Waves, The - Buddy Read

[Gini]

Cynda, good to see that things are improving. Poor little succulents! Hope they revive for you.

[Gini]

Have to ask...VW seems to mention water in several of her books, not just this one. Did she live near water often? Was she planning her exit via water for a while? Just find disconcerting, eerie, whatever the word might be.

[Gini]

Got some insight into what water was to VW from the intro material in the Penguin copy I just started. Good stuff imo and worth the reading---if someone wants to get to know the author better.

[Gini]

Now maybe I can appreciate the Waves more.

[Cynda]

Oh good Gini. I started to do some research and got side tracked.

The bit I read spoke of water being primodial.
The poetic symbolism of waves usually indicates the ebb and flow of life.

Did you find something else?

[Gini]

Speaking of ebb and flow, Flint in her intro takes issue with calling this work a stream of consciousness, stating that its form is more cyclical and repetitive like waves, rather than linear. (xi). She goes on to say "since language is a shared medium, the novel dramatizes how identities do not stand, ultimately, clear and distinct, but flow and merge into each other." More wave action.
From VW's diary water related references taken from the time immediately around her writing The Waves include terms like dived into, trickle in, "feelings which suddenly break & foam away", and speaking about her writing habits , "to get into the same current of thought & let that submerge everything." (xiv) Water for Woolf could represent contentment or something more like a painful wave rising and crashing about her causing her to wish she were dead. "I've only a few years to live I hope." (xv) Both representations can be found in her diaries. The latter entry was at the completion of To the Lighthouse and just prior to the start of The Waves.

One last quote from VW herself found in a letter to a friend, "How odd this is --so far most of the low-brow reviewers (whose sense I respect) find the Waves perfectly simple: and it is selling beyond all my other books! Now why?" (xxxvi) This after her husband had doubted that the common reader would even finish it. Guess I'm trying too hard with this one. :)

[Cynda]

Gini thanks for sharing. Right. Waves of pain or pleasure. Ebb and flow of friendship.

The Waves is to artistic and tells truths, yet I have yet to really appreciate. I know the novel js good, so I might give the novel another chance another year.

[Gini]

I think her diaries are the best reads. Of what I've read if hers. But I'd like to find the essays she wrote and takea peak at them sometime.

[Gini]

one last comment-- don't give up on this one. I thoroughly did not like it after my first pass thru it. Now I'm on a second and able to kick back and appreciate it much more. Already know how it goes, now I can relax with it.

[Cynda]

No Gini, just tabling the reread of The Waves.
Later this year I want to reread Orlando which we read earlier. It is a type of cresendo of waves as well, I think. I must reread to find out.

[Cynda]

Good idea about the nonfiction, Gini.

Is everyone ready to move on? What do you think? Maybe some short nonfiction from VW next? A Room of One's Own (about 112 pages) Or do you have another shorter work, maybe under 225 pages or so?

If you want to continue to read fiction, would you like to perhaps read some other major works like Jacob's Room which is also a shorter work at about 200 pages.

I would like to start mid-March, so we need a decision so others not yet reading with us can possibly join in for the next read.

[Piyangie]

Has a buddy read of The Voyage Out done in this group?

[Cynda]

Piyangie, not yet have we read The Voyage Out.
Good selection to start to with and maybe read.

[Cynda]

Let's each say what we want to read next. Most votes win. No super fancy rules for us. I will withold my vote unless it is needed to break a tie. Voting will end on Feb 28th/March 1st just past midnight New York City time.

The Voyage Out
Piyangie, Nidhi.

A Room of One's Own
Lily

Monday or Tuesday
Sam

[Nidhi]

As I have already read Jacob’s Room and A Room of One ‘s Own, I vote for The Voyage Out, and I will read whatever non-fiction is selected.

[Cynda]

Thanks Nidhi. I wonder what oh what will we be reading next.

I will now just add titles ti list in message 64 as others vote

[Lilly]

I wouldn't mind reading A Room of One's Own next.

Although I must say I am still totally stuck in Waves - have been off GR and reading for a bit, unfortunately. Is everyone else already done with The Waves?

[Cynda]

Hi Lily. The next VW buddy read will start on March 15th, so you have time to continue to read the The Waves. . . . I will record your vote.

[Nidhi]

I am still reading Waves. I enjoy Woolf ‘s writing very much but To the Lighthouse is my favourite so far. I am really glad that we have this buddy read because her works are generally not selected for a group read.

[Lilly]

Thanks, Nidhi. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one still reading ... :)

[Sam]

I intend to continue with Woolf, but antipating March a busy reading month with The Women's Prize longlist out the 10th and the Booker International out the 30th, I intend to read the short stories in Monday or Tuesday and begin the Hermione Lee biography Virginia Woolf, so my vote is Monday or Tuesday.

[Anisha Inkspill]

sorry I couldn't have joined you all for this read & discussion, one day (I say this laughing) I'll get round to this book.

And I wanted to mention that I'm currently reading (well have opened the book to start today) Roger Fry – biography by Virginia Woolf but my ed is part of a complete works of Virginia Woolf.

But I'll keep a lookout for your discussions :)

[Cynda]

Looks like this vote predicts our last read together. After we finish this last read together, I have some other VW reading tasks too, ones I want to do by myself as part of a personal project. I have enjoyed our time and study together.

[Gini]

Thank you for hosting this. I would never have read, let alone re-read, The Waves if not for stumbling into this buddy read.

[Cynda]

My pleasure, Gini. Glad to be of service.

Seems The Voyage Out will be our final selection fkr a buddy read. I will request now to start on March 15th. See you then ;-)

[Jesus]

I will be interested in a buddy read of A Room of One's Own, since I have it in my Bingo card for this year.

[Jesus]

Sorry, I hadn't seen that you have already decided for The Voyage Out. But just let you know that, in case you decide in the future to read A Room of One's Own, I will also be interested.

[Cynda]

Sorry Jesus. It was a quick vote.

I would be interested in reading A Room of One's Own later in year, second half of year. Give me one week's notice, and I will read with you, if you would like. Let me know.

[Anisha Inkspill]

Just a suggestion - maybe the thread could be a free for all VW reads as it would be interesting to compare. But just a suggestion, and I don't mind what you all think :)

So far, I'm - ha ha, a touch disorganised but I am hoping to fit more of works by VW or related to VW ... I will know more in a few months’ time, well, I'm hoping.

Oh, and (thanks to my library) I stumbled upon this https://play.google.com/store/audiobo... which i instantly recognised, as it gets mentioned in relation to VW, so I'm currently listening / reading this

[Sam]

It was fun reading with everyone. I appreciated the comments, the different points of view, and getting to know you. I, too, will continuevreading Woolf but am sticking with the short stories and biography during the next two months. There is much more left in her output to read and perhaps I will join you again later in the year. My favorite aspect of Woolf's writing is that it lends itself to so many levels of interpretation and criticism that it never really grows old and new ideas are always worth considering. See you all in other reads as well. Inkspill I hope you leave word on the Fry bio.

[Lilly]

Hey Jesus, I also voted for A Room of One's Own. Although I must say that I am a little swarmed at the moment. So if you and Cynda decide to read it later on this year, I would also be interested ...

[Jesus]

Thank you Cynda and Lilly. Yes, second half of the year sounds great for me.

[George P.]

Lilly wrote: ....I must say that I am a little swarmed at the moment..."

The expression in English is "I'm swamped", but I knew what you meant and it made me chuckle, thanks.

[Lilly]

Thanks, George, I knew swamped. But the image I had in mind was more of the books swarming all over me, like beetles ... maybe I am sometimes a little too liberal in the use of my words ... :D

[Nidhi]

I also feel swarmed by books lol, I am bad at planning and mostly I end up starting many books at a time, my currently reading shelf stands at 70 books 🤣🤣🤣

[Lilly]

Yes, exactly! I start reading all those wonderful books, then life happens and my reading time gets truncated - and suddenly I don't know which of those books to finish first and when ... :( :D

Well, my current planning says that I want to finish The Waves until the 15th ... That still leaves me a bit of time and I think I can do that.

[Gini]

Cynda wrote: "My pleasure, Gini. Glad to be of service.

Seems The Voyage Out will be our final selection fkr a buddy read. I will request now to start on March 15th. See you then ;-)"

Hoping to be back for that one. :) Reading her first after her best might be encouraging for aspiring writers.

[Lilly]

'The Voyage Out' sounds very intriguing ... I'm hoping that I will be able to join you in april - if you're still reading by then.

[Cynda]

Lilly wrote: "'The Voyage Out' sounds very intriguing ... I'm hoping that I will be able to join you in april - if you're still reading by then."

Yes. We read until April 15th. Welcome Lilly.

[Cynda]

Here is the link to the buddy read discussion of The Voyage Out. Hope to see you all there.