A review by lucysnowy
Orlando by Virginia Woolf

3.0

this is one of those books that i am very happy to have read, but it was fairy torturous to get through! virginia woolf isn't my favourite, but her exploration of gender through time and the way she follows popular figures in different historical periods was so interesting.

the love story with sasha near the beginning was wonderful. the questions raised surrounding gender and the way that orlando copes with their change from man to woman was so interesting to read. occasionally they don't seem to settle within the particular gender stereotypes, seeming to "vacillate; she was man; she was woman; she knew the secrets, shared the weaknesses of each"

however woolf's style is just not my favourite. it meanders, drifts and wanders endlessly. i understand that that is the point, but ... it detracts from my enjoyment. i often found my eyes wandering across the page and had to drag them back to the line i was reading!

overall though i'm left with a positive view of this book. im excited to discuss it in the seminar next week and watch the lecture to see if it adds to my understanding!