Favourite Virginia Woolf Novel

CharlasI prefer men to cauliflowers

Únete a LibraryThing para publicar.

Favourite Virginia Woolf Novel

Este tema está marcado actualmente como "inactivo"—el último mensaje es de hace más de 90 días. Puedes reactivarlo escribiendo una respuesta.

1Nickelini
Editado: Oct 30, 2007, 2:34 pm

Just wondering what novel is your favourite. I have read reams of Woolf's essays, diaries and letters, and all of her short stories, but I've only read the Voyage Out and Mrs. Dalloway. I'm wondering what novel to read next.

2lilithcat
Oct 30, 2007, 2:32 pm

I prefer most things to cauliflower (except maybe broccoli).

3Nickelini
Oct 30, 2007, 2:41 pm

No, no, broccoli is much better than cauliflower. But that leads me no closer to deciding which novel to read next, alas.

4Eurydice
Oct 30, 2007, 5:49 pm

Thus far, my favorite is To the Lighthouse, or, more lightly, as a fun recommendation, Orlando. (Keeping in mind that I had trouble getting past Orlando's first page or two, but once that was done, sped through it with pleasure.) But I have several novels I bought in a fit of justified enthusiasm, and haven't read yet. Perhaps one of them will be my next book.

I love broccoli AND cauliflower. :)

5Eurydice
Oct 30, 2007, 5:51 pm

But I much prefer men to both. (Though decidedly NOT to eat.) They have social possibilities I've never noticed in produce.

6lilithcat
Oct 30, 2007, 10:18 pm

But I much prefer men to both. (Though decidedly NOT to eat.)

Oy! I am so biting my tongue!

7aluvalibri
Oct 30, 2007, 10:43 pm

lilithcat! You naughty girl, you!!!!!!
;-))

8Eurydice
Editado: Oct 30, 2007, 11:20 pm

Well, I am not above biting them... it's the ingestion that worries me.

9aluvalibri
Oct 31, 2007, 9:00 am

Eurydice, you are definitely a scream!!!!!
Thanks for brightening the beginning of my working day.
:-))

10Eurydice
Oct 31, 2007, 5:32 pm

My pleasure, anytime. :D

11Nickelini
Nov 19, 2007, 6:56 pm

That's it? One opinion, and eight comments about vegetables and men. Is this a group to discuss Virginia Woolf, or vegetables? If it's about men and things-in-the-cabbage family, where do the people gather who want to talk about Virginia Woolf?

12Eurydice
Nov 19, 2007, 7:24 pm

Nickelini, it may be frustrating, but I gave my real opinion, first, and the banter that followed took up a comment you were part in. That that, rather than answering your question, snagged attention, I can't help. Probably most of us who care were not in a position to answer at that time; and threads languish. If I killed off further opinions, I really am sorry. I'd love to partake of actual conversation on the subject - but most LT users also veer into silliness now and then, and are none the worse for it.

This is not an active group; perhaps it's not even a very serious one. But it's certainly capable of being revived.

My reading of Woolf is not extensive, but if I can contribute helpful comment on why I chose the two I mentioned, or what else I've read, I'd gladly try. Other people's recommendations - especially of works I own but have not read - would be quite welcome.

13Nickelini
Nov 20, 2007, 1:01 am

Hi, Eurydice

Rereading my message, I see that I do sound a little snippy. Sorry, I didn't mean to! I appreciate your opinion, and I was just disappointed that no one else spoke up.

So what was it about To the Lighthouse that makes it a favourite? From things I've read about it, it sounds like the most daunting of VW's works. My favourite review of it is here:

http://www.dougshaw.com/Reviews/review15.html

I don't know who Doug Shaw is, but his reviews are pretty entertaining.

14sylvan_eyre
Nov 27, 2007, 11:56 pm

Huh...interesting review. I think I would agree with him, were I a man.

As it is, TtLh is my favorite book at the moment outside of Colm Toibin's Mothers and Sons because it's filled with moments that are lit like individual lamps, but light up a whole street.

15yareader2
Ago 21, 2008, 3:32 am

Hi

I'm new here. I loved To The Lighthouse. I first approach her writing by taking advantage of has been written about it. Maybe some people think you should read a book with a clean slate, but the opinion doesn't sway me. There are certain writers that are big fans of Ms. Woolf and I respect their insights.

So I came to this book knowing that she wanted to write about her mother after her death and this book really helped her with closure. Writing about parents seems to help may authors that felt helpless about the knowledge they carried around. It never really took the burden off, rather it helped organize events/thoughts and gave the sense of control maybe?

Well, those were my thoughts before I read it. Afterward I felt like I was looking at a large oil spill off of Alaska, bot closure of understanding someone's life. She wrote one soul more tormented then the other. And time passed with the children growing, the aging of the household items, and the paintings never completed.

16Nickelini
Ago 21, 2008, 11:46 am

Wow. That's really interesting, Yareader2. I won't have time for To the Lighthouse this year, but it's moving to the top of Mnt. TBR for next year. Thanks!

17MusicMom41
Ago 21, 2008, 11:46 pm

Hi Nickelini--
I tried to find this thread after you mentioned on another thread where we were touching on Virginia Woolf but it eluded me. Tonight, just before I was going to turn off and go to bed I spotted it (while looking for something else!). I will check in the next time I get a chance to get on LT to discuss VW--a writer I have loved for years but have neglected lately.

One of her books I own but have never read is Orlando and after Eurydice's comment I'm adding it to my tbr list--hopefullly for this year.

18Nickelini
Ago 21, 2008, 11:49 pm

I'm thinking of reading Orlando in September. There's a group read on any historical fiction over at the Girlybooks group, and I thought this would be a great choice. I may not have time to fit it in though because my university reading list is huge this fall.

19MusicMom41
Ago 21, 2008, 11:55 pm

Obviously I haven't gone to bed quite yet--What is Girlybooks? If it is a group read i would move it to the top of my list. Since I moved back to California I no longer have a book discussion group and I long to read something with others for discussion.

20Nickelini
Ago 22, 2008, 12:45 am

Another group here at LT . . . come join us, we're really active. Look for Girlybooks in the group list or try:

http://www.librarything.com/groups/girlybooks

21MusicMom41
Ago 23, 2008, 7:52 pm

I'm excited about getting back into Virginia Woolf after a long absence. I first became enamored with her when I was in a wonderful Book Group is Savannah, GA. I know at least two of the novels of hers that I've read were done in that group. I also started collecting her so I have a few things by her and about her. Unfortunately, where a live now (a small,rural town in central California) I haven't yet met anyone elso who reads Woolf and she is more fun to read if you can talk about it with someone.

The reason I'm posting this now is because I need to leave this thread while I gather my thoughts and do a little research and I keep having such a hard time locating this thread I hope by posting now it will be on the first couple of pages of threads when I come back! :-) Hopefully, if I'm not interrupted that should be in about 30 minutes!

#20 Thanks, Nickelini. I want to check it out soon. If y'all decide to read Orlando, please let me know. I'm committed to reading Poisonwood Bible the first part of September, but I would love to read Orlando with someone else and I should be able to make time for it. I'll have to put off reading Anna Karenina though, I fear.

22Nickelini
Ago 23, 2008, 7:59 pm

MusicMom . . .

I totally agree that reading Virginia Woolf with others is way easier. I just read The Waves on my own and while I thought it was really beautiful, I just let the art wash over me and missed so much.

I just read The Poisonwood Bible in July. A great read. I enjoyed it immensely. Not sure if I can commit to Orlando, but if you're up for it I'll really try to fit it in.

From the group's homepage, on the right you should see a link that says "join this group". Then the group will be in the "your groups" list.

I'd love to see some activity here!

23MusicMom41
Editado: Ago 23, 2008, 11:56 pm

Nickelini--thanks for the heads up on Poisonwood Bible. I've gotten so many good reports on it I'm going into it with a more positive attitude.

Obviously I got interrupted and was gone more than 30 minutes but here is what I did during that time:

This information is adapted from the Fantastic Fiction site: (www.fantasticfiction.co.uk)

Virginia Woolf's first novel, 'The Voyage Out', appeared in 1915, followed by 'Night and Day' (1919) and the highly experimental 'Jacob's Room' (1922). She wrote her major novels over a twenty year period during which time she struggled with periodic bouts of depression. These include 'Mrs. Dalloway' (1925), 'To the Lighthouse' (1927), 'Orlando' (1928), 'The Waves' (1931) and 'Between the Acts' (1941). She also wrote ‘Flush: a biography’ (1933) which is the life of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Dog.

Her writing was particularly concerned with women's experience, in both her novels and her literary criticism and essays, most notably her two masterpieces of feminist polemic, 'A Room of One's Own' (1929) and 'Three Guineas' (1938).

Virginia Woolf books I own:

Night and Day haven’t read yet
To the Lighthouse 5 stars
Orlando haven’t read yet
A Room of One’s Own/Three Guineas haven’t read yet (embarrassing to admit!)
The Common Reader (1925) 4 stars
The Second Common Reader (1932) 5 stars
A Writers Diary (ed. Leonard Woolf) dipped into—tbr
A Moments Liberty: The Shorter Diary(ed.Ann Olivier Bell) tbr

Virginia Woolf books I’ve read:

Mrs. Dalloway 5 stars (I lent it and didn’t get it back)
The Waves must read again—don’t remember it well enough to rate

Books about Virginia Woolf I own:

Virginia Woolf: a Biography 5 stars (by Quentin Bell)
A Very Close Conspiracy haven’t read yet; about Virginia & her sister Vanessa Bell

I would like to read anything by VW with someone else. It's been so long I don't mind doing a reread. One thing I'm going on a hunt for is Flush, the biography of EB Browning's dog. I think that would be really fun.

I would like not to start a read until I finish the one I'm starting September 1st, but that shouldn't take me more than two weeks (I'll read more slowly so I don't get ahead of others reading with the group.)

24MusicMom41
Ago 23, 2008, 10:41 pm

Nickelini -- I looked for a "join the group" sign but couldn't find it. On the right are the Touchstones and on the left are things about groups but nothing about joining. I did notice something that's going to help I think--at least now I can find my starred groups without having to go through the many pages of threads (I think that's what "your starred" will do--I hope!) That will save me hours! And I won't have to do a "fake" post to try to get this on the first page while I got ready with my post. However it worked. Even as long as I was gone, it was still on the first page.

25MusicMom41
Ago 23, 2008, 11:05 pm

I went to Amazon to start my search for Flush and got sidetracked by discovering that Harcourt has published annotated edition of Mrs. Dalloway and The Waves, both of which I need to replace. See, lending a book and not getting it back is not always all bad. :-)

They also have annotated editions of Orlando and A Room of Ones Own/Three Guineas. I'm not sure I can justify buying duplicates of books I already have that are in perfect condition. (But I'm working on it!)

Just had to share my excitement.

26MusicMom41
Ago 23, 2008, 11:22 pm

Flush is available on Amazon.com and gets quite good reviews. If anyone decides to look for it you should type "Flush: A biography " in the search window (with books in the first one, of course) because it doesn't come up on the Virginia Woolf site. Don't panic when you see the first choice, a $26.95 paperback. Click on it and when you scroll down to check out the reviews you'll see two small PB pictures with 90% bought this one and 7% bought the other. The 90% one is a PB of Flush for under $10.

I really think this one would be fun. I love dogs, I love Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and I love Virginia Woolf. How could I lose?!

27yareader2
Ago 23, 2008, 11:23 pm

Musicmom41,

I would be happy to read VW with you. I want to read all her works.

28MusicMom41
Ago 24, 2008, 12:01 am

# 27 yareader

Which book would you be interested in? I'm read anything by VW.

I'm glad you are still checking into this thread. I got back on tonight to post about why I think this thread is not as active. I'm hoping we can revitalize it. Woolf was such a wonder writer and I'd like more people to appreciate her.

29MusicMom41
Ago 24, 2008, 12:03 am

I now see why in my town of about 20 thousand, which is mainly a fruit growing and packing area (Reedley, CA is known as the "Fruit Basket of the World") I can't find many people (that not any!) to discuss VW. This thread has been up for almost a year on a site that has almost half a million avid readers and I'm the 6th one to post! What can we do to "advertise" it.

One of the problems is that there are so many threads to plow through to find one that interests you. I only found this one because you Nickelini mentioned it on another thread--and it took me almost a week before I was able to track it down with diligent searching.. In fact I had given up and found it by accident!

30streamsong
Ago 24, 2008, 12:43 pm

I'd also enjoy a VW group read. I haven't read any of her novels, so I am willing to go with any of them.

31MusicMom41
Ago 24, 2008, 5:38 pm

Great! If we can get a couple more readers interested we can talk about what to choose.

32Nickelini
Ago 24, 2008, 10:03 pm

#24 - Nickelini -- I looked for a "join the group" sign but couldn't find it. On the right are the Touchstones and on the left are things about groups but nothing about joining.

-------------------

Sounds like you're not on the group home page. From the I Prefer Men To Cauliflowers home page you'll find the "join group" link directly to the right of Virginia Woolf's picture.

33MusicMom41
Ago 24, 2008, 10:14 pm

Thanks. Today I finally realized that there is a "Group Name" above the thread name. I had to click on the group name to get to the icon. I'm now a member. I also found a dormant thread where a couple of people were talking about doing a group read. I contacted them to see if they might still be interested. I haven''t heard anything yet.

I don't know if you are interested in a group read, but if we could get one going--we'd use another thread--it might create more activity for this group. There seem to be a lot of people who mention VW on other groups' threads.

What I really need to do is learn how to leave a link to this site like you did. That's how I found it.

34yareader2
Ago 24, 2008, 10:58 pm

Question: Does anyone here that has read the majority of her works ever think she had blinders on? Did her money and security play a part in what she avoided to write about? I may be wrong and I haven't read all that much of her, but did she ever come across as " If the reader doesn't comprhend it,then let them eat cake."

I don't mean to be critical of her, I just have a small view of how she thinks and I wondered how much she did see.

35aluvalibri
Ago 25, 2008, 7:03 am

#33> MusicMom41, I thank you for contacting me about a group read. I don't know if I can join right now, as I have a lot cooking, but I am always very interested in reading others' opinions about Virginia Woolf.
I have several books by/on her, as she has been one of my 'interests' ever since I wrote my university dissertation on her letters. So I will be here with you.

#34> yareader2, you can say that Woolf was an elitist. I suppose being born in the middle/upper class, in a very cultivated environment (her father, Leslie Stephen, was one of the most important Victorian literary figures), played a big part in the shaping of her mentality and the way she related to the outside world and, definitely, the "lower" classes.

36MusicMom41
Ago 25, 2008, 10:33 am

#35 aluvalibri

Thanks for replying! Even if you can't do a read now--and who knows when we will get it going!--I hope you'll check in here. I can see you will have a lot to add to our discussion.

I can't start reading VW until I do another group read I've committed to (Poisonwood Bible) which we start on September 2nd, so I'm looking at the end of September or the first of October is we have two or three others by then. If not I plan to pick a VW book on my own--I'll announce it--and hope some of the people here will be able to comment on it as I read.

When I checked Fantastic Fiction for a list of her novels I discovered a book I didn't know about--Flush: a Biography about E.B.Browning's dog. That is now on my wish list and I have heavily hinted to my husband that it would make a great birthday gift the first week in October. I'm dying to read that book! so if we don't get a group going and I get the book that will be what I read first.

37Nickelini
Ago 25, 2008, 11:21 am

Compared with her better known novels, Flush is a quick and easy read. Quite an interesting concept for a story.

38MusicMom41
Ago 25, 2008, 11:54 am

Maybe Flush: a Biography would be a good one for beginning book group.

I plan to re-read Mrs. Dalloway and The Waves fairly soon because Mrs. D. is a fast read, I love it and I haven't read if for several years; The Waves I barely remember so I'd like to refresh that. I'm saving my re-read of To the Lighthouse for next summer because it is my favorite VW (so far!) and will be relaxing. I've several other works of hers I plan to read as the occasion arises or the mood hits me--some I own and others I'll collect as I find them. Since I consider her a "keeper" I don't want to get them from the library.

I'm excited to pick up with VW once again. I've missed her.

39kgriffith
Ago 25, 2008, 12:28 pm

I'll be reading To the Lighthouse for my Women in Literature course this fall; I've not read anything of Woolf's in the past and am looking forward to the introduction to her work. I'd join in on a group read, but this class has me reading even more than I usually do on my own (scary!) and, of course, taking copious notes, writing opinions, and all of the other fun stuff associated with reading-not-strictly-for-entertainment. *sigh* Such is the life of a college student, I suppose...

*looks longingly at my shelf of TBRs that are NOT for school...*

40MusicMom41
Ago 25, 2008, 12:35 pm

aglaia531--if you have time to post some of your thoughts as you are reading To the Lighthouse I'll dust off my copy and look at it sooner. It is really a lovely book--and I didn't find it too difficult to read.

41yareader2
Ago 25, 2008, 12:37 pm

To the Lighthouse, my first impression is the house and all the work that went with opening up the summer home. As well as the opening of memories from summers past.

42kgriffith
Ago 25, 2008, 12:45 pm

MusicMom - it's on the syllabus for November 13; I'll set myself a reminder to relocate this post when I start reading! We'll also be reading excerpts from A Room of One's Own for September 18; will try to swing by with some reflection on that if I get a chance to come up for air!

43MusicMom41
Ago 27, 2008, 8:16 pm

#41 yareader2

I pulled To the Lighthouse out last night because I've been thinking about it ever since you mentioned it. It's been so long since I read it I wanted to see why I remember loving it so much. I think it is because this novel is written in a way that reflects the way we actually live. Rather than a lot of action and incidents to carry a plot or story along it focuses on the interior lives of the characters and their reactions to what is going on around them.

A perfect example of what I'm trying to say is in the first section when Mrs Ramsey and Charles Tansley (the atheist) walk into town together. We get very little of their actual dialogue. Rather we get their interior impressions of how they react to each other in a series of situations--their impressions change as situations change. Mrs. Ramsey has a slight compassion for Tansley because he doesn't really fit in so she takes pity on him and invites him to accompany her on a walk to town to do errands. But during the walk we see how sometimes she gets annoyed, sometimes really likes him, etc. We also get a running account of Tanley's reactions to her. His reactions don't jump around so much; his opinion of her improves as the walk continues. At the end Tansley has a pretty positive feeling toward Mrs. Ramsey. However, later, in section III, we see that Mrs. Ramsey does not reciprocate: "...she concluded that poor Charles Tansley had been shed. That was of little account to her. If her husband required sacrifices (and indeed he did) she cheerfully offered up to him Charles Tansley, who had snubbed her little boy."

In this novel we are more concerned with learning about what kind of people the characters are rather than with what the characters actually do. We often discuss with many writers whether a novel is plot driven or character driven--or rather where the author puts his emphasis, because usually there is a balance. In To the Lighthouse the novel is entirely character driven because essentially there is no plot. Some things hapen, but there is no beginning, middle, and end--except to the day. As in real life.

44MusicMom41
Editado: Ago 27, 2008, 8:25 pm

#42 aglaia531

I haven't read A Room of One's Own but I own it. I will try to take a look at it over this long weekend so I can make a comment if ou want to post something about it later.

I looked a little at To the Lighthouse to make a post for yareader2 but I don't have time to do it justice right now. I had planned to re-read it next summer, but if you want to "talk" about it, let me know. I will be happy to re-read it in October after we finish The Poisonwood Bible group read which starts next week and will take about 7 or 8 weeks. I would discussing Lighthouse any time after after the middle of October.

45rosemeria
Sep 18, 2008, 3:13 am

hello,
I'm happy to find this group, because I have put off reading VW too long!
This winter I would like to read & study Virginia Wolfe the author, the women and her writings. I think we should just start a topic for every one of her books -- then we can read and post under the current book that we are reading -- leaving a very organized trail for others follow.

I am also wondering which VW book to read first? Middle of October is a good start time for me too.

46aluvalibri
Sep 18, 2008, 8:12 am

#45> rosemeria, I would start with either Orlando or To the Lighthouse.

47MusicMom41
Editado: Sep 18, 2008, 3:16 pm

I have both Orlando and To the Lighthouse so I could do either one. I will also be reading Kristin Lavransdatter for a group read but I will be finished with Poisonwood Bible--at least the reading. I have read To the Lighthouse quite a while ago and have never read Orlando.

If someone starts a thread for a VW book read, please announce it on this thread so I will get the message! Thanks. I will also "publicize" it on other threads I post to.

(edited to add touchstone)

48rosemeria
Sep 20, 2008, 1:25 am

Let's start a group read with Orlando in one month, around Oct. 20th and then read To the Lighthouse after that.
I also have A Room of One's Own and will break it open in the next week; my copy has an introduction by Susan Gubar that a good friend suggest I read first before jumping into a study of VW.
I'm also participating in the group read of Kristin Lavransdatter -- and except to have it done in a month.

49MusicMom41
Sep 20, 2008, 1:35 am

That sounds like a good plan, rosemeria. I also have A Room of One's own--I'll see if I have that introduction.
When October come we should probably sprinkle the threads we read with news that we will be reading this novel--maybe we can attract some others.

50yareader2
Sep 20, 2008, 11:21 am

I always wanted to read Orlando. I'll try

51christiguc
Sep 20, 2008, 11:23 am

You may want to announce it here in the What Are You Reading Now group. That is a thread which is a list of upcoming group and theme reads. You might get some joiners from there.

52MusicMom41
Sep 20, 2008, 4:15 pm

#51 christiguc

Thanks for the information. I've put up a notice--but I don't know how to make links.

#48 rosemeira & yareader2

I've started advertising this read. Shall we keep it informal or would one of you like to be a moderator. I'm not computer savvy enough to moderate a computer group read although I could make suggestions about how much to read each week if we decide how long this read should last--or if is should be ongoing.

I have found on this Group people seem to drift in and out. When we get closer to the time, I will notify members of the group who haven't responded about the group read.

53kjellika
Sep 25, 2008, 10:14 am

#49 MusicMom41

You attracted me! :))

cf.: http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?topic=46002

54Nickelini
Jul 25, 2010, 9:36 pm

I thought that To the Lighthouse was my favourite, but I'm reading Orlando now, and I think IT'S my favourite.

55aluvalibri
Jul 25, 2010, 9:49 pm

I LOVE Orlando!!!!!!!!!

56perlle
Sep 19, 2010, 7:05 pm

Found this group recently. I love Woolf. To The Lighthouse is definitely my favorite so far. One thing I particularity loved was how she played with time.