Summer '07 Reading: 'To The Lighthouse' by Virginia Woolf

[Scharphedin2]

Well, why not read it slow twice.

I suppose you could...

[Janine]

Scharphedin2, Your advice to Pensive makes perfect sense to me and I hope to others, too. It is good advise and not condenscending sounding at all; it is helpful. Personally, I like to read a book slowly and am naturally a very slow reader. I understand your idea of letting the book just drift along and enjoying it, not worrying about catching every single thing. As you said....."the images carry you". One has to just go along with the flow of these style books and not be so 'clinical', otherwise they can be a huge chore and boring as well. I think I too, will pace myself with the second reading of this book; just read so many pages a night. I will enjoy it much better that way with no pressure. And we have the summer months to discuss it, right? A 200 pg book hardly needs to be rushed through. Then having the text online we can go back and review and quote from it. It is online here, isn't it? I forgot to check.

Well, why not read it slow twice. Someone even smarter just said that.

hummm....was that someone you, Virgil? .....you crack me up!

Look I'm no raging feminist (quite the contrary) but i think Woolf's feminism is a question of fairness to women and an understanding of thier point of view, which because most of literature prior to her day was predominantly male and lacked that perspective.

I agree with this, neither am I one, but I think her writing did have it's place in time and women authors such as Woolf needed to speak out and be heard.

Looks like Scher's got a brand new set of smilies. I like them Scher.

Yes, Scher, love it too! Is that a cheerleader - cute pompoms! Does she ever stop? She is quite energetic!


Hi Pensive, I believe you are now in the 'analytical mode' due to our recent L discussions. I am also; it is hard to depart, once one has crossed over into that 'mode of observation' while reading.

[Pensive]

Hi Pensive,
I believe you are now in the 'analytical mode' due to our recent L discussions. I am also; it is hard to depart, once one has crossed over into that 'mode of observation' while reading.

Oh my! You guessed it quite right. Half due to that and the other half due to summer holidays. I have got a lot more time to think!

[Virgil]

You have company over there?



(You know I am just kidding, Virgil. Just couldn't resist it )On behalf of my smilies, thank you!

hummm....was that someone you, Virgil? .....you crack me up!

Well, I was only kidding around.

[Janine]

Oh my! You guessed it quite right. Half due to that and the other half due to summer holidays. I have got a lot more time to think!

And Pensive, I love it when you 'think'!

Well, I was only kidding around.

Virgil, no I really thought you were serious - you are pretty 'smart'!

Are we having fun yet???

[Virgil]

Hey, just to let people know, since this is a summer read I plan to start the book around the beginning of August. But I'll drop by and see how the discussion is going.

[manolia]

Hey, just to let people know, since this is a summer read I plan to start the book around the beginning of August. But I'll drop by and see how the discussion is going.

That's a relief Virgil! I'll start at about the same period (work is rather thick now..)

[applepie]

Okay, I have read a little bit. Can't find anything immensely interesting. I see there are hardly any dialogues in it, very few. The main focus seems to be on the descriptive writing yet. The descriptive writing seems to be quite good though, that's also a reason I am keeping up with the novel. There are not many, as I call it, 'happenings' in the novel yet, very little action there seems to be.

Perhaps it would get a bit faster later, it's just the start after all that I am reading. I am tending to be very slow while reading it, so not to miss anything. Reading it like a course book!

I'm having the same problem. I started to read the book and everything is just sort of a blur for me. There isn't much action to really give me any sort of a focal point or something to grasp onto. Plus, is it just me or does the story seem to periodically switch between a couple people's point of view??? I'm praying that there is more going on as I get further along in the book and this is just Woolf's way of setting everything up for a more interesting tale.

[Quark]

I'm getting the book Tuesday, but I may be the only one of the few people talking about it. Don't worry, though. I think there is enough to talk about to keep the discussion going into August.

[manolia]

Plus, is it just me or does the story seem to periodically switch between a couple people's point of view???

Hi !
I haven't started with the book yet but i have already read Mrs Dalloway and loved it (i read it in two days and i am a very slow reader ) but what you say here reminds me of that book as well. In "Mrs Dalloway" Woolf switches between a couple of peoples' point of view so i guess it isn't just you and your observation may be correct

[Pensive]

And Pensive, I love it when you 'think'!

So do I. So do I. When I think before I speak!

[NickAdams]

I have to read Wilde's short stories, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest and the Bastille pick, so I hope to start towards the end of this month. I want to be done with it, so I can participate in Rushdie.

[Janine]

manolia and Pensive, I am glad to see you two here also. I probably won't get started till late either. I feel so pressured right now with the other threads still active. I may just review and my library book is due back this week, I have not even opened it yet. I better get it renewed and then when that time runs out my friend has a copy she said she would loan me. I think that, as Quark pointed out, there is enough in this book to keep us going by August. It is an intensely written, layered book, even though, technically, it is short. Glad to see there will be other late starter such as myself. It should be interesting. I will read along with your posts, Quark, since I know the story well, having read it a few years back.

[Quark]

I like that you bolded my name--it makes me feel important. I'll try to return the favor.

[Janine]

I like that you bolded my name--it makes me feel important. I'll try to return the favor.

I think all you people are important - I always bold the names...

Yes, please do; it would be nice if you do return the favor. I want to see my own name looking *important*.