Tuesday, November 15, 2005
booklist
I've been working my way through a mound of things that have been on my mind lately. The first stop was Virginia Woolf's novel 'Orlando'.
I first read this in high school and was astonished by it. It felt so fresh, it was magical realism before magical realism was anything, it was science fiction and feminism and history. I recently read 'Melymbrosia', an early version of Woolf's first novel 'The Voyage Out', and I wanted to make sure that 'Orlando' wasn't just a dream. There could not have been more difference in the two books. 'Melymbrosia' felt long. It took time to relax into it, it felt like it was so close to saying some things but it just couldn't manage it. 'Orlando' is more immediately engaging and, I think, says just about everything it needs to say with a carrying voice.
My boyfriend says he doesn't like Virginia Woolf's fiction. He says James Joyce used all of her techniques first and better. But he hasn't read 'Orlando', so there. Also in Woolf's defense, I have to add that she is actually readable, unlike Joyce, who seemed to take vicious pride in writing important books that are so annoying I have thrown them across the room many, many times and uttered curses upon them. 'Orlando' is awesome, and sadly ignored. (At least I think it is, but I have to admit that I'm a Virginia Woolf naif, and so can't tell you whether one or ten books has been written about it already. I would say probably yes.)
In conclusion, people should read 'Orlando', and know that my boyfriend is a fiction snob.
I first read this in high school and was astonished by it. It felt so fresh, it was magical realism before magical realism was anything, it was science fiction and feminism and history. I recently read 'Melymbrosia', an early version of Woolf's first novel 'The Voyage Out', and I wanted to make sure that 'Orlando' wasn't just a dream. There could not have been more difference in the two books. 'Melymbrosia' felt long. It took time to relax into it, it felt like it was so close to saying some things but it just couldn't manage it. 'Orlando' is more immediately engaging and, I think, says just about everything it needs to say with a carrying voice.
My boyfriend says he doesn't like Virginia Woolf's fiction. He says James Joyce used all of her techniques first and better. But he hasn't read 'Orlando', so there. Also in Woolf's defense, I have to add that she is actually readable, unlike Joyce, who seemed to take vicious pride in writing important books that are so annoying I have thrown them across the room many, many times and uttered curses upon them. 'Orlando' is awesome, and sadly ignored. (At least I think it is, but I have to admit that I'm a Virginia Woolf naif, and so can't tell you whether one or ten books has been written about it already. I would say probably yes.)
In conclusion, people should read 'Orlando', and know that my boyfriend is a fiction snob.
// posted by Amethyst Vineyard @ 8:18 PM 
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Turn on your word verification so that Mr. Power Chile will leave you alone.
Like I said, a snob when you're talking about Beckett and an idiot when you're talking about King.
No one says anything when I mention Aimee Bender because they don't know who she is.
Like I said, a snob when you're talking about Beckett and an idiot when you're talking about King.
No one says anything when I mention Aimee Bender because they don't know who she is.
Mr. McClurg, I say something when you talk about Aimee Bender. I say you're crazy, because you hate the stories I love and vice versa.
I like the Power Chile. When you look at the blog and see their comments it looks like someone likes me.
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I like the Power Chile. When you look at the blog and see their comments it looks like someone likes me.
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