To avoid procrastination and probable confusion on my part, I’m just going to come out and say that I am not impressed by this novel. Don’t get me wrong, it is “pretty”, as Lavender would say, but it seems to pale in comparison to not only Woolf’s writing, but practically every book we’ve read in English class since Freshman year. I have yet to finish the book, however, so I’m hoping that my opinion will change as the characters are brought together more and more, but at the moment, I’m slightly bored with this story. Cunningham’s Mrs. Dalloway section feels almost forced (her appreciation of the world around her does not sound nearly as sincere as the true Mrs. Dalloway, rather, it sounds like she’s high or simply has a puerile state of mind), the Mrs. Woolf section feels almost too personal for a reality-based-fictional character, and the Mrs. Brown section is depressing (not to mention the son is incredibly creepy).
Yet, I do have hope for this book; it did, after all, win the Pulitzer Prize so there must be something I’m missing.
2 comments:
Alexis,
I'm not sure you're "mising" anything (stick to your guns, girl! It's fine to disagree with the Pulitzer Prize committee). And while I'm sorry that you're finding it "pale" in comparison to the source novel (like a 'pale moon' that can only reflect the brilliance of the sun), at least you'll have fun ripping on Cunningham in your next essay (a stance I know you always enjoy).
That said, I do think you'll like the second half of the novel more, as it begins to depart a bit from the original and strike out in directions of its own (and here, the Mrs. Brown narrative strand is key).
Anyway, thanks for your thoughts. Keep them coming!
I would have to agree lex...
im hoping that something will happen making it all make sense and having that moment of AH HA! thats why this won a prize....
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