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chloelittle 's review for:
The Hours
by Michael Cunningham
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
“There’s just this for consolation: an hour here or there when our lives seem, against all odds and expectations, to burst open and give us everything we’ve ever imagined, though everyone but children (and perhaps even they) knows these hours will inevitably be followed by others, far darker and more difficult. Still, we cherish the city, the morning; we hope, more than anything, for more.
Heaven only knows why we love it so.”
What a beautiful book.
The first chapter had me questioning what to expect, but despite the heavy themes, this story ultimately felt quite hopeful in a very realistic way. Cunningham’s approach to writing a story with multiple POVs was completely unique to anything I’ve read before and it was very effective. Even in the darker moments there was comfort in the way these three women related to each other, and to the reader by extension. I was delighted by the simple reminders of their connection to each other - the yellow roses, the birds singing in Greek.
Despite all of the similarities, I was also intrigued by some of the womens’ differences - particularly Virginia and Laura compared to Clarissa. Many of Laura and Virginia’s internal struggles are all too familiar to women in any time period, but thankfully, we now live in an era where seeking help for your mental health is not only more common, but often encouraged. If Virginia and Laura had more support, how would things have been different for them? Clarissa, on the other hand, has so much more freedom in the way that she is able to express herself and live her life. She still has her struggles, but they are less consuming than those of Laura and Virginia, and that feels intentional. Having the women all live in different decades highlighted the differences in their experiences in a way that was especially fascinating to read in 2025.
Also, as someone who is horrible at predicting twists in all forms of media, I was completed surprised by the “twist” at the end.