2015: The Year of Reading Women discussion

For all things Woolfish.

Love her. I am definitely reading The Waves next year, and possibly The Years. I'm expecting great things.

I've yet to read A Room of One's Own, which seems absurd. Might have to fix that.

"A room of ones own" definitely my favorite but still have much to discover of her work. Hope to re-read "To the lighthouse" next year and get a better perspective. Orlando on top of my TBR list...excited about it! Any thoughts on what to pay close attention during my Orlando experience?

I just read Orlando and can say that you should first and foremost totally enjoy it. It's lots of fun. In terms of things to pay attention to, I'd say check out the fun she has with certain historical figures and times (I love the Ice Fair scene), as well as Woolf's humor.

@Eric, good to see you in the group. My next Woolf selections will probably be To The Lighthouse and also A Room of One's Own as well as The Waves. (Which will come first is hard to say, entirely based on when I procure one or the other).

I read Orlando two years ago (so it's probably time to revisit it), Jacob's Room (a favorite) last year, and Mrs Dalloway, Mrs Dalloway's Party, The Voyage Out, and Jacob's Room (again) earlier this year. Might sneak in To the Lighthouse before December ends, or start it in January, and I hope to get to her other work as well. So, count me in on any group reads of anything Woolfish, please.

Matthew wrote: "I just read Orlando and can say that you should first and foremost totally enjoy it. It's lots of fun. In terms of things to pay attention to, I'd say check out the fun she has with certain histori..."

Thank you Matthew, I would look for that I'm sure I'll enjoy it as an admirer of her work and anything people share with me to appreciate it better is wonderful.

I will be re-reading all of her fiction this year as part of my Modernism read, as have loved every single one in the past and am curious to see how time has changed my view of her work. Looking forward to hearing others' thoughts

I plan to read The Waves (my friend's favourite Woolf) and To the Lighthouse this year.

That one's an absolute favorite of mine, Susan. It's too soon for me to reread it, but it's one all Woolfians must partake in.

I've only read a few Woolf, but The Waves has to be my favorite as well. May have to jump on that Orlando train.

I'll jump onto any train here. :)

Another area of personal weakness. I have to promise myself to read with others or myself and simply get going with Woolf!

I've read To the Lighthouse and The Voyage out. I recently acquired Jacob's Room and The Waves so am planning to read those two.

The Waves is brilliant and always worth discussing but so dense. (Actually all of VW is dense) ...which means that whatever you guys discuss, I am bound to fall off the wagon due to lack of time, so I'll be your happy VW lurker. :P

The Years is the one Woolf I haven't re-read fairly recently, so I plan to re-read it in 2015... not sure when yet.

Anyone up for a team-read of this Woolf?

I have The Years so I'd be up for a reading of that. I haven't read that yet either.

Great - any preference on a starting date for a Years read?

I'm participating in a Jan and Feb read, so for me any time after February is fine.

March 1?

Sounds Great.

I would be game to read The Years as well. It's been awhile since I've read Woolf so I hope I'm not in over my head!

I'll be joining the TY read as well.

Adding The Years to group bookshelf now; have created a discussion thread for our group read starting March 1 here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Someone else can come up with the schedule! I'm horrible with that...

A discussion is starting January 5, 2015, on the Brain Pain board of Orlando.

That group probably has archived discussions of The Waves and Mrs. Dalloway.

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

Orlando : https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Mrs. Dalloway : https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

To the Lighthouse : https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

The Waves : https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Go back further than I remembered.

A friend and mentor of mine swears by Woolf and I've been suitably impressed by everything I've read of hers so far. My girlfriend loves Orlando so that'll be my first dip into the waters in 2015; happy to arrange a group-read as it suits others.

‘Vanessa and Her Sister,’ by Priya Parmar (the sister being VW)

Rarely do you encounter a woman who commands as much admiration as does the painter Vanessa Bell in Priya Parmar’s multilayered, subtly shaded novel, “Vanessa and Her Sister.” The sister of the title is, of course, Virginia Woolf, who understood how hard it is for a novelist to capture a character. “Few catch the phantom,” Woolf said in a lecture at Cambridge in 1924, the year before the publication of “Mrs. Dalloway.” “Most have to be content with a scrap of her dress or a wisp of her hair.” Parmar’s portrait brings Vanessa out of the shadows, into fully realized, shining visibility. The world remembers Virginia better than her enigmatic older sister: Parmar restores the symmetry of their relationship in the familial landscape, showing how essential Vanessa’s steadying force was to Virginia’s precarious balance.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/boo...

ReemK10 (Paper Pills) wrote: "‘Vanessa and Her Sister,’ by Priya Parmar (the sister being VW)

Rarely do you encounter a woman who commands as much admiration as does the painter Vanessa Bell in Priya Parmar’s multilayered, sub..."

This looks very interesting, once I've begun reading Woolf.

I'd love to do a group read of anything by Woolf. I absolutely loved Orlando when I read it two years back.

Katie wrote: "I'd love to do a group read of anything by Woolf. I absolutely loved Orlando when I read it two years back."

we'll be doing The Years starting March 1. you're very welcome to join us!

Wonderful, thank you!

Proustitute wrote: "we'll be doing The Years starting March 1. you're very welcome to join us!"

I'm pretty sure I shouldn't because of so many books already planned for this first trimester... but I can't pass on The Years... already bought my copy to join you guys.

Also, I'm very much interested in reading The Waves in the second semester... if anyone is interested we can try and find a date.

Renato, I'm very interested in reading The Waves. I'll join your group if you start one.

Thanks, Erik. I'll let you know when I can start - probably second semester, is that ok? - and hopefully more people will join us too!

Just finished Vanessa and Her Sister, loved this novel and the way it was written.

Proustitute wrote:"we'll be doing The Years starting March 1. you're very welcome to join us!"

I’ll be joining in.
I also hope for a group read of Mrs. Dalloway and A Room of One's Own later in the year.

The Joyful, Gossipy and Absurd Private Life of Virginia Woolf
BY EMMA WOOLF

http://www.newsweek.com/2015/02/20/jo...

Thanks, Reem. That is interesting.

Has everyone decided not to join in on The Years? I had asked Renato to post here so more people would see and be reminded, but I guess he forgot -- this is my first time able to post here since then myself.

I'm still planning to re-read The Years this month, but am trying to work through some deadlines on reviews first before I begin it. If others are still interested, the thread is and has been there. I do hope people will read this!

I'm still planning to read it, I just haven't made it to the library to pick up my copy yet. I moved this week so it's been a little hectic but Woolf is on my mind!

I have so much on my plate right now that I've decided to wait. Also, after considering a bit, I think I'd rather begin Woolf with Mrs Dalloway or To The Lighthouse. Sorry.

Good call, Sue. One shouldn't begin Woolf here!

After reconsideration, I think I’ll delay starting “The Years.” I’d rather read “Mrs Dalloway” first, but I don’t see it as a group read yet.

Proustitute wrote: "Good call, Sue. One shouldn't begin Woolf here!"

Thanks Proustitute for that confirmation.

I'd be interested in joining a read along of Mrs Dalloway or maybe The Waves or To the Lighthouse. Spring makes me think of Wooff.

I'd be interested in joining a read along of Mrs Dalloway or maybe The Waves or To the Lighthouse. Spring makes me think of Wooff.

I'm in for Mrs. Dalloway, Sue and Whitelilacs, our scheduled permitting. David - I understand you want a solo read of Mrs. Dalloway?

I'm rereading To the Lighthouse late this month for a face-to-face group and would be happy to participate in an online discussion as well, if one happens.

Bloodorange, I prefer a group read of Mrs. Dalloway.