I suppose Virginia Woolf is not going to need any introduction to those pass by the Ramblings – I’ve written about her several times, and my love of all things Bloomsbury is well-known. So I was very excited when I heard that lovely blogger HeavenAli was planning a year-long read of Woolf’s works, which she’s titled #Woolfalong.
Ali has a separate page on her blog here with a nice schedule for the year, and the first two months are concentrating on the seminal works “Mrs. Dalloway” and “To the Lighthouse”. As I’ve read both of these relatively recently, I shan’t re-read (though I am looking forward to joining in later in the year). However, I thought I would do a short post linking to my reviews of these two books and I’d encourage everyone to join in with the #Woolfalong – it promises to be a wonderful event and thoroughly enjoyable!
“Mrs. Dalloway”
I re-read this wonderful book and reviewed it a year or so ago, and concluded: “Mrs. Dalloway” is in my mind a work of genius. On my first read I was simply dazzled, but second time around the book is just as stunning but I can appreciate her artistry more.
My full review is here.
“To The Lighthouse”
I took the opportunity to revisit TTL while Youngest Child was studying it, and at the time I thought: “No short review or summary can really do justice to this rich and complex novel.”
Further thoughts here.
Jan 23, 2016 @ 07:21:06
I’m hoping to revisit Woolf this year too. To the Lighthouse is on the shelf (courtesy of Ali’s very generous giveaway), so that’s the one I’m thinking of picking up.
Jan 23, 2016 @ 08:47:10
If I hadn’t read these so I recently I would have already started with the #woolfalong! But I’m very much looking forward to joining in soon with things I either haven’t read, or haven’t read for years! 🙂
Jan 23, 2016 @ 10:20:14
As you will have seen I read both To the Lighthouse and Mrs Dalloway. Technically they were both re-reads my approach to VW seems different now. Thanks to OUP generously sending me a box of Woolfs I am well kitted out for the rest of the year.
Jan 23, 2016 @ 14:56:04
Yes, very jealous of that lovely box of Woolfs! So glad you’re enjoying VW – I think our attitudes to books do change as the years go on. 🙂
Jan 23, 2016 @ 10:58:54
I’m in the same boat! I re-read Mrs Dalloway and To The Lighthouse very recently so I think I’ll hop into the challenge later too.
Jan 23, 2016 @ 14:54:56
Yes me too – I’m looking forward to her essays, and also “Between the Acts” which I only read once a long, long, long time ago!
Jan 23, 2016 @ 12:28:55
I read To the Lighthouse some years ago, and still have Mrs Dalloway to read, and despite finding The Waves really hard going last year, I am hoping Mrs Dalloway may have more of a narrative/plot thread to hang on to. Great to know about the readalong, I’ll be sure to get even more out of it in company, I shall move it up the pile accordingly!
Jan 23, 2016 @ 14:54:14
I didn’t find The Waves the easiest of Woolf’s books to read, but I think Mrs. Dalloway, though experimental, is more straightforward. It was the first Woolf I ever read and I loved it. Ali’s Woolfalong is a wonderful idea and I’m looking forward to reading more VW soon!
Jan 23, 2016 @ 16:59:46
I’m yet to start my re-read of ‘To The Lighthouse’ but I am very excited about the #Woolfalong!
Jan 24, 2016 @ 17:40:07
Woolf is wonderful – the risk is that you want to read just her work and nothing else! 🙂
Jan 23, 2016 @ 17:36:29
I still find her non-fiction easier to read than her fiction but I am trying I promise.
Jan 23, 2016 @ 19:06:34
Her non fiction is great, but some of her fiction is not so difficult – maybe try the short stories?
Feb 02, 2016 @ 11:44:53
I hadn’t read them for ages so I’m doing both, I found Mrs D much more depressing and upsetting than I’d remembered but it hasn’t put me off!
Feb 02, 2016 @ 13:11:14
I’m really looking forward to tackling some I’ve only read once, and a very, very, VERY long time ago!
Feb 07, 2016 @ 21:48:17
Ooh! I’m only now hearing about this and it sounds right up my alley! Sadly I already have 800 pages of Victor Hugo to plough through before the next session of my book club on 20th February, so I probably won’t be able to join in, even though I *still* haven’t read Mrs Dalloway or To the Lighthouse. Shocking, I know. I’ll have to catch up later… Thanks for sharing, at any rate!
Feb 08, 2016 @ 06:41:54
Well it’s still early days and we have the whole year according to Ali’s plan – so hopefully you can join in later!