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vampireph4ze's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
the last few pages made me feel like i was experiencing someone's funeral, and it was hauntingly beautiful. there is no way i will be able to find the right words to accurately describe my thoughts and feelings about Orlando, but it was quite simply a phenomenal read. Orlando begun as a rather unruly and (in my opinion) careless young man, who ends up being confronted with an entirely different life than he probably thought he would have.
Woolf's language surrounding gender and the sexes inspired me, resonating with me as someone who has experienced the transformation of the gendered body (though not as seamlessly as Orlando did). multiple times there are parts of the story where Woolf takes a moment to emphasize that these labels and categories are, for the most part, made up. and this belief that the author has transfers over to the development of the character. spanning across multiple centuries and switching sexes, the Orlando at the end of the book comes to me as a wholly transformed being — something like a spirit, an entity that has consumed a thousand lifetimes, a thousand selves, and yet still innately human.
her long "ramble" was my favorite moment, it ran off the pages so smoothly and even though you could chalk it up to be gibberish, there was something so familiar about it! the stream of consciousness, the frantic pace of trying to figure out who you are, getting a headache from thinking too much, and then the silence. the complete and utter silence that comes when you are alone for a split second — completely all of yourselves at once.
Woolf's language surrounding gender and the sexes inspired me, resonating with me as someone who has experienced the transformation of the gendered body (though not as seamlessly as Orlando did). multiple times there are parts of the story where Woolf takes a moment to emphasize that these labels and categories are, for the most part, made up. and this belief that the author has transfers over to the development of the character. spanning across multiple centuries and switching sexes, the Orlando at the end of the book comes to me as a wholly transformed being — something like a spirit, an entity that has consumed a thousand lifetimes, a thousand selves, and yet still innately human.
her long "ramble" was my favorite moment, it ran off the pages so smoothly and even though you could chalk it up to be gibberish, there was something so familiar about it! the stream of consciousness, the frantic pace of trying to figure out who you are, getting a headache from thinking too much, and then the silence. the complete and utter silence that comes when you are alone for a split second — completely all of yourselves at once.
benjaminbarlow's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
georgereads982's review against another edition
I am not in the head space for Virginia Woolf right now but I will definitely come back
_alittleliterary_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
floatwiththesticks's review against another edition
Ms Virginia’s writing is ALWAYS a five star but this book became so strange, so drenched in metaphor, I am left with a feeling I can’t decipher.
Was definitely more engaged, both in narrative and character, with the first few chapters, pre the Thing Happening - no doubt intentional and another layer to this ONION of a novel.
(Her prose actually makes me scream though and the fact she wrote this for her fellow writer sapphic lover: my literary crush forever).
Was definitely more engaged, both in narrative and character, with the first few chapters, pre the Thing Happening - no doubt intentional and another layer to this ONION of a novel.
(Her prose actually makes me scream though and the fact she wrote this for her fellow writer sapphic lover: my literary crush forever).
ellipsiscool's review against another edition
5.0
Oh how do I rate this delightful novel?
The reason why I read it at this particular time actually has to do with another book that I read recently, "The Silkworm" by Robert Galbraith. There is a character in it named Orlando and the reasoning is Virginia Woolf's completely original novel. I also recently read her husband's novel "The Village in the Jungle." So I was interested. Then I read the back of the book and knew that I had never read anything like it.
I'm not sure the above description on Goodreads is a very accurate. Orlando does not, in fact, change sex at will. There is only one true sex change in the book. Later she dresses as a man when it suits her. She's familiar with socializing in both circles (male and female) and takes advantage of that.
The commentary on literature and writers was a riot and the introspection into a creative mind was truly fascinating.
The progression of time (400 years or so) really was my favorite part. It was very neat to take a ride through so many years through such a flamboyant and interesting character. The "ages" in England are really defined by the monarchs. The story begins in Elizabethan times and ends in Edwardian times and I think the most interesting thing was when Orlando reaches Edwardian times and everything begins to change. She thinks about how up until this age, everyone knew how everything was done. Now she's riding trains, driving cars, and using elevators without a clue to how they worked. The present time was more invasive in the thought process and yet eluded reason.
"Orlando" was my first Virginia Woolf and probably won't be my last. I will be thinking about it for quite a long time.
The reason why I read it at this particular time actually has to do with another book that I read recently, "The Silkworm" by Robert Galbraith. There is a character in it named Orlando and the reasoning is Virginia Woolf's completely original novel. I also recently read her husband's novel "The Village in the Jungle." So I was interested. Then I read the back of the book and knew that I had never read anything like it.
I'm not sure the above description on Goodreads is a very accurate. Orlando does not, in fact, change sex at will. There is only one true sex change in the book. Later she dresses as a man when it suits her. She's familiar with socializing in both circles (male and female) and takes advantage of that.
The commentary on literature and writers was a riot and the introspection into a creative mind was truly fascinating.
The progression of time (400 years or so) really was my favorite part. It was very neat to take a ride through so many years through such a flamboyant and interesting character. The "ages" in England are really defined by the monarchs. The story begins in Elizabethan times and ends in Edwardian times and I think the most interesting thing was when Orlando reaches Edwardian times and everything begins to change. She thinks about how up until this age, everyone knew how everything was done. Now she's riding trains, driving cars, and using elevators without a clue to how they worked. The present time was more invasive in the thought process and yet eluded reason.
"Orlando" was my first Virginia Woolf and probably won't be my last. I will be thinking about it for quite a long time.
notyourvegetable's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
obviously_lene's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
beckiesophie11's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
1.5