The Waves by Virginia Woolf | Book Review

Books mentioned:

- The Waves by Virginia Woolf

My third Woolf, but second for her fiction. I've been given strong recommendations toward this book and I really enjoyed it. If you've read it, what do you think?

Thanks for watching!

[yujia]

The waves is insanely poetic and just a masterpiece. I've read Jacob's Room, Mrs.Dalloway before and the Waves is hands down my favorite so far. The flow, the consciousness, the soul, it's all meshed in the book and language can't encapsulate how beautiful this work is.

[alexandra.v]

I needed to read it for an exam (failed it) and for me it was a nightmare. I understood nothing. I'm afraid to pick up any books by her now. Your explanations clarify things about it. Thank you.

[OlyBliss]

Hi Alex I just finished reading the Waves and Absolutely loved it. I have also read Mrs Dalloway and did prefer reading the Waves more as well. I felt like the Waves was such a rush of emotion! It packed so much into the passages that at times it was overwhelming to read. I totally agree with you, it did feel like her writing style is really trying to understand the world and make sense of it all. I felt like the characters were different elements of her personality in conflict with with herself too. At times I felt I really lost whose perspective I was reading from but it didn't necessarily matter because the whole novel appeared to be about the human experience. That quote you read out is the exact bit that sums up the experience of the read. The element which highlights stuff I am questioning in myself at the moment is the sense of value and meaning. What makes some activity more valuable than another and putting time and energy into 'this or that'. This is the type of book that could bring out an existential crisis but that is also why I felt an affinity to the writing. Great review though :)

[sallyseton]

Hi!! I'm reading The Waves at the moment and I loved your video! It's always great to find other woolfians out there! 💛

[andrew_ceco]

Okay, first of all: Thank you. I was reading this book, and probably got about a quarter of the way through when I decided to listen to your review. I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue reading it because I wasn't initially charmed by bouncing around in different heads, but your specific exploration of it really convinced me to stick with it, and it was 1000% worth it. It actually IS my first Virginia Woolf, though it certainly won't be my last

Second of all: I make monthly games. I was working on a game already when I started this book, and I realized that I was inadvertently working on a game adaptation of The Waves. It ended up REALLY influencing the whole thing and it essentially became a game of Bernard's phrases and a search for the ideal that is (was) Percy.

I don't know if you like computer games, but I'd love to share it with you since you inspired me so much with your video :) Thank you SO much, this book really changed my life, and I wouldn't have finished without you.

[sansyy]

Hey, dude! Somebody recommended this book to me and I wanted to watch a review beforehand. I have to acknowledge that this review is fantastic, it got me really intrigued. Thank you :)

[acruelreadersthesis]

This video was full of insights, and it made me want to reread this! The Waves is a beautiful novel. It and Orlando make me think that Woolf could have easily been a poet if she’d wanted to, because they’re so lyrical.

[esc]

enjoyed the way you explain your pov on this novel which was a slow read for me....

[danecobain]

I've only read Mrs Dalloway. It used to be my most-hated book and then I re-read it and enjoyed it so I think I need to read some more Woolf!

[hannahcanreadsometimes]

AWWWW your an honorary bridesmaid?! I absolutely love that!! 💜💜 I completely agree I enjoyed The Waves much more then mrs. Dalloway! The way you described Wolfs writing was beautiful! I think weakness and also desperation we can see the core of a human. And if an author can execute that well, I think I will believe the development of any character!

[mcs-books]

Staycatttiiooonnnn, sounds like you're gonna have a great weekend.
Also, GUESS WHAT! I'm gonna read my first Woolf, at last, in October. I think I'm starting with one that I've never really heard people talking about - Between the Acts - super excited to start it thought and finally begin my Virginia Woolf journey...
Hearing you talk about this one definitely intrigues, especially the way the perspectives change, and the lack of the plot which actually sounds really perfect for your take on her books as a way of trying to understand the world.
I cannot wait to read more of her books and to be able to actually PROPERLY talking about them with you rather than my just saying how excited I am to read them... haha apologies if that just gets boring for you, but we'll get there soon.
(ALSO: I'm actually reading Between the Acts as part of a group read through Devon Book Club on Goodreads, if you're interested in joining us, I can invite you to the GR event?)

[aaryarya]

It's 5 am in the morning and I'm reading the waves at the moment and as a beginner it's hard for me to understand but I'm liking it alot

[josmith]

I had to read this for college which, as we all know, ruins half the enjoyment 😞and so it’s on my reread list. I remember they warned us before reading it that it was her most inaccessible novel but you don’t make it sound like that. I loved the idea in the quote towards the end you read about the idea of one character melding into the others, as in some strong friendships and families where it’s hard to tell where you end and they begin, kind of like waves in the ocean I suppose. I see you’re doing Victober, what are your plans or are you going to do a separate video?

[nikos]

I had to watch this for a second time. Because you are extremely cute that I couldn't focus on😂

[JasmineReads]

This is top of my Virginia Wolf TBR (I’ve only read Mrs Dalloway so far). I never actually knew what it was about until now - and the premise has made me want to get to it even more! It sounds great. Loved this review, Alex😊

[sotepniques]

Wanted a new book to take traveling so heard of this book so I got it. I just finishes the fountain head and atlas shrugged by Ayn Rand and was excited knowing the two books where published at the same time thinking they would be as good as each other, boy was I wrong. This book was boring and dry words cant even explain, it Reminds me of the art kids that would never create art but speak about the passion and struggles to be a artists enjoying the image it gives them without fully embracing the path less traveled. She literally lines up buzz words trying to provoke a air of uniqueness, just feels so try hard. Its a shame and think i will give another book of hers a try but this was a dud

[nanwuamitofo]

The UPTALK (Gen Z's upward lilt to the end of almost every sentence and sometimes even clause) is a bit annoying and distracts from the otherwise interesting content.