BOOK REVIEW:- TO THE LIGHT HOUSE

By: Mehrunisa


Virginia Woolf's To The Light House is a mind-blowing and world-famous modernist novel. Virginia's novel is based on stream of consciousness technique and many modernist literary techniques are also included in this novel.

Before l started reading this novel, one of my friends said that she stopped reading this novel in half as she found it so much difficult to understand. Some other people's views about novel were so upsetting. But one thing that my keen excitement about novel, were pushing me further to read it as soon as possible. I was determined to read this novel and wanted to know what is difficult there in novel.

As l started reading it, l came to know that it's a psychological novel. I  crave for reading psychological books but this novel, really it's amazing.
At first, l find it challenging to grip on characters' thinking and thrilling story. I was confused a lot to read that there are fewer dialogues but much descriptive writing, where characters are not speaking more as much they are thinking and imagining a lot. Especially Mrs. Ramsay, who later become my favorite, thinking so much about herself and about her son James and her husband and for all other members.

Novel's plot is simple. Actually plot is divided in three parts and each part is more deep and touching. What I did, was I never give up. I read and read, finally as during first part, I came to understand the actual story and much about characters inner feelings. Virginia Woolf's best quality in this book is that she present her characters more clearly through their thoughts, feelings, emotions and reactions. Woolf's another quality, I like in this novel is descriptive writing. When she portrays the setting and image of scene in reader's mind. I was feeling, like while reading, I can imagine the scene in front of my eyes as well.

 First part name as WINDOW, was about Ramsay's Family members and other guests who came to Home of Ramsay near Scotland for summer vacations.

 Mr. Ramsay and Mrs. Ramsay were beautiful couple, but they were not much sharing their feelings to each other as much they thought and felt inside. Mrs. Ramsay was attached more with their youngest child James, from all eight children. James asked to visit for Light house but Mr. Ramsay denied it. He said weather wasn't good to go there. Mrs. Ramsay became much upset for her son's wish.
One another character Carmichael said to lily as she most of time paint and loves painting, that Women can't write and women can't paint.
He was trying to tease Lily and discourage her as he is a self-centered man. They both are guests and some others like Minta, Paul, Mr. Blanks, with all we will be familiar till the end of the first part.

*Second part Time Passes,  more emotional according to me. It touches my heart deeper than before whatever l read.
In this part, as its name time passes so quickly like ten years passed. In those years, Mrs. Ramsay died in her early fifties and so instantly that it felt a shock for me (reader).  Paul died during her first delivery of baby and Andrew's family's oldest son died during World War 1. That time Lily emotionally missed so much Mrs. Ramsay as she before spend more time with painting and with Mrs. Ramsay, who was no more there between them.
After ten years, when Ramsay's family other members came there. And some guests to come there. Here is line from Novel;
"Friendship, even the best of them, are frail things. One drifts apart."
We lost so close ones in life, and we missed them a lot. Mrs. Ramsay was that for Lily and for every reader, who loves her character. Lily's thoughts and emotions make me sad too for her. I myself missed a lot of Mrs. Ramsay like an elder family member who guides everyone.

 *Third part To the lighthouse, is all sum up of novel. Mr Ramsay feeling alone to himself. Many years passed after losing Mrs. Ramsay, he knew that how much she loved him but didn't tell him directly. She expressed it but in hidden way. Which l like the most. Mr Ramsay decided to go to the lighthouse, which is so near to their summer house, where they were living.
James at first hate his father but as they reached, (Mr Ramsay, Cam and James) to the light house, his anger changed into the soft feelings for his father but still he didn't show off them. On where another side Lily completed her painting, A portrait of Mrs Ramsay and her son James beside her on Window of the house.
Last line from Novel;
Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigues, l have had my vision.

*Conclusion:-
             Virginia Wolf's psychological and the stream of consciousness novel is so mesmerizing experience. I now can read any other book, if l read it so. This is a new experience of reading for me. l will suggest this to all, but say one thing that read it till end never give up in half of reading. You will really love this book in the end as l do now. This novel also give us some kind of background information of the situation after WW1. How bad and sad the situation was there and how people faced it and were losing their loved ones. It's best novel l read in my life.

*Quote I want share after finishing this novel is;
 "The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."
By: Walter Bagehot