Old Books, New Readers discussion

Hi, guys!

This topic is about: The Lighthouse: Chapters I-XIII

This is the last week of To the Lighthouse reading, so you can also post any conclusions you have about the whole book. Don't need to post only about the last chapters.

A few questions about this week's reading:

1. In what ways does this section resolve questions or tensions introduced throughout the novel?

2. How does Woolf represent the trip to the lighthouse? What is its purpose in the text?

3. What does Lily make of her memories of Mrs. Ramsay? Why parallel the journey to the lighthouse to Lily's memories and the line?

4. Why is Lily finally able to draw her line and how does this gesture comment on art? Gender relations? Motherhood? Selfhood?

5. Compare the first sentence to the last. What are the differences and similarities?

Source: University of Stanford, Great Works in Dialogue

On page 203 of my copy it says "He was reading very quickly, as if he were eager to get to the end."

I felt very very much the same way. There were a lot of good and not so good things about this book. The characters are well formed I thought but I rather disliked Mrs. Ramsey for some reason. And unfortunately she is sort of the focal point of the book. Some of her opinions I agreed with but other things she did or said annoyed me to no end. And Lily's obsession with her? I really didn't get that. But I liked Lily's no nonsense attitude with the men.

Mrs. Ramsey reminded me of Mrs. Joad from Grapes of Wrath for some reason and I really really didn't like Mrs. Joad for the most part. Well at least I didn't like how Mrs. Joad handled things.

Maybe something about the way both women think?

I blew through this because when I tried to read more slowly and absorb it my mind would drift and I'd have to start over and I didn't really care for it the first time so why would it be better the second I thought.

I will go to read some Spark Notes over the next few days to fill in the gaps and be better able to answer the prompt questions, but all in all this would have been a DNF if it weren't the BOM.

Luella wrote: "On page 203 of my copy it says "He was reading very quickly, as if he were eager to get to the end."

I felt very very much the same way. There were a lot of good and not so good things about this ..."

I started this book slow but then found myself reading it quickly too. It was like I had to rush to finish each long sentence before my mind wanders.

There was definitely a lot of symbolism here, but I'm also going to need Spark Notes' help to understand them all.

What I noticed in this last section of the reading is that the lighthouse is seen in a different light now by James, who is much older now. The lighthouse seen from afar and idealized in James mind doesn't quite match the lighthouse in reality and from up close. I'm not sure why it took them so long to finally go to the lighthouse though.

Overall, I'm not sure I really enjoyed the book. It was just so hard to follow, most of the time. I see that she was writing differently than most authors, by following a stream of consciousness, but I found it difficult to follow. The middle section was the part I enjoyed the most. She had a lovely way of describing the passage of time. I'd consider it poetry. It redeemed the book a bit for me. I never really understood why Lily seemed so obsessed with Mrs. Ramsay and why she just had to finish that painting.

A thought I just had was that Woolf made the trip to the lighthouse more important than the actual visit. She describes the trip in great detail but the book basically ends when they get there. Maybe that's a reflection on life... The trip we take is more important than the actual destination. I think I've read that or heard that somewhere. ;) :)

Kimberly wrote: "Overall, I'm not sure I really enjoyed the book. It was just so hard to follow, most of the time. I see that she was writing differently than most authors, by following a stream of consciousness, b..."

I like that Kimberly the trip is more important that the destination, which is my preferred way to travel. Yea what was up with Lily?

I saw this somewhere else and thought it was hilarious and a nice reward for making it through the book. Although that might be a harsh assessment really it still provided some much needed comic relief that day.

It's also a bummer Lily internationalized Charles statement "Women can't write, women can't paint."

Luella wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Overall, I'm not sure I really enjoyed the book. It was just so hard to follow, most of the time. I see that she was writing differently than most authors, by following a stream of..."

That is funny! :D

Luella wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Overall, I'm not sure I really enjoyed the book. It was just so hard to follow, most of the time. I see that she was writing differently than most authors, by following a stream of..."

LOL at that book cover.

George Costanza: See, this should be a book. This is the book.

Virginia Woolf: Yeah, right.

George Costanza: I'm really serious. I think that's a good idea.

Virginia Woolf: Just thinking? Well what's the book about?

George Costanza: It's about nothing.

Virginia Woolf: No story?

George Costanza: No forget the story.

Virginia Woolf: You've got to have a story.

George Costanza: Who says you gotta have a story? Remember when we were going to go to the lighthouse, but didn't? That could be a book.

I thought it was a nifty idea to write a novel in a stream of consciousness format concentrating on the interactions of the characters but I did not like the execution. I can see the academic appeal in this novel, but I find it surprising that people seem to like it from a non-technical perspective.

Thanks Group! I would not have had the sticktoitiveness to finished this on my own. :-)

Ian wrote: "I thought it was a nifty idea to write a novel in a stream of consciousness format concentrating on the interactions of the characters but I did not like the execution. I can see the academic appea..."

I like your blurb there. Also that's what I love about this group. By taking it slow and spacing out the weeks I feel encouraged to read things that I would have a really difficult time finishing otherwise!

Ian wrote: "I thought it was a nifty idea to write a novel in a stream of consciousness format concentrating on the interactions of the characters but I did not like the execution. I can see the academic appea..."

sticktoitiveness - I spent a while trying to figure this one out! Now that I understood it, I am certainly going to use it! LOL

You can always count on us! :)

Luella wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Overall, I'm not sure I really enjoyed the book. It was just so hard to follow, most of the time. I see that she was writing differently than most authors, by following a stream of..."

Ha-Ha, I enjoyed that!

Ian wrote: "George Costanza: See, this should be a book. This is the book.

Virginia Woolf: Yeah, right.

George Costanza: I'm really serious. I think that's a good idea.

Virginia Woolf: Just thinking? Wel..."

Very clever! I love Sienfeld!