Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf is part of the ongoing Woolf Buddy Reads.

im so glad you guys are reading this. I read it a few years ago and loved it. I hope you all do too.

I was meaning to read it for a long time. Very happy to hear you've loved it, Sue. I'm hoping to begin in a few days time.

I may begin early because I can never keep up with group reads or buddy reads. In the meanwhile I will do some background research.

I want a suggestion from you all , if you have any... which biography should I read for Virginia Woolf? I wanted to read one but there are so many that I get confused and I suppose this is the best place to discuss this question.

Nidhi,, I would also ask that question in some or various Chit Chat & All That threads. That way you might get more answers and more likelihood of finding a biography at your book resource spots and sites. (I do not have answer for your question.)

If I could I would join you all to read again - enjoy!!!

Have a good read, all of you! : )
I'm aiming to join you at the end of the month.

I still couldn't start. But in a day or two, I certainly will. It's been too long in my TBR. :)

Me too in a day or two
See you soon Piyangie.

I started and read upto chapter 10. I have to get my thoughts organised. I'm enjoying her writing at present, but I got to think through the charcters, especially of Rachel and Helen. (view spoiler)[ I was surprised to meet Clarissa and Richard Dalloway. Although their appearance is short, I got a better understanding of them than in Mrs. Dalloway (hide spoiler)]

Thanks to whoever suggested this book. I am looking forward to knowing better Clarissa and Richard Dalloway.

I read Mrs. Dalloway late last year. And want to read as part of a personal study also
The London Scene: Six Essays on London Life also by Virginia Woolf
Flâneuse: Women Walk the City in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Venice and London by Lauren Elkin who writes about walking around cities like both Virginia Woolf did in real life and Mrs Dalloway does in the novella.

I am reading a book The Victorian City in the times of Charles Dickens by Judith Flanders with a group, I suppose these books will make a good comparative study for growth of city as well as growth of intellectuals. Thanks for the links Cynda.

Nidhi that book The Victorian City looks interesting. I was hoping tk read that book this year, but things change. I look forward to your review.

Is anyone else still reading. I am using this book for relaxation. It is an unusual coming-of-age. At least it seems to be a coming-of-age story.

I am still reading, actually I am suddenly surrounded by Woolf ‘s books. I found London Scenes quiet interesting, also we are reading The Hours by Michael Cunningham in May with another group.

Yes, you are right about the relaxation part, I too feel that her prose is soft, free flow almost event less.

I'm hoping to start soon. Things will be less stressful come next week - so I'm hoping to finally finish The Waves then.
I'll probably start Voyage Out in a week or so ...

Please join in as you can. Thethread willstay up for the rest of the year, I believe. Others may a,so stop by for later reads. As for me, I am still slowly reading.

While to our sensiblities the topics being doscussed seem tired or boring or easy. But the topics discussed--including sexuality, education, economic development of South America--were edgy topics. Perhaps others here will also remember when wkmen's education was often something less serious or taken less seriously than men's. Often women
*attended women's colleges or women's coordinate institutions (like Radcliffe at Harvard)
*studied more feminine topics like teaching or home economics
Often these were the well-heeled and well-educated women.

Rachel was slap-dash educated at home, not formally, not systematically. And she has no sexual experience even of the kissing and rough-embraces sort. Mrs Ambrose determines to give Rachel opportunity to become educated in the ways of men and women. Mrs Ambrose provides little direction, just exerience--at least so far. Really she should have explained a few things.

Well, I must - sadly - say that we have not come that very far since then. Of course, we have gained rights and access to educational instututions and "men's jobs", etc. But in reality women still have lower salaries and are pushed more towards the typical "female employment". Not even talking about all the disrespect from men ... I have met so many men in their 20s or 30s that are far less educated than I am, but treat me like I'm stupid just because I'm a woman. And btw. even though I've noticed an increase of female professors, the current percentage in Bavaria is still only at 25% (Bavaria is also one of the most conservative regions in Germany). Just a few scrapes from the tip of the iceberg ...

Looking forward to reading Voyage Out soon ...

Looking forward to your comments Lilly. What you say of women's experience in Bavaria is largely true of US experience as well.

Cynda wrote: "Looking forward to your comments Lilly. What you say of women's experience in Bavaria is largely true of US experience as well."

Yes, I would guess that this in kind applies to all conservative regions in the western world, and just a little less to the more progressive ...
Reading female literature from past centuries or viewing film documentation from the 50s, I always feel thankful of how much we have achieved so far - yet at the same time sad at how little we have achieved in such a long time ...

This article explains how music informed the writing style of Virginia Woolf: https://theconversation.com/how-virgi...

Cynda wrote: "Is anyone else still reading. I am using this book for relaxation. It is an unusual coming-of-age. At least it seems to be a coming-of-age story."

I too thought this was a coming of age story. And I agree with you on the relaxation part, Cynda. I found her writing here so soothing. I read somewhere that the relationship between Helen and Rachel was somewhat modeled on Virginia and her sister Vanessa. I couldn't find any verification on the point, so not sure of its truth.

Cynda wrote: "This article explains how music informed the writing style of Virginia Woolf: https://theconversation.com/how-virgi..."

Thanks for sharing this article, Cynda. I always thought Virginia's writing has rhythm. Now I see I haven't been imagining. :)

Piyangie, you perceived rhythm while I perceived poetical flow (sometimes ebb and flow). A great literary artist's work allows for different understandings.

I have just finished Chapter 21.
In a recent chapter, a preacher exhorts his congregation in a way that reminds me of White Man's Burden--to tend to those who serve us.

In Chapter 21, the similarities between groups is shown. When Rachel finds herself in the camp or settlement of riverside SouthAmericans (maybe Amazonians), she sits among the community in a triangular-shaped grouping. When Rachel returns to the English community, the group sits in a triangular-shape grouping. Woolf seems to be indicating that their may be some unnoticed similarities between social groups, that those who live in riverside camps may not be as different as originally imaged?