Let me start by saying everyone should read something by Virginia Woolf at least once in their lifetime. I think this holds true for man authors such as Shakespeare, Hemingway, Joyce, and Rand. You don't need to fall in love with the book or the author but you just may.
While I did not love Mrs. Dalloway, or the author Virginia Woolf I am extremely glad I read the book. The style, stream of consciousness, was at first a chore to read but gradually I got into it. The story takes place on one day of the life of Mrs. Dalloway and includes some peripheral characters that touch her life very remotely. As someone who loves the extremely large epics this book forced me to change my focus.
This book was the pick for our early January discussion at book club. Since it was for our group I was committed to reading the whole book. Since my book club met on January 4th I began reading after Christmas and read in several large chunks. For me that may have helped to hold everything together.
One thing I have learned belonging to a book club is that the book you love is not always the book that generates the best discussion. Some books lend themselves to a lively and diverse discussion while some do not. Mrs. Dalloway is an excellent discussion book.
Have you read a Woolf book? If not, I do highly recommend Mrs. Dalloway. You many not fall in love with the book or the author but you will be glad that you read it. If possible share this book with someone else, you will have a lot to discuss.
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