Reviews

Between the Acts, by Virginia Woolf

1librarianspath's review against another edition

3.0

An interesting read. It is a gentle and lyrical story which takes place over a single Summer’s day, in a small village in England, right before the Second World War begins. Time is a central theme in the book, with the play about the history of man, the constant ticking and the characters’ thoughts flitting from the present day to earlier memories. Between the Acts also feels quite Shakespearean in places.

lenaferriday's review

reflective 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? Yes

2.0

sarabrickwall's review

medium-paced

3.25

fizreads's review against another edition

4.0

I was interested to read that this was the last novel Woolf wrote and published after she took her own life. I felt I went into this book with a melancholic vibe. I have read Orlando by Woolf and I really liked that this novel, the action takes place on one summer's day in 1939 at Pointz Hall, a country house in the heart of England, where the villagers are presenting their annual pageant. The book weaves together the musings of several disparate characters and their reactions to the imminence of a war which is to change the pattern of history. I liked it, is probably not my favourite classic. Loved the writing but I switched of when it came to the play, but thankfully it is quite short. Great to read in the summer as well!

Quotes/
'The heart of the house', the threshold of the library, had once said: 'Next to the kitchen, the library's always the nicest room in the house.' Then she added, stepping across the threshold: 'Books are the mirrors of the soul.'

'Peace was the third emotion. Love. Hate. Peace. Three emotions made the ply of human life.'

lydiagardiner's review

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

katymvt's review

2.0

Pop Sugar Reading Challenge 2019-A book that takes place in a single day

I just didn't see what the point was. I actually really liked a couple of the snippets from the pageant. But, everything about the audience seemed so superficial. I wish she had concentrated more upon Isa and Giles.

I did like the descirptions of Mrs. Swithin, though.

tayloryams's review

funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.0

sheeprustler'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

quitenerdyblog's review against another edition

3.0

Like with The Years, I felt an immense sadness on finishing this, because of the shadows that loom large over it. One of those shadows is the deliberate setting of this in June of 1939, but the other terrible shadow is Woolf's death, before this novel was even published. The blurb put it in my head and I couldn't get it out after that. That meant by the time I finished the novel, I shocked myself by how sad I was. Even though I still have more Woolf to read, I felt like I had reached the end of her. In finishing Between the Acts, I had this horrible feeling that I'd killed Virginia Woolf.

flowerwreathbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0