Saturday, January 4, 2014

Book Review: To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

Title: To The Lighthouse
Author: Virginia Woolf
Setting: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Published: December 27, 1989 (first published in 1927)
Publisher: Harvest Books
Paperback: 209 pages
Literary Awards: Prix Femina Vie Heureuse Anglais (1928)

from Goodreads:
 
The novel that established Virginia Woolf as a leading writer of the twentieth century, To the Lighthouse is made up of three powerfully charged visions into the life of one family living in a summer house off the rocky coast of Scotland. As time winds its way through their lives, the Ramsays face, alone and simultaneously, the greatest of human challenges and it greatest triumph--the human capacity for change. A moving portrait in miniature of family life, it also has profoundly universal implications, giving language to the silent space that separates people and the space that they transgress to reach each other.

There are very few exceptional and miraculous novels that have the power to change their readers forever. To the Lighthouse is one of them.
 
Alleluialu's Review
 
Virginia Woolf is one of my favorite writers. I love the way she uses words and the turn of the phrases she writes. "To The Lighthouse" takes place in the minds of the characters which was common in the era that Woolf wrote. The pace is pretty slow, but you are treated to all kinds of ideas going through the heads of the participants. The family seemed what I perceive as typical in that era. The father rules the roost and the mother puts ideas out there but lets the father think she can't do anything without him. Obviously not true. Mrs. Ramsey was well in control of things. Their guests and the children were interesting as well. So, if you like lots of beautiful language and you don't mind a slow pace, this is the book for you.
 
I've given this selection 4 stars. There was nothing objectionable in it and it is a classic. You can get your copy at your local library or here.
 
 

2 comments:

  1. I've only read a couple of books by Virginia Woolf, this book scares me a little -- I'm not usually a fan of stream-of-consciousness. But I should be brave and give it a try.

    And I've added all the links for the challenge categories for the Back to the Classics Challenge -- I can add the link to your review if you like. Sorry they weren't ready last week!

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  2. Bookworm Central is the premier virtual book fair company Virginia. They were able to support my fundraising needs even though we are located in southern Virginia. I only wish we lived close enough to use them as an onsite book fair company as well. Remember if you are looking for the premier virtual book fair company Virginia, you need to look no further than Bookworm Central

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