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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm using this as my classic written by a woman for the Back to the Classics Challenge. I guess it's about time that I start going back and deciding which of the classics I've read so far this year are going to count for this challenge, and start reviewing them.)
I read this during my great springtime resurgence of interest in Virginia Woolf. I had a passing acquaintance and admiration for her thanks to college, but I had never quite gotten around to revisiting her and reading more than a couple of her books. But after rereading A Room of One's Own, I was desperate to get my hands on anything she wrote.
Other than the aforementioned Room, To the Lighthouse is my favorite of the Woolf books I've read so far. It follows the interior lives of various well-to-do English people enjoying the kind of seaside holidays that Woolf herself experienced in childhood. And by enjoying, of course I mean languishing amid doubts and fears and being profoundly alienated from one another.
Woolf does beautiful and adventurous things with language in this novel, perhaps to the greatest effect in the central interlude. She takes us rapidly through the passing of years, demonstrating their effect on the characters and the house that united them.
I love to read disgruntled reviews of Modern novels that complain about the lack of plot. That, of course, is sort of the point. Woolf isn't writing a fast-paced thriller here; she's interested in the power of language to convey characters' thoughts. It's like one great big, neurotic, Impressionist painting. And one that I, at least, think is pretty great fun to read. I like to see what boldness Woolf will attempt, and what she'll get away with doing.
Now I just want to go read more Virginia Woolf.
I read this during my great springtime resurgence of interest in Virginia Woolf. I had a passing acquaintance and admiration for her thanks to college, but I had never quite gotten around to revisiting her and reading more than a couple of her books. But after rereading A Room of One's Own, I was desperate to get my hands on anything she wrote.
Other than the aforementioned Room, To the Lighthouse is my favorite of the Woolf books I've read so far. It follows the interior lives of various well-to-do English people enjoying the kind of seaside holidays that Woolf herself experienced in childhood. And by enjoying, of course I mean languishing amid doubts and fears and being profoundly alienated from one another.
Woolf does beautiful and adventurous things with language in this novel, perhaps to the greatest effect in the central interlude. She takes us rapidly through the passing of years, demonstrating their effect on the characters and the house that united them.
I love to read disgruntled reviews of Modern novels that complain about the lack of plot. That, of course, is sort of the point. Woolf isn't writing a fast-paced thriller here; she's interested in the power of language to convey characters' thoughts. It's like one great big, neurotic, Impressionist painting. And one that I, at least, think is pretty great fun to read. I like to see what boldness Woolf will attempt, and what she'll get away with doing.
Now I just want to go read more Virginia Woolf.
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoyed reading a constant stream of consciousness. Finding metaphors and themes to sit with throughout the story.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Finally giving up on this, an absolute chore to read.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes