Reviews

Orlando: A Biography by Virginia Woolf

rockinroad's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective 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? No

3.5

taoeric9's review against another edition

4.0

Fun romp. Felt self-indulgent at times, but at other points, Virginia Woolf really cuts to the heart of the matter, sometimes quite scathingly and always with great fun. I'm not sure I really understand the gender essentialist viewpoint she takes in this book, and I would like to read more about it. I think any conversation about the book should bring up the way race is treated in the book, as the book opens with a casually presented image of extreme racial violence and never really reexamines this attitude. It adds a complexity to the book which I'm not sure that Woolf intended. How can one puncture so deeply into the human experience—Orlando's wants, yearnings, surprises, trepidations, mysterious devotions—and harbor unexamined hateful attitudes?

leooo_333's review against another edition

5.0

“I’m sick to death of this particular self. I want another.”

lucysnowy's review against another edition

3.0

this is one of those books that i am very happy to have read, but it was fairy torturous to get through! virginia woolf isn't my favourite, but her exploration of gender through time and the way she follows popular figures in different historical periods was so interesting.

the love story with sasha near the beginning was wonderful. the questions raised surrounding gender and the way that orlando copes with their change from man to woman was so interesting to read. occasionally they don't seem to settle within the particular gender stereotypes, seeming to "vacillate; she was man; she was woman; she knew the secrets, shared the weaknesses of each"

however woolf's style is just not my favourite. it meanders, drifts and wanders endlessly. i understand that that is the point, but ... it detracts from my enjoyment. i often found my eyes wandering across the page and had to drag them back to the line i was reading!

overall though i'm left with a positive view of this book. im excited to discuss it in the seminar next week and watch the lecture to see if it adds to my understanding!

ugla's review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

leedig'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

lexiscott1's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted 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? Yes

3.75

i really liked this book, especially the beginning bit. however i found the plot harder to follow as it went on…

applepie555's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

3.0

Svårläst, hade behövt läsa igen

zadel's review against another edition

adventurous 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? Yes

4.0

venla_reads's review against another edition

3.0

I honestly don't know if I liked it. I found it difficult to focus on the audiobook (I wish I'd had a phyaical copy) so the story is a bit of a blur to me. It was definitely interesting and experimental for the time.