Mrs. Dalloway

Mrs. Dalloway
By Virginia Woolf
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1925 (1990).212 pgs. Fiction

The thought of an entire book devoted to only one day in the life of middle aged, post World War I society driven, Mrs. Dalloway, might make one yawn with boredom. I was pleasantly surprised however in Virginia Woolf's ability to keep my interest.

Clarissa Dalloway is giving a party tonight and must get prepared. In the process you become acquainted with former friends, current acquaintances, family crisis, customs of the time, and the personal lives of total strangers she observes on the street.

While this may not sound captivating, Woolf's unique classical writing style and ability to portray her characters as extremely complex individuals capable of being quite wise to the "human condition", makes this book a good read for the literary connoisseur who can devote time to "take in" this novel.
I recommend you listen to the 7 disc Recorded Books version, narrated by the very capable narrator Virginia Leishman.
mpb