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aaanna_'s review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
queenslovebooks's review against another edition
4.0
“He who robs us of our dreams robs us of our life.”
― Virginia Woolf, Orlando
This Virginia Woolf novel is not like any of her other novels that I've read. Though it says "A Biography", it is in fact a work of fiction. The story revolves around Orlando(obviously), and it was titled the way it is as Orlando is the one who is telling the story. The pacing is quite interesting as it changes from slow to fast to slow to fast. You may be reading 10 pages or so and the story is not moving; then you'd be reading a page or two but a couple of years had passed. There are a couple of passages that you may need to read a few times over to fully understand.
― Virginia Woolf, Orlando
This Virginia Woolf novel is not like any of her other novels that I've read. Though it says "A Biography", it is in fact a work of fiction. The story revolves around Orlando(obviously), and it was titled the way it is as Orlando is the one who is telling the story. The pacing is quite interesting as it changes from slow to fast to slow to fast. You may be reading 10 pages or so and the story is not moving; then you'd be reading a page or two but a couple of years had passed. There are a couple of passages that you may need to read a few times over to fully understand.
lilimarleenm's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jeremie's review against another edition
4.0
i’ve read some people say that the second half of this book is much duller and worse than the first half, and I could not agree less! second half is absolutely wonderful, brimming with enchanting prose and the modernist touches woolf is known for. first half is still good, but definitely overshadowed by the aforementioned.
“(for it is a curious fact that though human beings have such imperfect means of communication, that they can only say ‘good to eat’ when they mean ‘beautiful’ and the other way about, they will yet endure ridicule and misunderstanding rather than keep any experience to themselves.)”
“…it is not articles by Nick Greene on John Donne nor eight-hour bills nor covenants nor factory acts that matter; it’s something useless, sudden, violent; something that costs a life; red, blue, purple; a spirit; a splash; like those hyacinths (she was passing a fine bed of them); free from taint, dependence, soilure of humanity or care for one’s kind; something rash, ridiculous, like my hyacinth, husband I mean, Bonthrop: that’s what it is — a toy boat on the Serpentine, ecstasy — it’s ecstasy that matters.”
“(for it is a curious fact that though human beings have such imperfect means of communication, that they can only say ‘good to eat’ when they mean ‘beautiful’ and the other way about, they will yet endure ridicule and misunderstanding rather than keep any experience to themselves.)”
“…it is not articles by Nick Greene on John Donne nor eight-hour bills nor covenants nor factory acts that matter; it’s something useless, sudden, violent; something that costs a life; red, blue, purple; a spirit; a splash; like those hyacinths (she was passing a fine bed of them); free from taint, dependence, soilure of humanity or care for one’s kind; something rash, ridiculous, like my hyacinth, husband I mean, Bonthrop: that’s what it is — a toy boat on the Serpentine, ecstasy — it’s ecstasy that matters.”
milaniezh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.5
lailisgrace's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
milliemoo207's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
I really thought i would love this but fuck me what a drag it was to get through. There were only a few lines out of this book that i thought were powerful, which i think is awful for a 240 page book.
tegidemrys's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
areykaminsk's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0