What VW book have you read lately?

A Room of One's Own

I’m not sure why I’ve never read this before. It’s a wonderful treatise on how women in the 18th century began to learn that they could earn money by writing, a survey of some of the great women writers of the 19th century, and a message of encouragement for would be writers. The title refers to Woolf’s premise that what a woman needs to be real writer (instead of just writing for money in order to survive) is a modest guaranteed income and a room of her own. Wouldn’t we all like that! This is an enjoyable read for those who like to read books about books and authors. I would be one of those!

I picked this off my TBR pile shortly after I read Orlando because I was in the mood for more Virgina Woolf. I have another one lined up to read early in 2009 that't in my 999 challenge.

MusicMom - one of my favourite books. I will be re reading it in 2009 for the 999 challenge as well. There is also a 1929 group thread here on LT that may well devlop a group read for this inspirational book. Member kjellika is about to begin this little volume. I have beautiful purple mug celebrating my love of this work - please see my profile page should you feel sufficiently interested!

I shall be reading it too!

I've always loved A Room of One's Own and so enjoyed Orlando. I'm ready to read more Virginia Woolf. What should my next one be? Suggestions appreciated.

I enjoyed the free style of Orlando and would like to read To the Lighthouse next. I read Room of One's own, last year and continue to read her nonfiction, The Common Reader, The Common Reader second series and Women And Writing. So far I have enjoyed reading her essays and nonfiction a little bit more than her novel Orlando -- so its time to read another Woolf novel...

I'll definitely join in on the conversation in Group - "Project 1929" on their read of A Room of One's Own.

I love To the Lighthouse and Mrs. Dalloway and I also enjoyed Orlando--which was a very quirky story. Virginia Woolf in my experience was experimenting with just about every novel she wrote. I, too, love her essays--especially The Second Common Reader.

I have Flush: a Biography scheduled in my 999 challenge--Flush was E.B. Browning's dog. I'm really interested how VW handles this POV on EBB.

I hope I can find the 1929 thread that does Room--I'd like to get other people's take on this work.

Dear MusicMom41,

Here is the link to LT group - Project 1929.

There are many interesting books on their list - and it is an interesting time to be reading about 1929 with the similarities of what is going on today with the crash of the America financial markets.

Merry Christmas everyone!

I'm currently reading Jacob's Room for a class I'm taking. It is really difficult. It's just a jumble of images, even more so than The Waves. My teacher said you could read it fifty times and not get it. Luckily, we're starting discussion this coming week, so I hope to soon be enlightened! I'll let you know if I learn anything useful.

Nickelini

I bet it's fun being able to discuss VW in a class. I've always done her mostly on my own. I'm looking forward to your review of Jacob--give us hints on how to interpret it! I think that one made it to California, although I haven't read it yet.

I have Flush: a Biography tucked away for a weekend read when I need a "pick-me -up". It will go into my Poets and Poetry category (it's a stretch, I know but i wanted to read it and I'm sure EBB will be in there somewhere!)

Looking forward to your comments on Jacob's Room.

I just finished Flush for my 999 Biography category. It is probably one of her most accessible books and just plain fun to read! Below is the review I posted on my 75 challenge thread:

This is the story of the romance of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning as seen through the eyes of Elizabeth’s dog, Flush. My public library categorizes this as “Biography” as does the designation on the back of my copy. Virginia Woolf’s notes at the end of the book tells where she found the information she includes which qualifies it as biography. Most importantly, my 999 Biography category needs more help than my 999 Poets & Poetry category! That said, this is a delightful read for a leisurely afternoon. Woolf really understands dogs and Flush is very believable and a well rounded “character.” Highly recommended for those who love dogs and/or Virginia Woolf. 4 stars

I am reading Virginia Woolf: A Biography by her nephew,Quentin Bell, which covers her life from 1882-1912. I shall then read vol 2, 1912-1941. This is part of my 999 Challenge. Following this I will read some of VW's own work.

I'm reading To the Lighthouse -- or trying to, anyway. I thought I'd have some quiet time to focus on it this morning, but the phone kept ringing and interrupting me!

That's life!! Fortunately I have had a quiet day and finished vol 1 of Bells Biography of VW. Will start V 2. tonight.

Edited to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Vol 1.

Valerie, I enjoyed that biography very very much, when I read it many years ago.

Paola - I am now enjoying volume 2. I also have Hermione Lee's Biography of Woolf to read.

It will be interesting to hear which one you preferred, once you have read them both.
Obviously, Quentin Bell was in a privileged position, being VW's nephew and experiencing many of the events first hand.

I enjoyed both but I think I preferred volume 2. I agree with you. He was in a privileged position and as Quentin was older when these events occurred he was probably in a better position to write about them.

Have spent all day, apart from cooking and washing dishes, reading The Common Reader 1. Looking forward to reading more of her exquisite essays. A Room of One's Own next, I think.

A Room of One's Own gives much food for thought. Very interesting essay.

Now on to The Common Reader 2. It will be interesting to see what she has to say 7 years on from her first Common Reader.

I like both "common readers" but, imho, I think Common Reader 2 is stronger and even more interesting. You are making me think I will have to do a "Virginia Woolf category" next year. Many of her books are ready for rereads and I've bought a few in the last couple of years that I haven't gotten to yet.

MusicMom - I agree that the second CR is the better of the two although both were enjoyable. She is definitely worth rereading IMO.

Three Guineas. VW reasons why she should or not give a guinea to each of three requests: one for world peace; one for female education; and one to open the professions to women. It was very interesting to follow her thoughts through to their conclusions. Not an easy read but worth the effort.

I just finished To the Lighthouse, which is my favourite of her major novels so far (of them, I've previously read Mrs Dalloway, The Waves and Jacob's Room).

Joyce, I agree. I think To the Lighthouse is her fiction masterpiece. In addition to the ones you mentioned I've also read Orlando. I need to reread The Waves because it has been so long since I read it I really can't remember much about it. I think it is interesting that it's the only one I've read that I don't remember. I also plan to read The Voyage Out at some point--but need to get a copy. However, since I own Night and Day that is probably the one I will read next.

I'm currently reading Women and Writing, which is a collection of essays.

I am currently reading a complete collection of VW's short stories.

#26-I read your review of Women and Writing. Sounds like a great book.

Nice to see the someone is reading VW this year. I won't have time to read one before, 2011, but I plan to schedule a VW read in January or February since I didn't get a chance to read any of hers this year. Night and Day is the novel I haven't read yet and it was a little intimidating for this year--it's quite long.. Hopefully I will have the time and stamina to tackle it next year. Usually once I start reading VW I really don''t have any trouble finishing the book. It's getting started that's hard! :-)

I plan to read one of her diaries before the end of the year. I'm not sure which novel I'll read next--probably The Voyage Out.

By some horrible oversight, I had never read Mrs. Dalloway or To the Lighthouse, both of which I recently finished. I'm in awe. I seem to reading her in reverse order (Orlando, A Room of One's Own, et.), but I think I'll break out of that and next read The Voyage Out, too.

I read her diaries again and again - they are so fantastic. You always discover something new about Virginia Woolf. I just love them!

Nice to have someone activate this thread!

I still haven't had time to read Night and Day and probably won't get to it this year, but I'm definitely going to read something by or about VW this year since I didn't get to her last year.