Plotless? Yes. Pointless? Less sure. Hard to follow? For me, absolutely. Virginia Wolfe knew the inner workings of people, but I’m not sure I’ll ever be a fan of the steam of consciousness school of writing. Not every thought that crosses the mind is worthy of being shared or even remembered. This book wasn't one of my favorites, but it did have its moments.
Septimus
The passage in the book that most resonated with me was the numbness he experienced as a young man, first with the death of his friend Evans, which he seemed at the time to take as a sign of maturity, then with his nonchalance as bombs fell all around him, and finally after war was over and the truce signed as he came to the fearful realization that he was unable to feel. Human beings can only take so many shocks to their systems before their emotions shut down in self-defense, as all too many veterans are well aware.
Sir William
Quote:
|
He swooped; he devoured. He shut people up. It was this combination of decision and humanity that endeared Sir William so greatly to the relations of his victims. (Page 93)
|
Sir William reminds me of Dr. Phil. I might have had to punch him had he talked to me as condescending as he did to his charges.
Holmes and Bradshaw
These two provided me with perhaps my favorite quote from the entire book, and let's face it, have we not all had that feeling from time to time about certain authority figures?
Quote:
|
Staggering he saw her mount the appalling staircase, laden with Holmes and Bradshaw, men who never weighed less than eleven stone six, who sent their wives to Court, men who made ten thousand a year and talked of proportion; who different in their verdicts (for Holmes said one thing, Bradshaw another), yet judges they were; who mixed the vision and the sideboard; saw nothing clear, yet ruled, yet inflicted. “Must” they said. (Page 135)
|