To the Lighthouse
Virginia Woolf
first published May 1927
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Dudes! I have the most exciting news! I FINALLY finished To the Lighthouse! I know! It shocked me, too.
Okay, so maybe that’s not really all that exciting, but considering I started the damn thing months ago (back in July), I was feeling pretty accomplished. And also a wee bit surprised that there were parts I actually liked.
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I hated Mrs. Dalloway. I mean, really…that book was incredibly boring. And To the Lighthouse started out pretty much the same way (see this post for my initial thoughts) (although I was quite delighted to discover that Woolf loved parentheses just as much as I do…and later kind of appalled when I realized that the same lovely parentheses were also used to kill off a few characters). But after I picked up the book again (or, more accurately, opened up the nook app again), there were times that I came darn close to losing myself in Woolf’s words. Maybe if I hadn’t been reading it while in a car I would’ve. I think this is the type of book that requires a comfy chair and quiet and a hot mug of tea, rather than interruptions from a boyfriend asking if I felt like stopping at Taco Bell for lunch. Somehow I think Woolf would be appalled if she knew I was hanging out waiting for a VW parts supply store to open and munching on bean burritos in between chapters.
So. Let’s conclude. Not as bad as I originally thought, with a few beautiful passages that struck my fancy. But Woolf will never be my favorite author since I like a little plot with my musings.
You should read The Voyage Out. Not like any other Woolf. It has a plot and no experimental writing at all. It was the book that made Woolf accessible for me. I tried reading To the Lighthouse first and didn’t understand a word of it. Of course, that was in 2001. I should probably revisit sometime, since I really do like Woolf.
Amanda´s last [type] ..2011 in Books
I think every Woolf book requires comfort, tea, quiet (and possibly one of those squishy stress balls).
Trisha´s last [type] ..Best of 2011
I have never read Woolf, well that is not technically true, since I did try Orlando for a few chapters and then gave up, but I am sort of intimidated by her. I need to get over that and check out one of her books. It’s sort of a challenge that I have set for myself.
zibilee´s last [type] ..All the Flowers in Shanghai by Duncan Jepson — 320 pgs
Many parentheses? This might be a winner for me. I haven’t yet read any Woolf.
Lorren´s last [type] ..The Silmarillion… and that’s a wrap.
I love Woolf…even her rambling…she’s a perfect example of the fine line between mental illness and genius for me…that and I just love digging around into other people’s heads
Patti Smith´s last [type] ..A Marriage Carol – Book Review
YOU FINISHED IT!!! I saw the title of this post and my jaw dropped – I thought you had given up. I had NO idea you had been reading it in the car like that. No wonder it was so hard to read! I had to read it in the daytime (when my brain was functioning) and be surrounded by quiet… and no need to rush. Those were the only times I loved it. The times when I was sleepy or rushing through to finish reading the section on time for discussion, I completely lost it. I’ve been overusing my semi-colons ever since and loving it though (I just keep telling myself that if Virginia could do it, so could I).
P.S. Do you think VW might have thought it was a little cool that you were reading her book in a car with her initials?!
Wallace´s last [type] ..The Great Gatsby Read-a-Long :: Starting Post
LOVE this comment! I think VW the author would have been amused.
Care´s last [type] ..New Year Haiku
I have to have plot with my musings, so I will probably just skip this.
bermudaonion (Kathy)´s last [type] ..Review – mental_floss: The Book: The Greatest Lists in the History of Listory
I love using parentheses, too! I must be so hard to follow in conversation, with all the asides I put into everything. I’m bummed you didn’t like this one (or Mrs. Dalloway) as I’ve not read any Viriginia Woolf and she intimidates me and I hoped you would like her and motivate me to give her a whirl.
Aarti´s last [type] ..Musings: An Accomplished Woman
Congrats!! I tried Mrs. Dalloway and quit after 3 pages due to the boringness. (I love the idea of killing via parentheses.)
Jenners´s last [type] ..2011 End of Year Book Survey
Haven’t read any Woolf. Not sure she’s really in my TBR list either. But I’m glad that this book turned out to have some redemptive qualities to it.
Jennifer´s last [type] ..Happy Holidays
I think I would have to be in a rare form to pick up one of her books. I like the squishy ball idea.
Sandy´s last [type] ..The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus – Sonya Sones
Jill, I recall reading this years ago (not in right frame of mind) and saying why am I doing this??? LOL
I’m glad this worked better for you.
Diane@BibliophileBytheSea´s last [type] ..The Accident; Linwood Barclay
I quite like parentheses too (in case you haven’t noticed yet.)
Rebecca´s last [type] ..Theme Thursday: OLD
I tend to recommend that people start with Mrs. Dalloway rather than this one (not that I’m some sort of Woolf expert by any means, but when they ask
), but you made me rethink that.
Nymeth´s last [type] ..Reading Goals for 2012
This will be my next Woolf. Will I be brave enough in 2012? We’ll see…
JoAnn´s last [type] ..Highlights and Favorites: 2011
I love this book. I must get Woolf into 2012. I’m going crazy thinking about all the books I want to read.
Care´s last [type] ..New Year Haiku
I applaud you for giving her a second chance!
stacybuckeye´s last [type] ..Writers Lost in 2011 Quiz
Congrats! You give me hope that one day I might conquer Woolf. I too have had nothing but hate for Mrs. Dalloway whenever I try it, and although I started this one a while ago, I just couldn’t get into it. Virginia Woolf breaks my brain, I think.
Steph´s last [type] ..“How It All Began”