Book Review : To The Lighthouse
Book Name:To The Lighthouse
Author: Virginia Woolf
Publisher: Fingerprint
Genre: Literary Theory, History & Criticism
Format: Paperback
Print length: 218 pages
Rating: 3/5
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf is not driven by plot, rather it is a journey through the Ramsay family exploring introspection between past and present incidents.
Book Blurb On Amazon
“A sort of transaction went on between them, in which she was on one side and life was on another and she was always trying to get the better of it, as it was of her.”On the Isle of Skye in Scotland, the Ramsay family is predicting and contemplating upon a visit to a lighthouse. and from the postponement emerges this incredible portrait of family life. James desires to visit the lighthouse, Mrs. Ramsay searches for permanence, Mr. Ramsay aims to be a successful philosopher and Lily Briscoe, a passionate artist, is struggling over an incomplete artwork.Will James get to visit the lighthouse?Will the other characters triumph through their difficult times to achieve their aspirations?One of the most successful works of Virginia Woolf, to the Lighthouse is an exceptional experiment in the stream-of-consciousness literary technique. It is regarded as one of the best English-language novels of the twentieth century.
Review
To the Lighthouse is a voyage through the Ramsay family's life with their guests and relatives.
The author divided the book into three parts. In the first, she showcases the Ramsay family hosting a dinner. In the second, she depicts their relocation due to World War I. In the final is the voyage completion when Ramsay returns to their place.
The novel's strength is in its characters. Readers can connect with the characters with similar traits they may have or might notice in people they know. Like, Mr Ramsay was portrayed as egocentric. Mrs Ramsay, an ideal lady who tried to bind the family. James was characterized as an insecure kid who believed his father did not want him to become better than him. And the portrayal of the guests with vivid descriptions of their characteristics as humans of different types.
The author's writing style in this book seems bland and slow. Readers who love delving into introspecting and subjective experiences may enjoy reading it, while others may put it off, finding it disconnected while focusing on it. Also, there are moments in the book where the imagery of the author's words is robust and concrete so that readers can imagine the scene. A few of them are the dinner scene in the first part, the voyage in the last part, and the moments where one of the characters illustrated stroking on her canvas with her brush, trying to finish her painting.
Readers would notice that "Time" plays a crucial role in this novel. I remember how flawlessly the author showcased the decaying house with time in the second part. Readers would feel as if time was portrayed as one of the characters. It is not an easy read. But those who enjoy reading books that explore themes of loss and human experiences would love it.
The overall experience of reading this book can be distinct for every reader. Like for me, I struggled to read it. But to be honest, at some points, I loved the depiction of the scenes because I could imagine them. So, readers have to choose if they should pick this book, remembering it is slow and not plot-driven.
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