Why not do a ‘twin’ review since I read them relatively close together? I had seen both of these movies before I read the books, and I recently re-watched The Hours because it was available for online viewing through Netflix. I’d like to watch Mrs. Dalloway again as well. The movie of the The Hours follows the book very closely-there are a few minor changes. Nicole Kidman does an outstanding job in this film. I was most interested in the Virginia Woolf storyline, so I was happy she was so well portrayed. It’s funny that Meryl Streep ended up playing Clarissa when she (Meryl Streep) is actually talked about in The Hours (the book). I don’t remember the movie Mrs. Dalloway much at all, hence the reason I wish to re-view it.
Well, on to the books. The Hours won the Pulitzer in 1999. It’s a cleverly told story that intersects the 3 women’s lives very well. However, it does change the story of Mrs. Dalloway into homos*xual relationships. It was interesting to see the twist in the storyline, particularly if you know the real one, but I couldn’t help thinking, “Doesn’t Clarissa (in The Hours) know that her life is too coincidental with the characters’ names from Mrs. Dalloway?” To me, it would have been a better story if Cunningham had left out all the references to the actual book itself. The reader knows that’s what it’s about, so why keep referring to it? It makes The Hours too unbelievable. It’s an interesting book, and I’m glad I read it, but I can’t help having mixed feelings about it.
Mrs. Dalloway. I must be too dense in the literary sense, because I just don’t get this book at all. I had to stop reading it every half hour because it was just too much otherwise. I felt a similar way this year when I read Inheritance of Loss. I just don’t enjoy a book when I have to read it that way. I don’t get into planning parties or the minute details of such. In fact, I avoid that like the plague. I’m not into social scenes, either. In this book, everyone loves Clarissa, but isn’t she the most shallow character in it? I don’t get it. I would like to re-read it again in a few years to see if I feel any differently. At least I feel more enlightened that I have finally read Woolf. I’d actually like to read more about her than by her.
For The Hours:
1998, 226 pp.
Rating: 3.5
Pulitzer, 1999
For Mrs. Dalloway:
1925, 194 pp.
Rating: 3
I was left a bit cold by Mrs. Dalloway myself (and Inheritance of Loss, for that matter!)
Yikes, I barely liked The Hours, and I thought I might read Mrs Dalloway, but I think I’ll wait a while. A long while. I still want to watch The Hours though.
excellent review however; nice comparison and analysis.
I had mixed feelings about The Hours as well, but I seem to appreciate it more as time passes. When I read Mrs Dalloway, I actually stopped halfway through, and started all over again. The second time around I read at a much slower pace, and really enjoyed the novel! I really like how Woolf can take an every day event (planning a party), but do it in such a way that you really delve into the character’s thoughts and observations.
I struggled with Mrs. Dalloway. Stream-of-consciousness writing is very tedious and confusing. However, once I got into the rhythm of the writing, I began to enjoy it somewhat. I’m glad I read it before reading The Hours, as it helped to know what had happened in spite of Cunningham’s constant reminders. Overall, I enjoyed both books and movies.
Lovely review!
Great review but …..
Oh dear, I can see we agree quite a lot here Michelle. Although I really rated the Hours I really could not enjoy The Inheritance of Loss at all! A bit of a worry as I was planning on reading Mrs Dalloway this year!
After all your achievements this year Michelle, you should not be calling yourself dense! I really admire your recent postings and your statistics, not to mention your prize winning efforts over at novel challenge – I guess you are a number cruncher as well, a scientist maybe!!
Happy New Reading Year
Les, I definitely want to read it again at some point to see if my feelings change on it.
Julie, former engineer here!
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