Brian's Reviews > The Hours
The Hours
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by
“We want so much, don’t we?”
“The Hours” is one of the best books I have read this year. It is astounding! I was drawn in from the first page; the writing is just beautiful prose.
The setup of the novel is that we drop into the lives of 3 woman: Virginia Woolf while she is beginning to write her novel “Mrs. Dalloway” in 1923, Laura Brown, a housewife reading “Mrs. Dalloway” in LA in 1949, and Clarissa a woman who seems to be a real life Mrs. Dalloway in current NYC. Although this premise is intriguing it pales in comparison to what the author, Michael Cunningham, does with it. Interesting side note, the ever-shifting point of view in this text is not limited to these three characters. We get into the heads of quite a few people in this book, and Cunningham does this at times when the novel needs that shift in perspective. It is a wonderful technical achievement.
In one early chapter, Cunningham writes about a mother’s resentment and uncontrollable love for her child, and it is insanely good. How does a writer capture that massive (and true) contradiction so well and in a manner that conveys to the reader the great human truth of that moment?
The closing pages of this novel are stellar writing (have I mentioned how well written this text is?). The writing in “The Hours” is the kind that makes you love the fact that you are a reader and get to experience it.
This quick read is worth your time. It is literary fiction of the highest order, but also a story with great depth and human beauty to it. Really, when it is all said and done this text is a celebration of life, the good and ill, which the final pages of the novel make abundantly clear.
“Heaven only knows why we love it so.”
“The Hours” is one of the best books I have read this year. It is astounding! I was drawn in from the first page; the writing is just beautiful prose.
The setup of the novel is that we drop into the lives of 3 woman: Virginia Woolf while she is beginning to write her novel “Mrs. Dalloway” in 1923, Laura Brown, a housewife reading “Mrs. Dalloway” in LA in 1949, and Clarissa a woman who seems to be a real life Mrs. Dalloway in current NYC. Although this premise is intriguing it pales in comparison to what the author, Michael Cunningham, does with it. Interesting side note, the ever-shifting point of view in this text is not limited to these three characters. We get into the heads of quite a few people in this book, and Cunningham does this at times when the novel needs that shift in perspective. It is a wonderful technical achievement.
In one early chapter, Cunningham writes about a mother’s resentment and uncontrollable love for her child, and it is insanely good. How does a writer capture that massive (and true) contradiction so well and in a manner that conveys to the reader the great human truth of that moment?
The closing pages of this novel are stellar writing (have I mentioned how well written this text is?). The writing in “The Hours” is the kind that makes you love the fact that you are a reader and get to experience it.
This quick read is worth your time. It is literary fiction of the highest order, but also a story with great depth and human beauty to it. Really, when it is all said and done this text is a celebration of life, the good and ill, which the final pages of the novel make abundantly clear.
“Heaven only knows why we love it so.”
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Reading Progress
December 17, 2017
–
Started Reading
December 17, 2017
– Shelved
December 24, 2017
–
Finished Reading
January 1, 2022
– Shelved as:
fiction
Comments Showing 1-22 of 22 (22 new)
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Olga
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Dec 22, 2017 08:25AM
I really love this one!
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I, too, loved this book and I also thought the movie was very good. This book made me an instant Michael Cunningham fan but none of his other books have lived up to this one IMO.
Can't say enough good about it.
Barbara wrote: "Brian, your enthusiasm for this book truly shines through! It sounds wonderful!"
Barbara wrote: "Brian, your enthusiasm for this book truly shines through! It sounds wonderful!"
I read "A Home at the End of the World" years ago and I can't remember a thing about it. I really enjoyed the film of it though, which is why I picked up that book to begin with.
Pearl wrote: "I, too, loved this book and I also thought the movie was very good. This book made me an instant Michael Cunningham fan but none of his other books have lived up to this one IMO."
Pearl wrote: "I, too, loved this book and I also thought the movie was very good. This book made me an instant Michael Cunningham fan but none of his other books have lived up to this one IMO."
Brian,
I love this book, and I just stumbled upon your review of it. I nodded my head over and over again while reading this. I can't believe that I still haven't read something else by the same author. He's fantastic. Yes, yes, and more yes to what you have written here!
I love this book, and I just stumbled upon your review of it. I nodded my head over and over again while reading this. I can't believe that I still haven't read something else by the same author. He's fantastic. Yes, yes, and more yes to what you have written here!
I read his "A Home at the End of the World" years ago. Probably time for me to revisit it.
Julie wrote: "Brian,
I love this book, and I just stumbled upon your review of it. I nodded my head over and over again while reading this. I can't believe that I still haven't read something else by the same au..."
Julie wrote: "Brian,
I love this book, and I just stumbled upon your review of it. I nodded my head over and over again while reading this. I can't believe that I still haven't read something else by the same au..."
Thanks.
I have not read "Mrs. Dalloway". How was it?
Antoinette wrote: "I loved this book as well. It did inspire me to read Mrs, Dalloway. Great review!"
I have not read "Mrs. Dalloway". How was it?
Antoinette wrote: "I loved this book as well. It did inspire me to read Mrs, Dalloway. Great review!"
Your review has me adding to ever growing pile! I have not heard of the author, (that’s what GR’s is all about) wonder if I should read Mrs. Galloway first....any suggestions?
I have never read "Mrs. Dalloway", so I am not sure.
The only other book of Mr. Cunningham's I have read is "A Home at the End of the World", and that was years ago.
Linda wrote: "Your review has me adding to ever growing pile! I have not heard of the author, (that’s what GR’s is all about) wonder if I should read Mrs. Galloway first....any suggestions?"
The only other book of Mr. Cunningham's I have read is "A Home at the End of the World", and that was years ago.
Linda wrote: "Your review has me adding to ever growing pile! I have not heard of the author, (that’s what GR’s is all about) wonder if I should read Mrs. Galloway first....any suggestions?"
Brian wrote: "Thanks.
I have not read "Mrs. Dalloway". How was it?
Antoinette wrote: "I loved this book as well. It did inspire me to read Mrs, Dalloway. Great review!""
I meant this book inspired me to Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. It was a worthwhile book that was better understood if you read a guide along with it. Mrs. Woolf is to me anyways a complex writer.
I have not read "Mrs. Dalloway". How was it?
Antoinette wrote: "I loved this book as well. It did inspire me to read Mrs, Dalloway. Great review!""
I meant this book inspired me to Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. It was a worthwhile book that was better understood if you read a guide along with it. Mrs. Woolf is to me anyways a complex writer.
Complex she is. I confess to not reading much of her stuff.
Antoinette wrote: "Brian wrote: "Thanks.
I have not read "Mrs. Dalloway". How was it?
Antoinette wrote: "I loved this book as well. It did inspire me to read Mrs, Dalloway. Great review!""
I meant this book inspired..."
Antoinette wrote: "Brian wrote: "Thanks.
I have not read "Mrs. Dalloway". How was it?
Antoinette wrote: "I loved this book as well. It did inspire me to read Mrs, Dalloway. Great review!""
I meant this book inspired..."
now that's a review , the hours is one of my favorite movies and i have tremendous fascination with virginia woolf , i didn't know it was a book back then i was 12 and i stayed away when i knew it in fear it will not be as good as the film but reading your review made exremly excited and optimisted to read it and wow just wow
his writing is powerful especially with mrs brown i'm a young free man but i felt stuck , depressed and my life / joy is being sucked out of me
anyway thank you so much and keep reviewing please
his writing is powerful especially with mrs brown i'm a young free man but i felt stuck , depressed and my life / joy is being sucked out of me
anyway thank you so much and keep reviewing please
Thank you Jude. It is an amazing novel. And I will keep reviewing!
Jude wrote: "now that's a review , the hours is one of my favorite movies and i have tremendous fascination with virginia woolf , i didn't know it was a book back then i was 12 and i stayed away when i knew it ..."
Jude wrote: "now that's a review , the hours is one of my favorite movies and i have tremendous fascination with virginia woolf , i didn't know it was a book back then i was 12 and i stayed away when i knew it ..."