alex_emilia_smith's review against another edition
I'm trully sorry that I didn't liked that one, BUT THE WRITING STYLE AGH! To much useless description. I couldn't care less.
alex_emilia_smith's review against another edition
I'm trully sorry that I didn't liked that one, BUT THE WRITING STYLE AGH! To much useless description. I couldn't care less.
bledoux's review against another edition
4.0
I have to admit I have no idea what to rate this book or even how to feel.
(Its defitnely not a 5 or a 2 but 3 seems too low and 4 seems too high. If I were to get technical I'd give it a 3.75 but that's so obnoxious so a 4 it is)
I did enjoy it, more than I expected to, and at times I was really invested and intrigued with Woolf's writing and the style but then at other times I was either lost, bored, or just confused so it was a drag to get through. I understand why this is a classic piece of literature and can appreciate that. It was the first of it's kind to be published.
The entire book follows Clarissa and Septimus during one day in London. Clarissa is throwing a party, as she often does, and so you follow her as she buys flowers and meets friends and old friends. With Septimus we follow him as he walks through the town with his wife and when they get home (trying not to spoil anything so it sounds very vague). What's intriguing about the book however is the way Woolf dives into the minds and lives of everyone we come across in the book, along with Clarissa and Septimus. She goes into every single person that either character comes in contact with. We are thrown into their minds and we get a better understanding of who they are and the lives they live. Its also just a case study on the English life during post Wolrd War 1.
I don't know how to explain Woolfs writing, you have to read it for yourself to understand the style.
A lot of critic I see about this book is how boring it is and how nothing happens and on the surface that is correct. I think that is a fair judgement but the book doesnt try to be anything other than the day in the mind of people and the culture of the time. It's a stream of consciousness style and I quite enjoyed it. And events do take place, they just aren't action packed or fantastical.
It did take me about 50 pages to get used to her writing and understand what was even happening but once you get into it and are able to be emersed in the writing it's truly a great experience. This was my first Virginia Woolf book and I definitely want to try reading some more.
(Its defitnely not a 5 or a 2 but 3 seems too low and 4 seems too high. If I were to get technical I'd give it a 3.75 but that's so obnoxious so a 4 it is)
I did enjoy it, more than I expected to, and at times I was really invested and intrigued with Woolf's writing and the style but then at other times I was either lost, bored, or just confused so it was a drag to get through. I understand why this is a classic piece of literature and can appreciate that. It was the first of it's kind to be published.
The entire book follows Clarissa and Septimus during one day in London. Clarissa is throwing a party, as she often does, and so you follow her as she buys flowers and meets friends and old friends. With Septimus we follow him as he walks through the town with his wife and when they get home (trying not to spoil anything so it sounds very vague). What's intriguing about the book however is the way Woolf dives into the minds and lives of everyone we come across in the book, along with Clarissa and Septimus. She goes into every single person that either character comes in contact with. We are thrown into their minds and we get a better understanding of who they are and the lives they live. Its also just a case study on the English life during post Wolrd War 1.
I don't know how to explain Woolfs writing, you have to read it for yourself to understand the style.
A lot of critic I see about this book is how boring it is and how nothing happens and on the surface that is correct. I think that is a fair judgement but the book doesnt try to be anything other than the day in the mind of people and the culture of the time. It's a stream of consciousness style and I quite enjoyed it. And events do take place, they just aren't action packed or fantastical.
It did take me about 50 pages to get used to her writing and understand what was even happening but once you get into it and are able to be emersed in the writing it's truly a great experience. This was my first Virginia Woolf book and I definitely want to try reading some more.
soepie's review against another edition
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
charlx_otte's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
britlaccetti's review against another edition
4.0
Luckily, I was "forced" to read Mrs Dalloway for one of my classes last semester (Brit Lit), and I am happy that I was introduced to the novel in such a way a book club is set up. Not only did I enjoy reading Mrs Dalloway, but I got to spend a couple weeks discussing the book with my classmates. Because, after all, I didn't choose to be an English major with a promising career after graduation.
Mrs Dalloway takes place post WW1 and over the course of a single day. If you know anything about my reading interests, you know I am a sucker for condensed writing and stream-of-conscience. I am also a sucker for parties, and By Golly! There is a party to be had at the end of the book! The reader is swept away by the narrator Clarissa, who is excellent at seeing the truths behind human nature in an uplifting/condescending way. Basically, Virginia Woolf is a human nature observation guru.
I think my favorite aspect of this book is the complete opposite life Clarissa and Septimus live. It's painful as a reader to travel back-and-forth from "happy-go-lucky" to depressed and dying. Woolf takes the reader on a heck of an emotional ride.
If you start reading Mrs Dalloway and hate it, don't be distressed or put-off by the meaningless details Clarissa explains (it all) in the beginning. Trust me, just stick with it for a little longer and you will be happy you did. It's a satire piece, and the sooner you realize this, the happier you will be. Enjoy the little one-liners that mock society, those are my absolute favorite. The structure of writing will blow your mind, jumping from one stream-of-conscience to the next and interweaving until the end.
I recommend Mrs. Dalloway to (of course) my friends exploring Times Best Book list, anyone into classical/canonical novels, and people that love society satire pieces.
Mrs Dalloway takes place post WW1 and over the course of a single day. If you know anything about my reading interests, you know I am a sucker for condensed writing and stream-of-conscience. I am also a sucker for parties, and By Golly! There is a party to be had at the end of the book! The reader is swept away by the narrator Clarissa, who is excellent at seeing the truths behind human nature in an uplifting/condescending way. Basically, Virginia Woolf is a human nature observation guru.
I think my favorite aspect of this book is the complete opposite life Clarissa and Septimus live. It's painful as a reader to travel back-and-forth from "happy-go-lucky" to depressed and dying. Woolf takes the reader on a heck of an emotional ride.
If you start reading Mrs Dalloway and hate it, don't be distressed or put-off by the meaningless details Clarissa explains (it all) in the beginning. Trust me, just stick with it for a little longer and you will be happy you did. It's a satire piece, and the sooner you realize this, the happier you will be. Enjoy the little one-liners that mock society, those are my absolute favorite. The structure of writing will blow your mind, jumping from one stream-of-conscience to the next and interweaving until the end.
I recommend Mrs. Dalloway to (of course) my friends exploring Times Best Book list, anyone into classical/canonical novels, and people that love society satire pieces.
evieboyd's review against another edition
3.0
A book meant to be read around a table of people much smarter than myself. There’s so much life in the day to day.
joakley's review against another edition
4.0
4.5, but I think if I read it in fewer sittings it would be five stars. My bad
sahdays's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Truly a reflection of English society