Finished 'Orlando'
So I finished Virginia Woolf's 'Orlando' today, gotten from the Sorbonne Nouvelle library. The book itself was very good, although far too much to-do is made, both in descriptions of the book and on the cover itself (which has a naked female torso shown from the side, great Metro reading material), over the fact that Orlando switches genders. Odd.
Anyway, really fun read, with marvelous prose... I especially love the passage about the nineteenth century being the century of "Damp," describing these transformative changes taking place across England. Freaking amazing. Though the ending...
I think that the main character was starting to lose her mind by the end. Or the author was starting to lose her mind (very likely.) Or the writing style throughout the book is meant to at least partially reflect the literary style and conventions of each respective time period, hence why when we skate into the 20th century Virginia Woolf lets loose with the stream of consciousness like woah.
But then some is a bit too much -- I was really, really curious about the relationship between Orlando and Marmaduke Shelmardine Bonthrop. I would guess that Bonthrop is another immortal who has also changed genders. He appears to be a kindred spirit to Orlando, and that's great, but can we get some more information? And what the heck was with that one paragraph she has a baby boy that is never ever mentioned again? I was really actually pretty sure at the end that Orlando was experiencing a manic-depressive swing, or a breakdown, or something.
Plus there was little voice inside me going "Oh my god, who touched Sasha? (deepbreath) WHO TOUCHED MY GUN?"
Glad I've read it, though.
Also, next week there will be a reading and book signing done by Maxine Hong Kingston of her book 'I Love A Wide Margin to my Life,' at St. Germain Des Pres, in Paris. I will be there with bells on, I am ridiculously excited.
Read all of Chopin's short stories in that one book, but decided to pass on 'The Awakening' because I didn't feel I had the energy or inclination to finish it. I'm still trying to figure out what was the point of "Athenaise."
Anyway, really fun read, with marvelous prose... I especially love the passage about the nineteenth century being the century of "Damp," describing these transformative changes taking place across England. Freaking amazing. Though the ending...
I think that the main character was starting to lose her mind by the end. Or the author was starting to lose her mind (very likely.) Or the writing style throughout the book is meant to at least partially reflect the literary style and conventions of each respective time period, hence why when we skate into the 20th century Virginia Woolf lets loose with the stream of consciousness like woah.
But then some is a bit too much -- I was really, really curious about the relationship between Orlando and Marmaduke Shelmardine Bonthrop. I would guess that Bonthrop is another immortal who has also changed genders. He appears to be a kindred spirit to Orlando, and that's great, but can we get some more information? And what the heck was with that one paragraph she has a baby boy that is never ever mentioned again? I was really actually pretty sure at the end that Orlando was experiencing a manic-depressive swing, or a breakdown, or something.
Plus there was little voice inside me going "Oh my god, who touched Sasha? (deepbreath) WHO TOUCHED MY GUN?"
Glad I've read it, though.
Also, next week there will be a reading and book signing done by Maxine Hong Kingston of her book 'I Love A Wide Margin to my Life,' at St. Germain Des Pres, in Paris. I will be there with bells on, I am ridiculously excited.
Read all of Chopin's short stories in that one book, but decided to pass on 'The Awakening' because I didn't feel I had the energy or inclination to finish it. I'm still trying to figure out what was the point of "Athenaise."