-- Oxford World's Classics --

Synopsis (Credit: Back cover)

This novel is an extraordinarily poignant evocation of a lost happiness that lives on in the memory. For years now the Ramsays have spent every summer in their holiday home in Scotland, and they expect these summers will go on forever.

In this, her most autobiographical novel, Virginia Woolf captures the intensity of childhood longing and delight, and the shifting complexity of adult relationships. From an acute awareness of transcience, she creates an enduring work of art.

On the Combined 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die List.

(Bought second-hand at Book Wise Exchange, High Street, Bellville.)

Autobiographical in many respects, as is generally understood to be the case, this is a book I would have loved to appreciate more. Much of it appears to be remembered reality. There are some strong themes throughout:

• A sense of the passing of time; nothing lasts.
• Mood swings, or its starker relative: depression.
• Male/female tensions in a modernist milieu. Changing roles and expectations.
• The complexity of relationships and interdependancies.

Although I understand the importance of Virginia Woolf's work, especially in the context of the time it was written, I find it hard work to read her novels. This is only the second book of hers I've read (The Years being the other) but with both I've found her particular brand of stream-of-consciousness writing exhausting. Repetition to the point of self-indulgence, thought eddies that go nowhere in paragraphs exceeding a page in length ... it just didn't work for me.

An extract I did love:
They stood there, isolated from the rest of the world. His immense self-pity, his demand for sympathy poured and spread itself in pools at her feet, and all she did, miserable sinner that she was, was to draw her skirts a little closer round her ankles, lest she should get wet. Lovely!

Themed release

The original plan was to release the book at the Green Point Lighthouse last week, but it appears to be open for visitors only from 10:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. I therefore decided to drop in there earlier today during lunch break.

Like most of these old lighthouses, it is a beautiful building and well worth a visit. Built in 1824, it is the oldest lighthouse in South Africa. Apparently all 45 lighthouses in the country are still operational, though obviously in most cases automated and unmanned. That was great news to me, as I've often thought of these as
an endangered species in light of modern navigation technology.

I left the book on the steps of the final ladder leading
into the light enclosure.




If you are new to BookCrossing and found this book, welcome! Enjoy the site, the book, and the BookCrossing community.

BookCrossing has not taken off in a big way in South Africa yet, but there are a number of dedicated BookCrossers across the country who are actively involved to cultivate the concept. A discussion group for BookCrossers in the wider Cape Town area, BCct, was set up to make it easier to arrange meetups or to spread local news. If you are a BookCrosser from this part of the world or planning a visit, please feel free to join. Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcct for more information.

Whether you decide to join or not, please make a journal entry — now, and again when you decide to release the book to continue its journey.