Mrs. Clarissa Dalloway is preparing for a party. As she walks through London on a fine June morning, picking up fresh flowers, decorations, and finding just the right dress. As she prepares her home for the event, she is flooded with memories of her past -from Peter Walsh, whom she spurned years ago, to her daughter Elizabeth, the girl’s angry teacher, Doris Kilman, and war-shocked Septimus Warren Smith, who is sinking into madness.
As preparetions for the party continue, a series of events intrudes on her composure. Her husband is invited, without her, to lunch with Lady Bruton (who, Clarissa notes anxiously, gives the most amusing luncheons). Meanwhile, Peter Walsh appears, recently from India, to criticize and confide in her. His sudden arrival evokes memories of a distant past, the choices she made then, and her wistful friendship with Sally Seto…
Hmmmm…. as close the book on Mrs. Dalloway I am left with this one lingering thought…
hmmmm…..
I have never read anything by Virginia Woolf before, and with banned book week upon us I felt that this would be a great time to read this book I picked up earlier this year at a sale… this book, Mrs. Dalloway which is considered to be Virginia Woolf’s best book, as well as a banned book.
As I read through this 177 page read I found it to be rather detail oriented, flitting from one topic and one character to the next. The twenty plus characters al play a role in Clarissa’s memories but also you get a peek into their own as well. The book is to be a day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway as she deals with the present and the past. Really for a book published in 1925, the idea behind the book is brilliant.
There are strong subject matters that float through the pages…. feminism, suicide, and apparently referenced homosexuality (more on that at the bottom of this review)
I think for me, who has recently been immersed in dystopia fiction, a steampunk novel on audio, as well as a modern-day thriller…. I found Mrs. Dalloway to be a bit of a bore. I hate to say that I do…. but being honest here, the book more than likely came to me at the wrong time. It happens.
Am I glad I had an opportunity to try Virginia Woolf? Yes. But as for me and Mrs. Dalloway, I think we are going to agree to part ways as mere acquaintances.
“It’s not you Clarissa, it’s me. “
So… Mrs. Dalloway? Why are you a Banned book?
Mrs. Dalloway was banned in some communities because of the homosexual attraction of Clarissa to Sally at Bourton. Apparently there is a reference as well of Septimus being haunted by the image of his dear friend Evans. Evans, his commanding officer, is described as being “undemonstrative in the company of women”.
I purchased this book earlier this year at a library sale for my classic collection
Book Journey 
Okay, I’ll say it…I couldn’t stand this book! I didn’t care about the party, or Mrs. Dalloway, or any of it. I struggle with Woolf’s writing. It’s just not my cup of tea.
Oh I am so glad I am not alone…. glad I gave it a try…. but next time Mrs. Dalloway throws a party I will not RSVP 😀
I saw the film and tracked down the book. I really enjoy her writing style and would read more by her.
I wouldnt mind trying the movie… and sometimes audio works better for me when it is a book I may struggle with….
She has never really appealed to me. I have something by her on our shelves, but have never picked it up. It may be headed to the library book sale soon, every week I make myself pick some books from what we own to donate. Earlier I gathered a pile of ten to drop off when I go tomorrow. I figure a little at a time will be less painful and eventually we’ll have a manageable collection.
She wasnt a good fit for me either… I was hoping for a different result… but there it is. 😀
Oh, is it awful that I’m not sure what steam-punk fiction is? I guess I’ll have to google it later.
LOL – not really… to me it is new, and I am listening to my first one, pretty much by accident 😀
I read this one recently. I didn’t know it was a banned book. I agree. It wasn’t a favorite of mine either.
I found it hard to follow…. was it happening now, did it happen then…..
I’ve never really been a fan of Virginia Woolf. I find her writing, like much writing of the same time period, is tedious in description. The story itself is not bad, but it could have been half as long as it is. Thanks for such an honest review 😀
Hi Danielle, yeah I think I have read such fast paced/action books lately that this slow going read was not the best fit at this time 🙂
I have never read Virginia Woolf, and since I gather you won’t be nominating it for next year’s Book Club classics book read, I probably won’t either. Since I struggle with classics anyway, thanks for the heads up on one I probably shouldn’t waste my time on.
LOL – yeah…. how is Pride and Prejudice going? Oh wait… I think you have already read it …. onward I go 😀
I tried reading Mrs. Dalloway after I’d finished The Hours (in which the book Mrs. Dalloway is a centerpiece), and since I’ve been wanting to give her a whirl, I thought: why not? But I didn’t finish it.
Maybe the timing was wrong…but this week, I’m trying one of her other books, To the Lighthouse. And if I can’t make it through that one, we’ll have to part as acquaintances as well. But who knows? Maybe I’ll love this one.
I was curious what the connection was to The Hours, which I have never seen.
I hope it works for you Laurel… I cant wait to see what your thoguths are on it.
mrs dalloway is not for everyone. if you prefer classics then this is a nice book (as i do) but it’s no great activity, which i think i liked. as for the homosexuality? never noticed it.
I “try” to read classics Pam. Our book club reads one every October, and that is mainly to give us a deeper grasp of the classics and the books that are considered to be all great. Most cases…. they make for fun reviews but we usually struggle with the read.
I’ve heard that this is the worst book to start with when it comes to reading Virginia Woolf. I wouldn’t know though, because I haven’t read anything of hers yet. Those references to homosexuality are so veiled I don’t think i would have even noticed.
LOL… NOW you tell me Alyce! 😛
And yes, the homosexuality references I would have never picked up on either… and for a book written in 1925, that surprises me that it is in the book anyway….
I tried to listen to this book last winter… I should try reading it.
I had no idea it was on a banned list. Thanks for sharing.
LOL – I was thinking I should try listening to the audio… but ummm… maybe not 😀
I read this in my high school AP English class senior year. I had to give an hour presentation on it. I didn’t like the book. The stream of consciousness writing style is not my thing. However, it made a wonderful presentation because there was a ton of information on it. I didn’t realize it was a banned book though.
Not my think either Donna… I felt a little like I was in a dream state…. groggy…. 😀
I’m planning on reading this after I finish Keeley Thomson: Demon Girl. I have an advanced review and it’s a bit more pressing, since the attempted banning crud is going on at this moment.
The reviews here don’t help for this one, but I’m hoping that I like it anyway. I’m an optimist that way. The Demon Girl book is decent so far. I DO get why some Christians would be a little put off though. Lol! The story basically cuts their legs off without giving them a chance to reply.
I hope you do like this one Ginger, obviously people do as it is suppose to ber her best work… but I did not survive the dinner party…. 😛
I’m sorry you didn’t love this one, Shelia. It’s one of my favorites. 🙂 But then, i love everything Virginia Woolf did. I will say though, for the Woolf virgin, I probably would’ve recommended you start with The Voyage Out (even though I don’t think that one was “banned”.) I hope you give her another try sometime. 🙂
Julianne
Really? WOW! I am impressed! I may try her again some time Julianne 😉
Oh, yeah you should! She’s one of my favorites. I had a professor in college who assigned To the Lighthouse, and that’s when I fell in love. It’s just that, if you start with her first two books (The Voyage Out and Night And Day) and go from there, up through to Mrs. Dalloway, you get a better sense of the evolution of her style. Those first two are the more straightforward novels of hers, before she started experimenting with her style. I just love, love, love her! I wish I could write like her! 😉 Sorry, didn’t mean to write you an essay.
Julianne
This is awesome Julianne, you should go into sales…. I think on your pure thrill of her alone I have to try her again 😀
Very interesting….Virginia Woolf is on my list of Authors I Can’t Believe I’ve Never Read. I have a feeling I might react the same way you did to this one, though – it does sound a bit dull!
The reasons for it being banned seem ludicrous! Fascinating…
Sue
Banning always seems to fascinate me Sue… I dont understand it…. so I am drawn to it 😉
Don’t feel bad. I tried this last year and couldn’t get past 10 pages.
Oh good Jenners… I really did feel like I was walking through pea soup while reading it… 😀
I don’t think that this would be a book that I would read, not really into that time period.
I have never read Virginia Woolf but wanted to try 😀
I had to read this book twice in university and I just didn’t love it…
Nope… I get that 😀
The homosexuality aspect isn’t really surprising because Virginia Woolf and her husband were part of the Bloomsbury Group, some of whom were homosexual. It wasn’t really uncommon at all in the people they knew well.
Really? That so surprises me…
Thanks for the review and your honesty! Interesting why it was the victim of banning.
Tammy I would have read the book and not picked up on it….