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thatone2112's review
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Classism, Racism, War, and Toxic relationship
hjb_128's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: War and Child death
atamano's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Grief, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Death
Minor: Racism, War, and Pregnancy
_rowan_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, War, and Death of parent
jodar's review against another edition
challenging
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? It's complicated
5.0
I read this novel first in 2015 and I remember the feeling of awe and admiration as I closed the last page. I decided then that To the Lighthouse was my absolutely favourite novel and that I really should reread it again some time. Finally eight years and many novels later I have done so, and it remains my absolute favourite!
The point of view is not ‘the Eye of God’ but instead one that penetrates within the very hearts of the characters and observes their emotions even as they feel them. Relationships between family and friends and estranged friends are the focus, and attitudes towards each other vary between characters – and even within the same character within a few minutes – with psychological realism. Later there is tragedy and grief, but also mixed feelings aroused from a sense of loss of the departed.
Part Two is lyrical and serves to locate the human microcosm within an overarching perspective of the natural world, space and time.
Part Three does not so much resolve the human relationships from Part One but rather strives to discern what our humanity may ultimately signify. This is explored especially through the private reflections of Lily Briscoe: “What a power was in the human soul!” but from the outside “who knows what we are, what we feel?” Although no “great revelation” may ever appear, little daily events and individual endeavours may be able “to make of the moment something permanent ... [and create what] was of the nature of a revelation.”
(I read it both times as an epub ebook, converted from the MOBI ebook at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2537610 which was proofread against the Hogarth Press edition, imprint of 1963).
The point of view is not ‘the Eye of God’ but instead one that penetrates within the very hearts of the characters and observes their emotions even as they feel them. Relationships between family and friends and estranged friends are the focus, and attitudes towards each other vary between characters – and even within the same character within a few minutes – with psychological realism. Later there is tragedy and grief, but also mixed feelings aroused from a sense of loss of the departed.
Part Two is lyrical and serves to locate the human microcosm within an overarching perspective of the natural world, space and time.
Part Three does not so much resolve the human relationships from Part One but rather strives to discern what our humanity may ultimately signify. This is explored especially through the private reflections of Lily Briscoe: “What a power was in the human soul!” but from the outside “who knows what we are, what we feel?” Although no “great revelation” may ever appear, little daily events and individual endeavours may be able “to make of the moment something permanent ... [and create what] was of the nature of a revelation.”
(I read it both times as an epub ebook, converted from the MOBI ebook at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2537610 which was proofread against the Hogarth Press edition, imprint of 1963).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death
rmphyllis's review
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
jaan's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I feel PERSONALLY fucking VICTIMIZED by this book. I am not a Virginia Woolf fan—not for any particular reason, I just don’t like her style—but a Reddit post convinced me to give this particular book a shot by just reading it. And not trying to think about anything. Just letting myself enjoy the experience. And I got through it!
To the Lighthouse is a wonderful, wonderful meditation on marriage and partnership, death and grief. I do think it necessitates a great many more rereads before I can really get a handle on it, though—will they happen? Probably not! But I want them to.
To the Lighthouse is a wonderful, wonderful meditation on marriage and partnership, death and grief. I do think it necessitates a great many more rereads before I can really get a handle on it, though—will they happen? Probably not! But I want them to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Animal cruelty
Minor: War and Death
chloevienna's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this felt more like poetry than a traditional book - woolf’s writing style is that of a structured stream of consciousness, almost david lynch-like in her storytelling format. it’s a story you more feel than understand. if you get twin peaks or alice in wonderland, you’ll get to the lighthouse - you have to lean in and embrace the nonsensical aspects and run-on sentences. this was graceful and quiet in some ways, yet deeply haunting in it’s subtly woven intricacies. not an easy classic to get through, but worth it if you dedicate the time. i highly recommend the audible audiobook read by nicole kidman! my first woolf book - will most likely continue!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Child death
mistystar's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief and Death
softanimal's review
reflective
4.0
To the Lighthouse, like much of Woolf's work, is a lovely balm for any self-inflicted wounds from the spear tips of ego and believing too firmly in the truth of one's own thoughts.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: War