The Hours

While The Hours is slightly more engaging than any others we have previously read, simply because of the very interesting characters and easy to read language, but I find myself lacking any real interest in the characters - simply because there is little to no action. Unfortunately, all "great" novels seem to be lacking of any clear action - oh my god throwing away a cake, drama!!!. Not to sound offensive, Mr. Lavender, but it has been very hard to stay engaged in the books we read, and this is probably likely for most of the guys in our class, just because they are mostly just about women and their lives. I understand that some of this is to be blamed upon me, because I do not annotate these books, considering it is impossible to underline anything when you can hardly concentrate on the text, due to sheer boredom.
I'm sure that some books, such as Moby Dick, Purple America, or Catch-22, would be equally respectable to read in our class - they were both on the Christmas list you gave us, and these books are a much better, and an easier read than anything we have read so far, because something HAPPENS in them. I don't give a crap about the struggles SPOILER Laura goes through in her hotel room, even though they are philosophical in their own nature, about understanding her own mortality and how easy it would be, and how many other people have probably, ended their life in that hotel room.
Not only will reading novels such as Catch-22 give us a better chance on the AP exam, because it is much easier to remember things from novels that one becomes actually enganged in. But since I do not make the class sylabus, and have no wish to, I will continue to persevere even through the most feministic of books. On that note, while this book still makes for very poor reading, I understand that this type of novel is an example of something, not sure quite what of yet, and will ultimately be to our benefit on the AP.

Three's a Company

From the beginning, I’ve really enjoyed reading The Hours. I’m not sure if it is the cadence of the writing or the three different narratives, but Michael Cunningham’s twist on Mrs. Dalloway and Virginia Woolf’s life has kept me captivated thus far. The most interesting part of The Hours is Cunningham’s attempt to get into the mind of Virginia Woolf. In the passages about “Mrs. Woolf”, Cunningham makes Woolf less of a literary icon and more of a person. Personally, I knew nothing about Virginia Woolf (aside from the drowning with rocks part) before this novel. The tidbits of information about her husband and servants, as well as her relation with her family, are all new to me. I already admired Virginia Woolf for her amazing writing abilities, but I find it easier to understand the complexity of her work through learning more about the author herself. Besides the “Mrs. Woolf” sections of Cunningham’s book, the “Mrs. Dalloway” sections are pretty interesting. I enjoy looking for the connections and little details Cunningham swiped from Mrs. Dalloway to add to his book. So far, I like Cunningham’s plot twist to Virginia Woolf’s original work, and the application of the same story to a different time and place. While “Mrs. Dalloway” lives in Virginia Woolf’s plot, the additional character of Laura Brown adds another aspect to the book. Laura Brown is the futuristic reader of Mrs. Dalloway that we as readers watch drink in Virginia Woolf’s writing. I like how Cunningham has the narration of Laura Brown, wondering how Woolf could write such pretty lines and then commit suicide, and Virginia Woolf’s narration providing the process of her writing and the constant present of headaches. And, since Cunningham’s first chapter is Woolf’s suicide, the structure of Cunningham’s chapters leaves me wondering what is going to happen to cause Woolf’s suicide and why she finally gives in. I’m enjoying The Hours so far, I’ll have to wait and see how it ends.

3 mini stories all intertwining

I enjoy The Hours so much more than Mrs. Dalloway. It's just so much easier to understand and with the stories of three characters being told things get switched up a bit.  So far I am impressed with how Cunningham has all three characters relate.  Although, he is somewhat doing a photocopy of Woolf's original work, it is still different in many ways.  All three characters each have a connection in each of their chapters, whether it be certain characters who represent each other in the different situations or if it is the way the three women perceive certain objects in their lives.  I believe that Kitty and Laura's "moment" is similar to Louis and Clarissa's moment, it feels forced but also wanted so much at the same time by one of the characters.  Laura's cake and the burial mound they made for the bird in Virginia's story both represent something significant. The cake maybe represents the way Laura feels about her life, it is there and looks "nice" but it could be so much more, she always talks about her missed opportunities.  The bird's position in the circle of roses and Virginia's comment about wanting to switch places suggests her thoughts about wanting to be dead and ending her life.  I like how Cunningham changed the names of the characters in Clarissa's story, it's the least he could do and it also makes the reading and presentation of new characters kind of like a puzzle you have to solve.  I am most intrigued by Laura's story.  At times she resembles Virginia with her depressing thoughts but then she proves to be more and more like Clarissa with her interactions and her always being watched by Richie, waiting to see what she will do next, as she does when she reads about Clarissa. I hope that Laura ends up being more like Clarissa, I would hate to see her die and leave behind poor little Richie and her husband.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see....

So far just odd

I would have to say that this book is confusing, especially if you didnt happen to read Mrs. Dalloway. But I am excited to see my reactions to this book as opposed to people who actually did read Woolf's novel. I enjoy Cunningham's writing style, because I am actually reading the novel. I seriously tried to read Mrs. Dalloway but I found it to be too dry and dull. I find it a little controversial that Cunningham first recreates Woolf's novel, but in the process he also writes about the Mental illness coming upon Woolf. I wonder if Woolf's illness is common, or at least was back then. Its cool how all the stories intertwine even though they are in separate areas of the world and different years. Somewhat reminds me of the movie Babel. I have to be honest that I am tired of reading about women and their borring struggles. And if possible for the next novel read about something exciting. Over Christmas break I read Slaugher-house Five and it went by much faster than these first 100 pages. But hopefully this novel gets some action or some liveliness to it.

The Hours

This book is much like Mrs. Dalloway, in the way that it follows a few people in the span of just one day. Which leads to my next point, this is like making a sequel to a movie where everyone dies in the end, it just doesnt work as well as one may think. Michael Cunningham's decision to take another authors style and technique and use to his own advantage is selfish, novels such as Ms. Dalloway should be left alone and not tampered with. Although i have bashed the authors decision to imitate, the technique of using just one day to show a character and their life allows for much more detail. The decision to place each character in a different time period is not seen in Virginia Woolf's so that is one hint of uniqueness going for Cunningham. All in all, i look forward to reading the rest of this novel.

Odd turn of events...

Louis visiting Clarissa? What?...This is an odd turn of events indeed! I would have felt rather awkward around my husband's past lover... (not to mention a gay past lover)! Then, later Clarissa finds herself having thoughts of Louis and her taking off their clothes together? I am once agian confused by these characters and where their exact feelings towards one another are. Perhaps, more than confusion...I am a little disgusted to who they are as people. As well, I still see or feel no connection towards these present characters and the original ones. Where is the connection? Where is the deeper meaning? Or is this truly just the writings of a confused individual? I hope to be enlightend towards the end of the book.

Cunningham's Creative Character Connection

Cunningham has created a literary puzzle. Though he begins his novel almost the exact same way as Woolf, one begins to see his real literary techniques as we read on. I really do enjoy this book. It’s an easy, creative read. I’ve found I must slow myself down when reading it in order to pick up on all of the minute repetitions that Cunningham throws in. Every part of this novel is interconnected to another part, as are the characters. I’m still trying to understand what kind of statement Cunningham is trying to convey, and how he really feels about the real Mrs. Dalloway. I feel as if he is trying to prove that it isn’t virtually impossible to fully understand a different person, as Woolf conveyed. He has created several “moments” where characters feel completely connected, where Woolf, in her novel, shows that this connection can only occur when two people are interacting on another level. I like Cunnigham’s take on Mrs. Dalloway, as well as the way that he mirrors characters, while emphasizing different characteristics of each person. Each character in his novel stands for something, and I am still in the process of deciphering it all. I have not finished this book yet, for the reason that I’m trying to take my time and catch every connection that Cunningham has created.