je na etapy, które charakteryzuje codzienną wędrówką słońca po sklepieniu. Jesteśmy więc z nimi od ich czasów szkolnych, aż do starości. Akcja przypomina fale, raz gwałtownie wzbudzają się i rozbijają o kamienie, później spokojnie szumi.

Skłamała bym stwierdzając, że jest to książka łatwa. Podczas jej czytanie trzeba się skupić, a co najważniejsze – zrozumieć sposób narracji i dialogów bohaterów. Bez tego ani rusz. Jeśli ktoś nie gustuje w strumieniu świadomości, raczej odradzała bym książkę. Aczkolwiek, jeżeli znajdują się tu czytelnicy skłonni wyjść poza zwyczajną narrację i spróbować czegoś nowego – jest to książka dla was! Poza tym dzięki jej surowej prawdomówności można w każdym bohaterze odnaleźć kawałek siebie. Bez niedomówień, bez łgania, bohaterowie są do granic otwarci, szczerzy. Dla mnie osobiście była to wędrówka zarówno po zielonych polach i huczącym Londynie jak i podróż po emocjach, które są gdzieś głęboko we mnie. Do momentu przeczytania tej książki nie miałam o nich pojęcia, jednak Woolf z delikatnym szarpnięciem pokazała mi je. Za obie wędrówki – krajobrazową i tą w głąb siebie – jestem jej wdzięczna.
challenging emotional slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character

dustoneverypage's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 6%

Did not understand a word lol.