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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
This was my second read of one of Virginia Woolf's most celebrated novels. In three parts, we meet the Ramsay's -- a large family with eight children led by their philosopher father and beautiful and essential mother -- along with a group of house guests at their summer vacation home in Scotland, in view of a much talked about, but seldom visited lighthouse. The perspective flows among the characters but the first section focuses on Mrs. Ramsay as she takes care of kids, manages a house, and soothes the ego of her somewhat temperamental husband, and Lilly Briscoe, an unmarried visitor who is working on a painting outside of the house. Mrs. Ramsay is lovingly described, both through her internal monologues and other character's observations. There is a lot of humor in this section, particularly pointed at one of the penniless scholars invited to vacation with the great Mr. Ramsay. Liaisons between house guests and the dramas of the Ramsay teenagers are touched on, but in a distanced way through Mrs. Ramsay's perspective.
In the second, short, section time passes and we very quickly learn that Mrs. Ramsay has died suddenly, the oldest son has been killed in the war, the oldest daughter has died in childbirth. We linger in the empty house and follow around the elderly housekeeper who is trying to hold it together for the Ramsay's and largely failing against the infiltration of the natural world.
And then, ten years later, Mr. Ramsay returns with his youngest children and the same house guests from the past, including Lilly. Mrs. Ramsay's absence is its own character in the third section of the book, and much of the narrative comes from the still-unmarried Lilly as she reflects on Mrs. Ramsay, her still-temperamental husband, the ghosts of the past, and the perfect way to structure the painting that she is once again trying to complete.
While the barbs poked at Mr. Ramsay and the men-vs-women stuff is sometimes a little more obvious than needed, this is generally a beautiful and subtle book. Very much based on Woolf's parents and childhood, the reflections on both life and death should ring true with anyone who has ever lost a loved one or tried to revisit a beloved location of the past. It is admittedly a little weird to read something that is so much about death at the same time that I received a stage iv cancer diagnosis, but Virginia Woolf makes it all right. <3
In the second, short, section time passes and we very quickly learn that Mrs. Ramsay has died suddenly, the oldest son has been killed in the war, the oldest daughter has died in childbirth. We linger in the empty house and follow around the elderly housekeeper who is trying to hold it together for the Ramsay's and largely failing against the infiltration of the natural world.
And then, ten years later, Mr. Ramsay returns with his youngest children and the same house guests from the past, including Lilly. Mrs. Ramsay's absence is its own character in the third section of the book, and much of the narrative comes from the still-unmarried Lilly as she reflects on Mrs. Ramsay, her still-temperamental husband, the ghosts of the past, and the perfect way to structure the painting that she is once again trying to complete.
While the barbs poked at Mr. Ramsay and the men-vs-women stuff is sometimes a little more obvious than needed, this is generally a beautiful and subtle book. Very much based on Woolf's parents and childhood, the reflections on both life and death should ring true with anyone who has ever lost a loved one or tried to revisit a beloved location of the past. It is admittedly a little weird to read something that is so much about death at the same time that I received a stage iv cancer diagnosis, but Virginia Woolf makes it all right. <3
Having read 3 of her books, this is definitely my favourite Virginia Woolf thus far. The writing is beautiful and quite painfully accurate at times (there's this sense of someone finally being able to express in imagery and train of thought prose what I never could pin down with words). I love the complexity of the characters' thoughts and emotions, their struggles in the roles they occupy, not to mention the insightful yet flawed and ever-changing way they perceive each other.
The first section of the book felt a lot like Mrs Dalloway, but then, with the strange yet perfect mid-section, Time Passes, where we zoom out of the characters' heads and are rushed through shocking, kind of heart-breaking events whilst also enjoying beautiful writing, nature slowly eating away at human life, everything is wonderfully altered. It's such a strange book - reckless as far as the construction of the plot, but so successful artistically because of this abnormality. We zoom in so deep into various characters' minds and experiences, forced to sympathize with and resent pretty much every single person, and then we are thrust out of their heads, unable to do anything but watch the scene eroded away.
Of course, after this brief summary of a decade, we return to that island, now only a shadow of its former self, and are given a strange, more disillusioned version of the original scene, where the characters who remain are battered and all lacking something within, all reflecting on the past.
That was a rambling summary, but it was really such a special novel. Would recommend.
The first section of the book felt a lot like Mrs Dalloway, but then, with the strange yet perfect mid-section, Time Passes, where we zoom out of the characters' heads and are rushed through shocking, kind of heart-breaking events whilst also enjoying beautiful writing, nature slowly eating away at human life, everything is wonderfully altered. It's such a strange book - reckless as far as the construction of the plot, but so successful artistically because of this abnormality. We zoom in so deep into various characters' minds and experiences, forced to sympathize with and resent pretty much every single person, and then we are thrust out of their heads, unable to do anything but watch the scene eroded away.
Of course, after this brief summary of a decade, we return to that island, now only a shadow of its former self, and are given a strange, more disillusioned version of the original scene, where the characters who remain are battered and all lacking something within, all reflecting on the past.
That was a rambling summary, but it was really such a special novel. Would recommend.
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think that... the significance of this book must have gone right over my head. Because after I finished it I felt somewhat unsatisfied and confused.
I was afraid that I was unable to appreciate Virginia Woolf but then I read The Waves which was wonderful. So, now I feel better about not appreciating To the Lighthouse, though I do want to read it again and see if I like it better.
I was afraid that I was unable to appreciate Virginia Woolf but then I read The Waves which was wonderful. So, now I feel better about not appreciating To the Lighthouse, though I do want to read it again and see if I like it better.
Not for me.
I think my own inner monologue is chatty enough that I get lost trying to follow the blurry lines of thought that run from character to character.
I think my own inner monologue is chatty enough that I get lost trying to follow the blurry lines of thought that run from character to character.
Meh. The second part at least didn't make me feel homicidal, and the beginning of the third part was enough to make me interested, but she lost me again as it went deeper and deeper into meaningless, semicolon-riddled navel-gazing. The whole first part was like that, too. I try not to ask "What was the POINT she was trying to get across?" because, while a Point can definitely help, I'm not a firm believer in needing one for a story to be good. But this book makes me want to scream "WHAT WAS THE POINT" even though I know what I think is a pretty good answer, and, while a worthwhile Point, not one that was achieved for me personally.
Meh.
Meh.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
beautiful prose, complex character relationships, and a thoughtful commentary on life, dreams, and the creative process. and, of course, a random time skip. what more could you ask for? take your damn kid to the lighthouse!
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes