Reviews

When I read this novel in high school, it completely went over my head. I wasn't used to Modernist works and Woolf's writing was incredibly hard to follow. Years later, I decided to give this book another shot and it was very well worth it. While the language and grammar is sometimes still hard to parce out, hidden within nested clauses within nested clauses are jewels of gorgeous prose, all supporting writing about obligation, family structure, and gender dynamics. I don't regret taking another trip to the lighthouse and actually getting there this time around.

joannchilada's review against another edition

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4.0

Focused on thoughts, feelings, perceptions, To the Lighthouse is not a book about plot. The novel unfolds over a ten year period, and we watch growth among our characters. But it’s not how growth is usually illustrated. These are small wins, internal successes. I was moved by how deaths were handled in this book, in that they were communicated in an extremely realistic way. The way you really learn about a tragic death - in the middle of something else entirely, very abrupt and unexpected.

This is the first book of Virginia Woolf’s that I read, and it took me a bit of time to adjust to her style. Long sentences that often run in to the next, poetic and flowery language where the actual action happening in a scene can get a little lost. Once I adjusted I really enjoyed her style.

cs4_0reads's review against another edition

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reflective relaxing 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? No

3.75

ina11's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

leilah_'s review against another edition

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adventurous 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

3.0

idavfenger's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

En bog kan blive for intterlektuel, til et punkt for det ikke længere er fedt at læse den. Der er en grænse, og den her, går for mig over grænsen. Jeg forstår ik rigtig handlingen eller hvad der sker. Principielt beskriver den jo egentlig kun 2 dage. 2 dage er alt der er med i bogen. 2 meget lange dag.

Måden hvorpå de bare dør i en parantes, er skørt.

Ja den er meget refleksiv, men det er for klogt til at jeg rent faktisk forstår det, og der igennem kan nyde det. Jeg er mest bare forvirret over hvad handlingen er. Og manglen på punktummer. Der hele er bare en lang smørre. Ikke fan af en halv side uden punktummer, og alt for mange parenteser. Det er en for klog en bog til jeg forstår det, og det burde der også være grænse for.

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