To the Lighthouse

Brilliantly read by Juliet Stevenson. She breathes vibrant life into every word she reads, giving boisterous expression to each of the various characters and catching every nuance with great sensitivity. Without this lively narration by Stevenson, I must admit I might almost rather read a law school textbook, such is the general sedative effect of Virginia Woolf on me. Having said that, I was able to appreciate Woolf's delicate and understated writing style, admiring her knack for finding the beauty in small things; in nature and in the fine details of human relationships. I credit Stevenson with her enthusiastic narration for helping me overcome the boredom of reading Virginia Woolf.

As always Juliet Stevensons reads wonderfully. The content is not for everyone but i found it very interesting. There is some tragedy within the book, but apparently it is more the reflection of it that interested Virginia Woolf. Wikipedia sums it up neatly: "Following and extending the tradition of modernist novelists like Marcel Proust and James Joyce, the plot of To the Lighthouse is secondary to its philosophical introspection. Cited as a key example of the literary technique of multiple focalization, the novel includes little dialogue and almost no direct action; most of it is written as thoughts and observations. The novel recalls childhood emotions and highlights adult relationships. Among the book's many tropes and themes are those of loss, subjectivity, the nature of art and the problem of perception."