Scan barcode
theuncultured's review against another edition
4.0
"There must be another life, she thought, sinking back into her chair, exasperated. Not in dreams; but here and now, in this room, with living people."
While reading this I found myself thinking, this doesn't sound like her, it's way too simple... but then a few pages in my mind went wide and dizzy: oh but it is Virginia Woolf! In all her unadulterated glory!
This book is like a sunny afternoon, she has an intricate way of drawing you into worlds of her own. People, places, thoughts and trees. I couldn't resist going where she took me. I have become invested in the Pargiter family, every chapter makes me hungry for what's to come next, what's to become of the characters? Do they live their best lives? How do the seasons change for them? Going through the chapters - which are sometimes decades apart or just a mere couple of years - we get a glimpse of how the characters change and shift, their thoughts and emotions, the skin on their faces, and it's ever so interesting.
There are many beautiful sentences in this book, it's almost hard to choose what to include in this review. I honestly can't think of anyone right now who holds a candle to V. Woolf and I can't wait for my next read.
While reading this I found myself thinking, this doesn't sound like her, it's way too simple... but then a few pages in my mind went wide and dizzy: oh but it is Virginia Woolf! In all her unadulterated glory!
This book is like a sunny afternoon, she has an intricate way of drawing you into worlds of her own. People, places, thoughts and trees. I couldn't resist going where she took me. I have become invested in the Pargiter family, every chapter makes me hungry for what's to come next, what's to become of the characters? Do they live their best lives? How do the seasons change for them? Going through the chapters - which are sometimes decades apart or just a mere couple of years - we get a glimpse of how the characters change and shift, their thoughts and emotions, the skin on their faces, and it's ever so interesting.
There are many beautiful sentences in this book, it's almost hard to choose what to include in this review. I honestly can't think of anyone right now who holds a candle to V. Woolf and I can't wait for my next read.
victoriandreamer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
fairyann's review against another edition
4.0
it took me so long to finish this book, not because it was bad, but cause when i began it i really didnt feel like it so i took a really long break in the middle of it. i decided to finish it today in one sitting cause i wanted to start the new year with no books unfinished. i expected to struggle, since it took forever to get to the middle, but i literally inhaled this today, and when i reread it its probably getting the full five stars. it has no obvious plot or meaning but i thought it was such a deep and meaningful read. im so happy i felt obligated to finish it cause i think i would have dnfd otherwise and it would have been such a shame.
totheliteraturelighthouse's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
musicsaves's review against another edition
3.0
FIRST LINE REVIEW: "It was an uncertain spring." Well, I was certainly eager to spring into my first Virginia Woolf novel, but now I'm no longer certain I want to read another. Scandalous, I know! This one left me appreciating her writing, but bogged down by the lack of a plot and a confusing array of characters. I should have kept notes on how they are all related to each other. Ultimately, glad the I read it, but underwhelmed by the experience.
lizetteratura's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
An amazing story following a family at the end of the 19th century and the begging of a new one, a story about grief, changes, family, love, time, death and so much more. For now my second fav Woolf! will definitely reread it sometime
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and Antisemitism
poppyhelen_'s review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
stephanieroc's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Loved some of the writing, especially when the setting and nature was being described. However, the characters weren't really interesting (or distinguishable), they just felt like random rich white people. I had a hard time following the relationships they had with one another, and it didn't really feel like a family saga. Maybe with more historical context this would have been more interesting, but it just became somewhat of a family saga with some social commentary here and there.
skaur's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.25
the last chapter was the best part of the book