nrg_x's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
rerooff's review against another edition
Very flowery writing that was beautiful, but tough to read.
elliot_the_enby's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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
3.75
vilkas's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
vilde_a's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The language of this book is spectacular, but at times tiresome. I don’t think this is a book you should read in your second language. Although I doubt the translations can do it justice.
nutfreenerd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
violetturtledove's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
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
I honestly didn't think I was going to like this one. I started it and saw how it was set out, with various characters saying what they saw, describing the scene in first person present tense and I thought 'oh god is it all like this?'
It's not told like a 'normal' novel and it took me about half the book to get into the rhythm of the narrative... I was aware that there was a lot more symbolism than plot. It's almost more poetry than prose and I struggle with poetry. But then something clicked in my head and I started noticing how beautiful the phrases were, how I was becoming moved by the characters lives, how drawn in I was by the atmosphere. It's beautiful and reflective, you have to be in the right frame of mind for it of course but once you are it's pretty amazing. I'm already thinking about how I'll re-read it in the future and pick up on so many little details that I didn't appreciate this time.
It's not told like a 'normal' novel and it took me about half the book to get into the rhythm of the narrative... I was aware that there was a lot more symbolism than plot. It's almost more poetry than prose and I struggle with poetry. But then something clicked in my head and I started noticing how beautiful the phrases were, how I was becoming moved by the characters lives, how drawn in I was by the atmosphere. It's beautiful and reflective, you have to be in the right frame of mind for it of course but once you are it's pretty amazing. I'm already thinking about how I'll re-read it in the future and pick up on so many little details that I didn't appreciate this time.
tomatoes127's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not exactly sure how to talk about The Waves without relying heavily on cliche, soundbite phrases (rather ironically) so here goes nothing anyway.
The Waves is certainly not a traditional novel with a strong plot and clear resolution. It's structure focuses around the endless cycles of life. Some are rather obvious, days, years, seasons, the waves on the beach. Others are more abstract like the cycle many people find where they seek some high goal, manage to find some kind of Enlightenment for a moment, only to find they lose sight of it and end up no happier than they started.
Each of the characters has their own insecurities and their own ideals which they pursue throughout their lives. Really it is together that we get to see all aspects of a human life. Also, it is in the coming together and moving apart (another cycle) of these friends that we see what I think is one of the major themes of the novel, that being a struggle between, on the one hand, finding connection with others against pursuing individualistic ambitions on the other.
This book has some of Virginia Woolf's most beautiful writing, especially in the sections describing the path of the sun through the sky on one day and it's effect on the world. It is perhaps not my personal favourite, that would have to be To The Lighthouse, with its more grounded story, but The Waves is certainly a masterpiece of modernist experimentation.
There you go, all my thoughts, incoherently presented
The Waves is certainly not a traditional novel with a strong plot and clear resolution. It's structure focuses around the endless cycles of life. Some are rather obvious, days, years, seasons, the waves on the beach. Others are more abstract like the cycle many people find where they seek some high goal, manage to find some kind of Enlightenment for a moment, only to find they lose sight of it and end up no happier than they started.
Each of the characters has their own insecurities and their own ideals which they pursue throughout their lives. Really it is together that we get to see all aspects of a human life. Also, it is in the coming together and moving apart (another cycle) of these friends that we see what I think is one of the major themes of the novel, that being a struggle between, on the one hand, finding connection with others against pursuing individualistic ambitions on the other.
This book has some of Virginia Woolf's most beautiful writing, especially in the sections describing the path of the sun through the sky on one day and it's effect on the world. It is perhaps not my personal favourite, that would have to be To The Lighthouse, with its more grounded story, but The Waves is certainly a masterpiece of modernist experimentation.
There you go, all my thoughts, incoherently presented
mistercrow's review against another edition
3.0
It helps if you know Virginia Woolf’s life to understand the text a bit better.
Beautifully written, made me nostalgic and then depressed though.
Beautifully written, made me nostalgic and then depressed though.