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Liked It3 of 3 members found this review helpful “A luminous novel, a breathtaking achievement. Do not expect a conventional reading experience - nothing (and everything) happens, the prose is poetry, and the book deserves to be slowly and closely read.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Wanted to see if, after reading this forty years ago, I would still find Woolf a giant. She is. As good as James Joyce. ”
Anne P wrote this review 3 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“"James looked at the Lighthouse. He could see the white-washed rocks; the tower, stark and straight; he could see that it was barred with black and white; he could see windows in it; he could even see washing spread on the rocks to dry. So that was the Lighthouse, was it?"”
Dan K wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“It was totally lost on me. ”
The boy wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“wonderful novel, extremely compelling! I love her writing style and can relate to her sporadic style. Bipolar disorder evident in her writing, I can relate. ”
Mel C wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Wow! I cannot say enough about this book. It's just too amazing. There is too much to say. Where should I begin? The writing is breathtakingly gorgeous. The setting descriptions of the Ramsey's coastal home are just absolutely exquisite. It doesn't just feel as if you are there, it feels as if you are one with the nature. You are the air as it blows through the trees and stirs the ocean tides and sand. You don't just see the deep orange sunset, the sunset swirls around you like an enveloping fabric. I've never experienced a book in this way- it's just incredible. Not only are the descriptions stunning in their depth, but also the inner thoughts of the characters are captivating. Though the plot itself moves forward little throughout the course of the book, the detailed and realistic portrayals of the inner-consciousness of the characters is very engaging. The reader get's a chance to be "inside" the heads of nearly all the characters, and therefore develops sympathetic if not empathetic feelings towards all of them. Just when I thought that I had made up my mind on the characters, ie. which ones I liked or agreed with and which ones I thought were the "enemy", Woolf caught me off guard by presenting another perspective of the situation. This book keeps you on your toes. I cannot stress enough how much I recommend that EVERYONE read this book. It's not just a book, it's an experience. ”
HALLIE S wrote this review Sunday, November 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Woolf brings a collective introspection to her work, what I deem the antithesis of omniscient detachment. Charles Tansley, Mrs.Ramsey, little James, Minta, and the rest of the cast have their personal, contemplative moments to serve as grand epiphanies or even as gentle reminders of moments that are “fringed with joy.” Charles realizes the preposterousness of swinging a hammer to smite a butterfly which somehow triggers the reinforcing thought of his upbringing: his grandfather the fisherman, his father the chemist, and how he, Charles Tansley was proud of himself for doing better than them. Mrs. Ramsey casts her gray eyes on the “green sand dunes with the wild flowing grasses on them, which always seemed to be running away into some moon country, uninhabited of men.” She then reflects upon that same image as having been one of her husband’s fondest vistas. Woolf effortlessly extends a character’s sentiment from dialogue into exposition as Mrs. Ramsey discusses her grandmother’s French recipe with Mr. Banks. “Of course it was French. What passes for cooking in England is an abomination.” The quoted part is all internal thoughts of Mrs. Ramsey, but she could easily have said this aloud. Woolf does not detach the guest, but brings them back into the scene, with the guests briefly agreeing only to blissfully return to her pedantic preferences. The strength of Woolf’s characters lies in their boldness and the joy with which they share their idiosyncrasies. ”
John Gorman wrote this review Monday, October 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Boring...”
Dennis C wrote this review Saturday, October 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I really wanted to love this novel, and have read it twice now, however the plot and the way the book is arranged kept me wanting to read more about this family. I wish I could give this 3 1/2 stars, as I believe it deserves more than 3, but not 4.”
Kate L wrote this review Tuesday, September 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This was such a well written book. I read it more slowly than books that I normally read. It was rich in the same was as expensive chocolate. ”
eponymous 74 wrote this review Thursday, September 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
