Virginia Woolf is not for everybody. I understand that. Even as a student of literature and a proclaimed lover of books, I struggle with her writing. Every time I pick up a piece of her work, I feel a weight settle in on my shoulders. It's like homework a lot of the time. I have to concentrate on every sentence in order to catch the meaning, subtle digs, and thoughts that are pulsing beneath the surface. But like a well thought out assignment, one may start it reluctantly, but in the end, it broadens your horizons, teaches you something, and, God forbid, you may actually enjoy it.
Woolf is a challenge to me. "To the Lighthouse" is a book that sat on my shelf for years collecting dust. I'll tell anyone who asks that I am fascinated and reverent of Woolf. She wrote one of my favorite books/series of essays, but the truth of the matter is I struggle just picking up her work. "To the Lighthouse" is quintessential Woolf. There isn't much of a plot and you skip from one character's thoughts to the next. This is frustrating. It's hard to follow and often semi-boring. So why read her? Let me tell you my thoughts on the subject....
Woolf will not drive you through her novel with captivating plot points or even characters you fall in love with. But Woolf is a bloody good writer! She's a literature lover's wet dream. Each sentence carries weight and often times it's not what's said that matters, it's the space between. Woolf does what I've noticed most of my favorite authors do, she breaks people down. This book is not about going to the lighthouse, it's about the journey or non-journey there. She makes one average day into an existential interior dialog. The brilliance of Woolf is that she sees genius in the everyday, average people as deep thinkers. One does not need a catastrophic event to make them think about life. Everyday offers the opportunity for realization, philosophy, contemplation of life, the meaning of it all, God, and existence. Woolf is a master at her craft because you can read her words over and over again and find new meaning each time. She writes beautifully and it feels effortless.My sister and I discussed the characters in Woolf's novels and how they all seem egocentric. I must agree that for the most part they are selfish and egotistic. But let's consider that we are invading their private thoughts. Who of us isn't almost always thinking of our self? Mrs. Ramsay, one of the main characters in this book, has many thoughts about not being understood. She is a woman with nine children who gives her time, love, and devotion to them everyday. I don't think Woolf is trying to separate the characters from one another, but bring them closer to their audience. Many of Woolf's readers are women of a certain age who perhaps feel like Mrs. Ramsay, which is to say unseen as an individual, and can relate to her in many ways. Their personal thoughts are meant to enrich our own lives and show us we are not alone in our struggles.
"To the Lighthouse" is a good Woolf read, though I think "Mrs. Dalloway" offers a better variety and I preferred the stories in "Mrs. Dalloway". I enjoyed the scenery in "TtL". The Scottish coast gives a relaxed, yet contemplative atmosphere to the novel. One of my favorite characters is Charles Tansley, the one character whose thoughts are not as deep and meaningful as he thinks they are.
Here's my suggestion: if you're into Woolf, give it a try. If you've read Woolf and think she's brilliant, but perhaps not someone you want to continue reading, understandable. If you are of neither of these opinions, then just leave her be. It is worth reading at least an extract of her work, to see why she is still relevant, but you don't have to torture yourself. Unless you're into masochism. Just don't tell me about it.
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