Last week I asked people to vote for what book I should read next. Readers chose The Hours by Michael Cunningham, which so far has been awesome! The book has three narrative strands — author Virginia Woolf writing Mrs. Dalloway, society woman Clarissa Vaughan planning a party, and 1950s housewife Laura Brown struggling with her picture-perfect suburban life.
The stories have already started to overlap and connect with one another, primarily through stories by Virginia Woolf and their characters. I already want to know so much; I feel like I’m missing details and jokes because I’m not as up on Virginia Woolf as I should be. It’s a great book anyway. I think I’ll have it done by the end of the week.
Since so many people have already read this book, instead of a traditional review, I want to solicit some questions from all of you. Leave a comment on this post with a question you want me to answer (preferably about The Hours, but I’ll take others I suppose) and I’ll go through the questions for my review.
Happy Sunday everyone!
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It’s been a while since I last read it, but I’ll ask you a question about a scene that stuck with me in particular: What do you think about the conclusion Clarissa Vaughan eventually reaches about happiness?
Gavin – It’s been a while for me, too. My question is do the three strands work? Are each of the characters in balance or does one “overpower” the others?
Glad to hear you’re enjoying The Hours! I’m about to start this one tonight, I debated over reading Mrs Dalloway first but then decided to give this one a shot first since it’s supposedly set during the time Virginia was writing it.
Even though I haven’t read it yet, my question is whether or not this book would make you want to read Woolfs works, or maybe search out another book based upon her life?
You must read Mrs. Dalloway, of course. I wished I’d read it first. I read The Hours and loved it and then read Dalloway and found Hours a bit dirivative.
Have you seen the movie? Which do you prefer?
I ask because I saw the movie first, and I liked it more than the book! Of course, I’d also read Mrs. Dalloway first, and I think it’s difficult to follow in Woolf’s footsteps.
My question is on the same line as some of the others. I’m trying to read all the Pulitzer Prize winning fiction and wondered if I should try to read Mrs. Dalloway first, before I read the PP winning The Hours. What do you think? Love the blog!
If you could only pick three words to describe this book, which words would you choose?
I haven’t read Mrs. Dalloway, but I’m starting to think I should before I keep reading. There might be a trip to the library tomorrow.
Good question!
Another good question, I’ll think about it while I’m reading.
Nice question.
Ooo, good question. I’ll be thinking about this when I finish.
That’s another awesome question. I’ve got some initial thoughts on this already, but I’ll reserve judgment until I finish the book.