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rowanelisa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
aserra's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Prepare for a crawling, yet poetically meandering read if you're picking this book up for the first time. It is written in Woolf's classic coveted stream of consciousness style. This doesn't make it a bad book if you don't like that style, it just means it isn't a book for you, most likely.
Quite honestly, I don't think I'm intelligent enough to fully grasp the profundity and implications of everything in the novel, but that didn't detract from my contentment with the text. Others undoubtedly comprehend and therefore appreciate the book much more fully than I do, just something to consider if you are reading this one review and wondering whether to pick this up.
Woolf's eloquent prose scrutinizes human nature and connection, highlighting, despite stark differences, subtle universalities with the extremely fluid and volatile POV. It is very worth noting, however, that this is a very white, privileged scrutiny of white, privileged people. This creates one's of the novel's few downfalls: it reinforces a white gaze within English literature. To expect diversity from this novel would be to set one's self up for disappointment. In the interest of balancing a deep admiration of Woolf's poetic prose and recognition of the stifling whiteness (Woolf was very actively ingrained in the myopism of white, upper class, 20th-century English society), this book earns a hearty 3.75 from me; an enjoyably challenging, reflective read from an excellent author who didn't express much interest in and subsequently did not venture outside the white world view in a work that examined the nature of humankind (which is, of course, not majority white).
Quite honestly, I don't think I'm intelligent enough to fully grasp the profundity and implications of everything in the novel, but that didn't detract from my contentment with the text. Others undoubtedly comprehend and therefore appreciate the book much more fully than I do, just something to consider if you are reading this one review and wondering whether to pick this up.
Woolf's eloquent prose scrutinizes human nature and connection, highlighting, despite stark differences, subtle universalities with the extremely fluid and volatile POV. It is very worth noting, however, that this is a very white, privileged scrutiny of white, privileged people. This creates one's of the novel's few downfalls: it reinforces a white gaze within English literature. To expect diversity from this novel would be to set one's self up for disappointment. In the interest of balancing a deep admiration of Woolf's poetic prose and recognition of the stifling whiteness (Woolf was very actively ingrained in the myopism of white, upper class, 20th-century English society), this book earns a hearty 3.75 from me; an enjoyably challenging, reflective read from an excellent author who didn't express much interest in and subsequently did not venture outside the white world view in a work that examined the nature of humankind (which is, of course, not majority white).
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Sexism, and War
theremightbecupcakes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and War
Minor: Classism
jaan's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I feel PERSONALLY fucking VICTIMIZED by this book. I am not a Virginia Woolf fan—not for any particular reason, I just don’t like her style—but a Reddit post convinced me to give this particular book a shot by just reading it. And not trying to think about anything. Just letting myself enjoy the experience. And I got through it!
To the Lighthouse is a wonderful, wonderful meditation on marriage and partnership, death and grief. I do think it necessitates a great many more rereads before I can really get a handle on it, though—will they happen? Probably not! But I want them to.
To the Lighthouse is a wonderful, wonderful meditation on marriage and partnership, death and grief. I do think it necessitates a great many more rereads before I can really get a handle on it, though—will they happen? Probably not! But I want them to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Death of parent
Minor: Death and War
jessthanthree's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: War
softanimal's review against another edition
reflective
4.0
To the Lighthouse, like much of Woolf's work, is a lovely balm for any self-inflicted wounds from the spear tips of ego and believing too firmly in the truth of one's own thoughts.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: War
afion's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
Minor: War and Classism
neali's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
i loved this, but i think i would have enjoyed it even more if i had read it in more or less one sitting, since it took me a while to get into virginia's writing style and way of storytelling, which i would describe as kind of all over the place.
once you get used to it though, it is very gripping and easier for the reader to acknowledge the beauty that lies in the way virginia tells this story, although it can still be a lot sometimes. what the book "lacks" in plot, it gains through mindful observations of the human nature and the complexity of human relationships.
to the lighthouse for me is a tale on the inconsistency of being human and a study of human relationships, especially between men and women but also between parents and their children. this obviously makes a lot of sense considering virginia's feminist background.
i can definitely see why it is described as a masterpiece and virginia's best work and i'm looking forward to explore her writing even more!
once you get used to it though, it is very gripping and easier for the reader to acknowledge the beauty that lies in the way virginia tells this story, although it can still be a lot sometimes. what the book "lacks" in plot, it gains through mindful observations of the human nature and the complexity of human relationships.
to the lighthouse for me is a tale on the inconsistency of being human and a study of human relationships, especially between men and women but also between parents and their children. this obviously makes a lot of sense considering virginia's feminist background.
i can definitely see why it is described as a masterpiece and virginia's best work and i'm looking forward to explore her writing even more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Death, Sexism, and War
Minor: Death of parent
marristmass's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: War
mercedes's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was hard to get into the rhythm of reading in the beginning, as it was my first foray into stream of consciousness writing. Once I got into it however, it was an immensely satisfying read and I'm so glad I continued with it. It soon became easy to grasp, Lily's perspective in particular was my favourite.
I have to say that this definitely going to be a difficult one to give a rating to. The prose is beautiful and warrants 5 stars, but I think this needs a reread for me to get fully invested into the story.
I have to say that this definitely going to be a difficult one to give a rating to. The prose is beautiful and warrants 5 stars, but I think this needs a reread for me to get fully invested into the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, and Death of parent
Minor: War