Reviews tagging 'Death'

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

31 reviews

carolinebl'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Mrs Dalloway is my least favourite of Virginia Woolf’s novels so far - perhaps because it is the most impenetrable. I hope that with further analysis it reveals itself to me, for the writing is certainly beautiful. I enjoyed the introduction.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Death and War

itsradsmads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Classism

Moderate: Genocide, Infidelity, Racism, Stalking, and War

jasmineandsweetbriar's review against another edition

inspiring reflective relaxing sad 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

4.5

It was perfectly executed in my opinion, with all the odd ends it needed to add to a sense of profound loss. The acceptance of death towards the end -- how sad! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Racial slurs, Colonisation, and Classism

waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

3.0

I’m glad I gave this book a second chance! While it is often difficult keeping track of whose head we’re in, I got used to the style/flow after a while. It helped me to note down in the margin who was thinking or speaking. It’s difficulty, I think, is part of its charm. It kept me on my toes, revealing just enough to keep me guessing, but in a good way. Most of the characters felt very distinct from each other, but some of the one-line characters didn’t stick out to me...but then again, they weren’t supposed to. There is so much contained within the 24 hours over which the book takes place that it would be impossible to become familiar with every single person in much the same way it would be for you or me in my day-to-day life.

Why I’m giving it a 3 out of 5 comes down to the fact that this worth a read if you have the time and brain power to dedicate to following along with it. And there are no chapter breaks. And there are a lot of trigger warnings to be wary of!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

ez_heath's review

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Colonisation

babelfish's review against another edition

reflective relaxing slow-paced

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

4.0

It's just not James Joyce... Woolf is an amazing writer and I'm sure some people will love this book with all their heart but it's almost too jumpy. The fact it mentions both PTSD and homosexuality in the 1920s is amazing but as an actual narrative I just don't think it is close to five stars. Maybe just need to try more woolf.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

renicula's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

Minor: Antisemitism and Abandonment

badhairduck'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, War, and Classism

gillian_aftanas's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

Minor: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism

samchase112'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

Did it matter then, she asked herself, walking towards Bond Street, did it matter that she must inevitably cease completely? All this must go on without her; did she resent it; or did it not become consoling to believe that death ended absolutely?

I’m not sure what compelled me to pick it up — the drive to keep my page streak going, perhaps — but I do know it wasn’t the right moment. I struggled to get through a book I might otherwise had enjoyed more, if I’d given myself the space (both mentally and time wise) to read and process it as I could. Nevertheless, I found myself at times enthralled by beautiful writing, memorable lines, and intimate moments. While this didn’t hit me or make an indelible mark after this first reading, it hasn’t turned me off from Woolf entirely, and I even think I will return to this years later and have a much better experience with it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Death and War