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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46132.Mrs_Dalloway?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Mrs. Dalloway" border="0" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/photo.goodreads.com/books/1170313554m/46132.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46132.Mrs_Dalloway?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">Mrs. Dalloway</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6765.Virginia_Woolf">Virginia Woolf</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9373864?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 2 of 5 stars The book predominantly takes place in post World War 1 London. There are some flashbacks to an English country home 30 years before as well as to Italy during the war. The setting was OK. 
 
 The main character is Clarissa Dalloway. She really doesn't have any motivations, she just is. My favorite character was Elizabeth, Clarissa's 17 year old daughter. She is so sweet and innocent. She just wants to enjoy life in the country. My least favorite is Peter Walsh, Clarissa's old suitor. He just cannot seem to move on in his life. Even though he's been gone for years to India, he's still hooked on her. And yet he argues with himself that she isn't that wonderful, he doesn't love her. 
 
 This story is told by every darn person! It is the ultimate in omnicient POV. As people in the book pass and notice each other, the writer goes from one character's mind into the next.
 
 I have to say, I never felt drawn into the book. I honestly had to read aloud to myself just to keep myself interested! Because Woolf was in everyone's head so much, there was really very little action.
 
 There was one line that I just loved in this book: "Her life was a tissue of vanity and deceit." It described nearly every character in the book. It should have been stitched onto couch pillows! I also just think it's a beautiful line.
 It's so descriptive, you can imagine everything in the character's life being ripped apart by reality.
 
 I've heard so much about Woolf, that I feel like I should read more by her. But honestly, I will probably dread the next one. Mrs. Dalloway was easy to read, but dull, dull, dull!!!
 
 If you are a person who likes being inside the characters' heads, this book is for you. If you like more action, like me, it may be a struggle. I think that modern novels have spoiled me for wanting more action in my books. I hope I can
 learn to refine myself to more 'thought-provoking' reading.
 
 I guess this book would be a classic because it is a model in omnicient POV. It's so unusual that a book focuses mainly on thoughts and that it all occurs in only 1 day. It took me longer to read the book than it did for the characters to get through it!
 
 I really don't feel changed by the book, no. My views are the same as they were before, though I may be more reticent in trying more of Woolf's works.
 
 The ending was much like the beginning of the book. Just another thought. Since the last thought was Peter's, I could have done without it!
 
 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/46150?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Susan's review
rating:
recommended for: people who enjoy omnicient POV

The book predominantly takes place in post World War 1 London. There are some flashbacks to an English country home 30 years before as well as to Italy during the war. The setting was OK.

The main character is Clarissa Dalloway. She really doesn't have any motivations, she just is. My favorite character was Elizabeth, Clarissa's 17 year old daughter. She is so sweet and innocent. She just wants to enjoy life in the country. My least favorite is Peter Walsh, Clarissa's old suitor. He just cannot seem to move on in his life. Even though he's been gone for years to India, he's still hooked on her. And yet he argues with himself that she isn't that wonderful, he doesn't love her.

This story is told by every darn person! It is the ultimate in omnicient POV. As people in the book pass and notice each other, the writer goes from one character's mind into the next.

I have to say, I never felt drawn into the book. I honestly had to read aloud to myself just to keep myself interested...more The book predominantly takes place in post World War 1 London. There are some flashbacks to an English country home 30 years before as well as to Italy during the war. The setting was OK.

The main character is Clarissa Dalloway. She really doesn't have any motivations, she just is. My favorite character was Elizabeth, Clarissa's 17 year old daughter. She is so sweet and innocent. She just wants to enjoy life in the country. My least favorite is Peter Walsh, Clarissa's old suitor. He just cannot seem to move on in his life. Even though he's been gone for years to India, he's still hooked on her. And yet he argues with himself that she isn't that wonderful, he doesn't love her.

This story is told by every darn person! It is the ultimate in omnicient POV. As people in the book pass and notice each other, the writer goes from one character's mind into the next.

I have to say, I never felt drawn into the book. I honestly had to read aloud to myself just to keep myself interested! Because Woolf was in everyone's head so much, there was really very little action.

There was one line that I just loved in this book: "Her life was a tissue of vanity and deceit." It described nearly every character in the book. It should have been stitched onto couch pillows! I also just think it's a beautiful line.
It's so descriptive, you can imagine everything in the character's life being ripped apart by reality.

I've heard so much about Woolf, that I feel like I should read more by her. But honestly, I will probably dread the next one. Mrs. Dalloway was easy to read, but dull, dull, dull!!!

If you are a person who likes being inside the characters' heads, this book is for you. If you like more action, like me, it may be a struggle. I think that modern novels have spoiled me for wanting more action in my books. I hope I can
learn to refine myself to more 'thought-provoking' reading.

I guess this book would be a classic because it is a model in omnicient POV. It's so unusual that a book focuses mainly on thoughts and that it all occurs in only 1 day. It took me longer to read the book than it did for the characters to get through it!

I really don't feel changed by the book, no. My views are the same as they were before, though I may be more reticent in trying more of Woolf's works.

The ending was much like the beginning of the book. Just another thought. Since the last thought was Peter's, I could have done without it!

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