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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Although this was a bit slow at times, I really enjoyed the intricacy and mellow nature of the book. Cunningham adapts Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway to two new narratives alongside the story of the original writer. It takes a new stance towards the book and makes the storylines interrelate at the end. A very interesting spin on the source material that relates it back to the contemporary world.
medium-paced
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was surprisingly enjoyable. I didn't really want to delve into a book that featured Virginia Woolf and her characters, but I enjoyed reading this more than I enjoyed reading Mrs. Dalloway. Well-written and thought-provoking, if rather depressing.
4.5 stars- beautifully written & all stories come together seamlessly. Would have been a 5 but the prologue feels unnecessary & ethically ambiguous at the least
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Michael Cunningham’s The Hours is simply brilliant. Mrs Dalloway is one of my all-time favorite novels, so I went into this with quite high hopes (higher still due to my eager anticipation to watch the film adaptation with Nicole Kidman [who won an Oscar for her performance as Virginia Woolf], Meryl Streep, and Julianne Moore). Regardless, Cunningham surpassed all my expectations. He is obviously writing with Mrs Dalloway in mind, both formally and stylistically, but he makes it his own while remaining true to the genius of Woolf’s novel. I was quickly drawn into this book, which, with stunning prose (indeed reminiscent of Woolf’s, but also uniquely Cunningham’s, and all the better for it) delicately captures the sublime beauty of one ordinary day in the lives of three women. The three narratives of The Hours are deftly interwoven, and coalesce into a wonderful conclusion. I think this is a great novel!