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parishaealam's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
is_book_loring's review against another edition
4.0
I could never read anything by Virginia Woolf and fail to be inspired. Likewise, reading The Common Reader was to be joyfully affected by her passionate love in literature and the innate belief in the supernatural power of books. The style of these essays are designed for the common reader, 'who reads for [their] own pleasure rather than to impart knowledge or correct the opinions of others', in no pedantic, wordy academic prose, but in such accessible, interesting way that reading her insightful, witty review which are like no others I've ever read, and perceptive literary criticism, her studious, empathic thought she drew from authors' lives and their relationship with their writing was a delightful experience and a refreshing, stimulating conversation I will without a doubt want to revisit again.
abitlikemercury's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
wilde_read's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
2.5
The writing is too dense for me to enjoy. I skimmed the chapters after Austen.
jmoravec's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Wonderfully written essays on books and literary criticism. For being around 100 years old, the contained writings are extremely readable even to a modern audience, which I think goes to show how well of a write Woolf is and why this is for the "common reader."
My really only issue with the book is that I haven't read many of the works that she discusses within, so it can be hard to fully grasp what her goal is in the essay sometimes. Some day I'll have to come back to this book after I've read a lot more classics.
My really only issue with the book is that I haven't read many of the works that she discusses within, so it can be hard to fully grasp what her goal is in the essay sometimes. Some day I'll have to come back to this book after I've read a lot more classics.
jcampbell's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
I always really enjoy reading writers writing about other authors, as it helps you see where they get their inspirations and what they are trying to bring into their own writing.