To the Lighthouse - NO Spoilers Revisit the Shelf June 2020

[Christine]

This thread is for general discussion and background information regarding our April 2016 New School group read, To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf. Please DO NOT post spoilers in this thread.

[Christine]

From Wikipedia: To the Lighthouse is a 1927 novel by Virginia Woolf. The novel centres on the Ramsays and their visits to the Isle of Skye in Scotland between 1910 and 1920.

Following and extending the tradition of modernist novelists like Marcel Proust and James Joyce, the plot of To the Lighthouse is secondary to its philosophical introspection. Cited as a key example of the stream-of-consciousness literary technique, the novel includes little dialogue and almost no action; most of it is written as thoughts and observations. The novel recalls childhood emotions and highlights adult relationships. Among the book's many tropes and themes are those of loss, subjectivity, and the problem of perception.

In 1998, the Modern Library named To the Lighthouse No. 15 on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century.[1] In 2005, the novel was chosen by TIME magazine as one of the one hundred best English-language novels from 1923 to present.

[Christine]

I am excited to read this book this month! I enjoyed Mrs. Dalloway when we read it as a group. That was my first reading of Virginia Woolf, and this will be my second.

Who else plans to read To the Lighthouse with us this month?

[Bat-Cat]

I am reading this one as well and am actually already at 44%. I am really enjoying it so far but it is admittedly a very different kind of read.

[Susie]

Christine wrote: "I am excited to read this book this month! I enjoyed Mrs. Dalloway when we read it as a group. That was my first reading of Virginia Woolf, and this will be my second.

..."

Same with me...Mrs. Dalloway was my first experience with VW last year. It was a difficult and very different read for me but I did end up liking it. Wasn't sure that I would be ready for another one so soon, but couldn't pass up on the group read... :)

[Kathleen]

I read this in college, and don't think I've read it all the way through since, so definitely time for a re-read, and I look forward to discussing with you all!

[[deleted user]]

I'm looking forward to this one. This will be my first Virginia Woolf novel.

[Bat-Cat]

This is also my first Virginia Woolf.

[Kathleen]

I think it's a great one to start with. It was my first too and it kinda blew my mind! I was young though ... :-) I'm curious how it will be for me now.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

This is my decision-making novel for Woolf. I loved A Room of One's Own and found Mrs. Dalloway very disappointing. This will tell...do I like Woolf or not.

[siriusedward]

I am looking forward to this one .this will be my first virginia woolf novel.

[Pink]

Much the same as everyone else, I started with Mrs Dalloway, which I think is an easier place to start with her fiction. This isn't much more complicated, but it does take some adjusting to the stream of consciousness style. I won't be re-reading, but I'll check in to see what everyone else thinks of it.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Virginia Woolf Monica :)

I'll probably read the novel first and then have a read of her life ... I like that process when you read a book, then become more curious about it and do extra reading. Sometimes you're not sure about it, and learning more about these background details can make a difference.

This will be my first Virginia Woolf as well guys :)

[Kathleen]

I agree with you about the interior monologue, Monica. When I first read it I felt somehow validated!

My favorite of hers though is Night and Day. It's in a more traditional style, almost like Edith Wharton, but with just a light touch of consciousness stuff.

Sara, maybe if you don't like To the Lighthouse, before you give up entirely on Virginia Woolf, you'll give Night and Day a try. :-)

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Thank you, Kathleen. I will do that. Stream of Consciousness does not tend to bother me as a style, but it does take a lot more focus and it is easier to lose the thread if your mind is tired. I will try to read Woolf only when I am fresh and alert.

[Melanti]

This was my third attempt and third failure at reading a Virginia Woolf book. The furthest I made it was 20 pages in Mrs. Dalloway.

I'll try to remember not to rule out Night and Day.

What about the syle of Orlando? Is that also stream consciousness or is it more traditional?

[Gem]

Melanti wrote: "This was my third attempt and third failure at reading a Virginia Woolf book.

I guess I'm not alone than I started To the Lighthouse and did not make it more than a few pages. The run on sentences (some a paragraph long) made it virtually impossible for me to follow what the author was trying to get across. I struggled with it so much that I almost immediately had to put it down.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I read this about three years ago. It was my first acquaintance with Ms. Woolf. I knew I was in trouble with Woolf’s style but I survived, mostly I think because I’m a sucker for anything written in, on, or about the water. It was later after reading Mrs. Dalloway that Ms. Woolf kicked me to the curb for being a blockhead incapable of enjoying her brilliance. Oh well.

[Kathleen]

At first I considered letting this one go, but 60 pages in I remembered why I liked it so much. I can't read this like a normal book--I have to just focus on the language. Then some things sift through and I connect with them, and some things just fly right over my head.

I just really love the idea: capturing all that stuff that goes through our minds while we're living our lives. That's what got me when I first read it when I was young--the feeling of, "It's not just me!"

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I haven't started yet, Kat. I will be into next week before any time opens up for me. So, you are ahead of me.

[Sylwia]

I'm through the first two sections. I like it so far. The stream of consciousness requires attention. It's holding my interest going into the final section.

[Nathalie]

I haven't started yet either but I'll give it a try probably next week. I'm a little afraid Woolf's style will be too difficult for me, especially in English, so I might have to look for a translation.

[Christine]

No rush, the month is young! :-)

[Jennifer]

I honestly didn't expect to like Virginia Woolf's writing style, but I was pleasantly surprised how quickly I settled into it. Her prose seems to fit well with my annual spring malaise. She sort of perfectly captures what it's like to want something and not know what exactly you want, to have intentions to do good, but to question the intent behind your intentions. Sort of a perfect pick for me for this time of year!

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Just got a copy of this yesterday, along with a FirstReads by Anna Quindlen. So a bit later to join you all in the read.

[Freya]

This will also be my first VW experience, and I was unaware when I decided to read it that it was this month's new classic, so that's a fantastic coincidence! I've read the first few pages so far, and may have to go back over them - a morning's commute on the tube isn't always great for concentration!

[Nente]

Started today and am absolutely gripped, the language is wonderful. I didn't expect this.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Finished today and feel like a bathtub that was just completely drained of all its water. I have other books I need to begin, but I am too empty of energy to tackle them. With utmost respect for her talents and intellect, I must say Mrs. Woolf has beaten me to a pulp.

[Kerstin]

I ditched the book after 15%. Woolf's endless meandering makes my brain hurt! I started twice and in addition would read passages over again in hopes of finding what I missed but was left with nothing but a messy muddle. Virginia, I will happily leave you to those whose brains are knit in a different pattern, mine can't do it.

[Susie]

I've just past the halfway point and am happy to report that I am liking this one.
I think because this is my second VW, and I knew a little better what to expect, it has made it an easier read this time...
I still need to replay audio in some places to try to figure out what she is saying, but her writing is now enjoyable to me so I don't really mind...

Teeny spoiler....the reference to Middlemarch made me :) ....

[Kathleen]

Thanks Susie! I've been putting off getting back into this one, but now I can be on the lookout for the Middlemarch reference. :-)

[Jennifer]

So, I really loved To the Lighthouse. Who would have thought. The girl who got so frustrated by William Faulkner she wanted to go back in time and hit him with a copy of his own book loved Virginia Woolf. I think the reason I didn't think I'd like her is that for some reason, Faulkner's name always comes up when people I know discuss her works, I'm guessing because they both use unconventional narration styles? But that's really an unfair comparison, since (for me at least) the difficulty with Faulkner came from his tendency to switch narrators, whereas Woolf sticks with the much less complicated third person, omniscient narrator.

[Kathleen]

Jennifer wrote: "So, I really loved To the Lighthouse. Who would have thought. The girl who got so frustrated by William Faulkner she wanted to go back in time and hit him with a copy of his own book loved Virginia..."

Yay! So glad to hear someone enjoyed this one. And a good reminder that we need to read for ourselves to know for sure, Jennifer.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I also think Faulkner and Woolf are completely different in both style and content. I love Faulkner and have no struggle when reading him, while Woolf requires that I push myself constantly to continue. I'm glad you enjoyed this one, Jennifer.

[Duane]

Virginia Woolf is an acquired taste; you either like her or you don't. If you do, then you should like this one. It is generally considered, along with "The Waves", to be her best work, at least she thought so.

[Kathleen]

Interesting, Duane. I've been wanting to look into what her thoughts were about To the Lighthouse. I'm almost done with this, and didn't enjoy it near as much as I did many years ago, but still find it beautiful. It may be her favorite but mine is still the infinitely more readable Night and Day. I need to re-read that though too to be sure. :-)

[Duane]

Kathleen, I haven't read Night and Day yet. Thanks for reminding me. I've read some good reviews of it.

[John]

I enjoyed reading To the Lighthouse. I am now reading The Waves which I am finding a difficult novel to read. However, VW use of language is amazing.

[[deleted user]]

I started reading this because I thought it would be nice to discover Virginia Woolf and her writing. But I'm finding it to be not very ... how can I say it, engaging ... so kinda boring. I'm going to put this one back on my shelf, at least for now.

[Loretta]

I'm with you Matt and Nargus. I picked up To the Lighthouse twice and it didn't hold my interest at all. I may, in the future, try something else written by her but I don't think I'll ever pick up To the Lighthouse again.

[[deleted user]]

Yeah, I noticed there's quite of a few of us :) At this stage, I just can't be bothered to put in the effort. And I don't think I'm interested in checking out other VW works yet - there's just so many other great authors (sorry to the VW fans) whose works I want to discover, read more of or re-read.

[Loretta]

Nargus wrote: "Yeah, I noticed there's quite of a few of us :) At this stage, I just can't be bothered to put in the effort. And I don't think I'm interested in checking out other VW works yet - there's just so m..."

Very well said Nargus! I do really feel the same way! :)

[Nathalie]

I gave it a try in English but the language was too challenging for me and I couldn't get through. But I do hope that one day I will push through with it when my English has improved... a lot ;)
It seems like an interesting read to me.

[Bat-Cat]

Here is my review: 5 Stars

This is my first Virginia Woolf book and I must confess that I am an instant admirer. Her prose is so beautiful it simply leaves me speechless as to how she was able to write with such seeming ease and purpose. There is absolutely nothing about this book that feels forced or artificial. In my opinion, this book definitely requires multiple readings as I am thoroughly convinced that lovely nuggets of pure gold will be unearthed with each pass through.
The stream of consciousness style is wonderful. It definitely requires a different type of reading – kind of like un-focusing one’s gaze when looking at those magical 3 dimensional pictures in order to view the hidden image. It takes a bit of practice but once one learns and gets used to the trick, it is quite delightful and lots of fun.
As far as the meaning is concerned, I will leave that for another reading. I will, however, say that the lighthouse stands, for me, as the beacon toward which all of life heads – back to the light, back to the source, back to oneness and God.
I will be reading this many more times in the future and will make it a point to leave none of her work unexplored.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

This thread is the No Spoiler thread for the June 2020 Revisit the Shelf book, To the Lighthouse. This book was on my Old and New Challenge list last year, but I did not read it yet, so the timing works out well for me. Who else wants to join in reading this book in June?

[Piyangie]

I would like to join if I can make time. It is a reread for me, but I'm sure to make new discoveries.

[Erin]

I will be! I’ve not yet read any of Virginia Woolf’s work and intended to rectify that this year. =)

[Janelle]

I may re-read as I read it over a decade ago and it’s not a long book. I remember really enjoying it the first time.

[Luke]

Erin wrote: "I will be! I’ve not yet read any of Virginia Woolf’s work and intended to rectify that this year. =)"

:)

[Heather L]

I read this about a decade ago but, though it is short, I don’t know if I’ll get to a reread, as I’m more interested in a couple other of the June group reads. We shall see...