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renorsomethin's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-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
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Religious bigotry
leer_amor's review against another edition
It was really racist. Did not expect that from Virginia Woolf and Im extremely disappointed. Ive always loved her prose and the lyrical way she writes but this was such a diversion from that. This book is scene as a queer classic but the extent of the racism was disgusting and it does not at all read like Woolf’s other novels. She was one of my favorite classic authors and now I feel like I have to reconsider my estimation of her and her works.
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
librarymouse's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Orlando's fully unquestioned physical and social gender transition is somehow the least absurd part of this book. Not only is she unhesitatingly referred to with the correct pronouns upon the switch by the narrator, but by her fellow characters as well. The book was fine overall, though the extended timeline across a small number of pages is deeply strange when compared to Mrs. Dalloway's one day explored in detail as the only other Woolf book I've read. I really enjoyed Orlando's juggling of attraction with the gendered expectations of personality and aesthetics, and how they differed between the traditional clothes of other countries. Orlando isn't particularly likeable but I don't know that liking her was the intention behind with a novel.n her introduction to the reader, in the first pages of the novel puts her at an immediate disadvantage when it comes to likeability.
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, and Sexual content
Minor: War
timmytunter's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Racism and Sexism
kirjakimalainen's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
melliedm'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? Yes
3.75
Moments of utter brilliance mixed in with a humour that must have appealed to the time, but which struggles to age with the same dignity as it’s gender themes.
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
lucyatoz's review against another edition
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.0
Orlando by Virginia Woolf was an intriguing and surreal book to read.
Spanning just over 400 years, from 1500 to the late 1920's, it tells the story of Orlando in different times, places and genders! It is, at times, melodramatic, then philosophical, light hearted and then very intense. There are elements of it that I did not like, such as the racial slurs used, however, this was the language used at the times depicted and when it was written.
It is a very cleverly crafted story which has stood the test of time and is, in it way, a masterpiece of writing. However, the way that the ending was left was somewhat disappointing and left me feeling a little underwhelmed when the rest of the book had so much to say.
I own a copy of this book and listened to it on BorrowBox. I read this for prompt 29, published in a year of the Dragon (1928), for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
Spanning just over 400 years, from 1500 to the late 1920's, it tells the story of Orlando in different times, places and genders! It is, at times, melodramatic, then philosophical, light hearted and then very intense. There are elements of it that I did not like, such as the racial slurs used, however, this was the language used at the times depicted and when it was written.
It is a very cleverly crafted story which has stood the test of time and is, in it way, a masterpiece of writing. However, the way that the ending was left was somewhat disappointing and left me feeling a little underwhelmed when the rest of the book had so much to say.
I own a copy of this book and listened to it on BorrowBox. I read this for prompt 29, published in a year of the Dragon (1928), for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
lenka_juchelkova's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Amazing gender bending story, would do without collonualism and racism though.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Colonisation
simoneritchey's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Suicide
zzola's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
5.0
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism