- Paperback: 242 pages
- Publisher: Harvest Books; Reprint edition (Aug 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0156030470
- ISBN-13: 978-0156030472
- Product Dimensions: 20.4 x 13.5 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
To the Lighthouse (Annotated)
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Product Description
Review
`it is an elegy for lost times and family life'. --The Week
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Book Description
Rediscover Virginia Woolf - the definitive edition of her moving exploration of time, family and human experience
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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First Sentence
'Yes, of course, if it's fine tomorrow,' said Mrs Ramsay. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
'Yes, of course, if it's fine tomorrow,' said Mrs Ramsay. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
To the Lighthouse is Virginia Woolf's fifth novel and one of her most widely read. In three parts, it tells the story of the Ramsay family before and after the First World War: The first one describes a September day spent by the family and some of their friends on the Isle of Skye. The second part deals with the change in the holiday residence and the gradual decline of the house in the following ten years as well as with the life and the fate of the family members. In the last part, Woolf tells us how Mr. Ramsay and two of his children come back after the long absence and how the journey to the lighthouse promised ten years ago finally takes place.
With her usual gift of understanding and reflecting people's thoughts and feelings, fears and longings, griefs and joys, Virginia Woolf steps into the background and leaves it to the characters' reflections to tell the story of their life in an astonishing and beautifully lyrical way.
We read about childhood, marriage, loss and death, grief and love, but also about British society and patriarchal family values during the transition from Victorianism to the Modern times.
I really enjoyed reading To the Lighthouse, because Virginia Woolf's knows, like nobody else, how to combine the thematic challenges she sets herself with a beautiful fluent and lyrical style. What is striking is the identification of the author with the inner state of her characters. You just can't stop reading and deeply regret having reached the final page of the novel.
With her usual gift of understanding and reflecting people's thoughts and feelings, fears and longings, griefs and joys, Virginia Woolf steps into the background and leaves it to the characters' reflections to tell the story of their life in an astonishing and beautifully lyrical way.
We read about childhood, marriage, loss and death, grief and love, but also about British society and patriarchal family values during the transition from Victorianism to the Modern times.
I really enjoyed reading To the Lighthouse, because Virginia Woolf's knows, like nobody else, how to combine the thematic challenges she sets herself with a beautiful fluent and lyrical style. What is striking is the identification of the author with the inner state of her characters. You just can't stop reading and deeply regret having reached the final page of the novel.
34 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
To the Lighthouse was my first Virginia Woolf book, and I did enjoy it, although I was slightly taken aback by the difficulty of the stream-of-consciousness style. It is probably helpful to read some research on the author, or at least to be a little familiar with her work, before approaching this book. Within Virginia Woolf's books, I believe that To the Lighthouse is rated as "average" difficulty, so it probably should not be the first to read, as I did.
In any case, it is an excellent novel from a literary point of view; it is beautifully well written and projects intense feelings on the reader. The book should not be approached as an ordinary novel; you should not expect a conventional plot, because that is not what the writer is aiming at. Instead, you will be able to feel as if you were part of each character, which is a breath-taking experience.
30 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Is it a cliche to argue that books can alter your life? I firmly believe that 'To The Lighthouse'(TTL) does. I first read this when I was 14 and rather uneducated Literature wise, but I believe this book is what sparked off my interest in Literature, and I've gone back to read TTL repeatedly and I am yet to be bored by it.
The plot is basic. It centers around the lives of a family who holiday up in Skye one long summer. The book is split up into 3 sections. There is relatively little action in the whole of the novel. In fact, I'd say about 50% of the novel is in 1 day or afternoon, and about 10% of the novel skips time about 10 years.
To really get to grips with TTL it is essential you come to the novel with an open mind. Really appreciate the focalisation on individuals. Woolf is famous for her place in the stream of conciousness movement which included Joyce etc. The beauty of this novel comes from the interactions between different characters. She can focus on the thoughts of the young son in the family, then she can zoom out and focus on the reactionary thoughts of the mother who is engaged in conversation with her son.
Moments like these are what makes TTL a masterpiece. If you haven't read any Woolf then I would recommend TTL as a good initiation. You could read 'Mrs Dalloway' which receives more publicity, but frankly I find it slightly dull.
TTL, however, is far from it and I firmly believe that this will be a book that comes back to haunt you long after you close it.
The plot is basic. It centers around the lives of a family who holiday up in Skye one long summer. The book is split up into 3 sections. There is relatively little action in the whole of the novel. In fact, I'd say about 50% of the novel is in 1 day or afternoon, and about 10% of the novel skips time about 10 years.
To really get to grips with TTL it is essential you come to the novel with an open mind. Really appreciate the focalisation on individuals. Woolf is famous for her place in the stream of conciousness movement which included Joyce etc. The beauty of this novel comes from the interactions between different characters. She can focus on the thoughts of the young son in the family, then she can zoom out and focus on the reactionary thoughts of the mother who is engaged in conversation with her son.
Moments like these are what makes TTL a masterpiece. If you haven't read any Woolf then I would recommend TTL as a good initiation. You could read 'Mrs Dalloway' which receives more publicity, but frankly I find it slightly dull.
TTL, however, is far from it and I firmly believe that this will be a book that comes back to haunt you long after you close it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Hard Work for Little Reward
I came to this book with great expectations which were sadly dashed within half a dozen pages.
The writing may be clever, even lyrical, but I can't agree with other reviews... Read more
The writing may be clever, even lyrical, but I can't agree with other reviews... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Prog-lover
Beautiful but I failed again!
I have recently read "The sleep of birds" by Sara Macdonald which traced a relationship of a woman who seemed to have an obsession with Virginia Woolf's life in St. Ives. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Jane Baker
Avoid the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Kindle edition
Although I love this book, I would not recommend purchase of the Kindle edition (listed on Amazon as published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). Read more
Published 9 months ago by Simon Selwood
Rip off kindle version
I am on holiday and thought I would like to reread this classic but once again the cost is considerably higher than for an actual book. Read more
Published 15 months ago by louloureads
Unabridged Audiobook, read by Juliet Stevenson
Juliet Stevenson reads this perfectly. Speaking very clearly, she injects the right amount of emotion, rhythm, stress and intonation into the reading. Read more
Published 15 months ago by tweed-jacket
A highwayscribery "Book Report"
It's a phenomenon that a place so unliterary as Hollywood is often responsible for renewed interest in a writer's work or personal story. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Stephen Siciliano
A waste of time!
I read for pleasure and insight, neither of which are to be had from this book. I don't understand the fuss people make about "stream of consciousness". Read more
Published 18 months ago by Tom Holt
Totally impressive, for the deep thinker anyway
I think you have to be a particular kind of person to like this book. I guess someone quite similar to Virginia Woolf herself, a bit of an observer, introvert and probably a bit... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Ms. J. Francis
Ok, im going to confess.....
I am going to confess something that i have tried to deny for many many years. I cannot stand the writing of Virginia Woolf. Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2010 by Lozza
It Didn't Blind Me With Its Light
When `To The Lighthouse' opens we join James Ramsey and his parents as they discuss the likelihood of visiting the nearby lighthouse the following day. Read more
Published on 27 Jan 2010 by Simon Savidge Reads
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