MRS. DALLOWAY :- A REVIEW
Mrs. Dalloway is the fourth novel written by Virginia Woolf, published in 1925. Woolf wrote this book after reading James Joyce's Ulysses, which was written in the stream of consciousness style, and it clearly inspired her.
The novel explores the lives and thoughts of seven major characters, with the most prominent being Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus. Although they don’t interact directly in the story, by the end, we see how their lives are subtly connected.
This is a thought-provoking novel that paints a vivid picture of Victorian society in the early 1900s, or more specifically, post-war Britain. Themes like depression, nostalgia, and PTSD are explored in depth.
My Thoughts on the Book: I have mixed feelings about Mrs. Dalloway. I don’t dislike it, but it's not a book I would immediately recommend to someone looking for an easy classic. The writing is beautiful and flows well, but sometimes the stream-of-consciousness style makes it challenging for readers unfamiliar with Woolf’s technique. This book requires full concentration to appreciate every line. I found the first half slow, but the second half picked up and became much more engaging.
Favorite Part: What I enjoyed most was Woolf's portrayal of depression and overthinking, along with the characters' reactions to PTSD. The novel also criticizes how people not directly impacted by war tend to romanticize it, while those affected are often alienated by society.
Favorite Character: My favorite character is Richard Dalloway. Though he’s portrayed as a conservative man, Woolf doesn’t show him as an absent husband or father. He genuinely tries to express his love for his family, which I found admirable.
Mrs. Dalloway is the fourth novel written by Virginia Woolf, published in 1925. Woolf wrote this book after reading James Joyce's Ulysses, which was written in the stream of consciousness style, and it clearly inspired her.
The novel explores the lives and thoughts of seven major characters, with the most prominent being Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus. Although they don’t interact directly in the story, by the end, we see how their lives are subtly connected.
This is a thought-provoking novel that paints a vivid picture of Victorian society in the early 1900s, or more specifically, post-war Britain. Themes like depression, nostalgia, and PTSD are explored in depth.
My Thoughts on the Book: I have mixed feelings about Mrs. Dalloway. I don’t dislike it, but it's not a book I would immediately recommend to someone looking for an easy classic. The writing is beautiful and flows well, but sometimes the stream-of-consciousness style makes it challenging for readers unfamiliar with Woolf’s technique. This book requires full concentration to appreciate every line. I found the first half slow, but the second half picked up and became much more engaging.
Favorite Part: What I enjoyed most was Woolf's portrayal of depression and overthinking, along with the characters' reactions to PTSD. The novel also criticizes how people not directly impacted by war tend to romanticize it, while those affected are often alienated by society.
Favorite Character: My favorite character is Richard Dalloway. Though he’s portrayed as a conservative man, Woolf doesn’t show him as an absent husband or father. He genuinely tries to express his love for his family, which I found admirable.