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To the Lighthouse

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To the Lighthouse

By: Virginia Woolf
Narrated by: Nicole Kidman
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Summary

To the Lighthouse is Virginia Woolf’s arresting analysis of domestic family life, centering on the Ramseys and their visits to the Isle of Skye in Scotland in the early 1900s. Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge, Eyes Wide Shut), who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Woolf in the film adaptation of Michael Cunningham’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Hours, brings the impressionistic prose of this classic to vibrant life.

Split into three parts, the story observes Mrs. Ramsay, Mr. Ramsey, and their children at their vacation house on the Isle of Skye. While the novel follows seemingly trivial events between the family members, the plot takes a backseat to philosophical introspection, which gave the novel its fame as an icon of modernist literature. The Ramseys’ quest to recapture meaning creates a powerful allegory of man’s impermanent battle with the tangible world.

©1927 Virginia Woolf (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
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A beautifully written book with such vivid descriptions of surroundings and characters brought to life through the superb reading using the words the author so carefully wove onto the pages.

Beautiful writing read seamlessly

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Kidman's reading is a joy, her performance commendable. Of course Woolf's prose is a delight. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Superb performance

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Would you listen to To the Lighthouse again? Why?

Definitely not as although it was an ultimately fulfilling listen it was hard work and demanded a lot of concentration and perseverance.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Loved the quality of the writing.

Have you listened to any of Nicole Kidman’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to Nicole Kidman narrate an audiobook before but think she is an amazing actor. She narrates this book perfectly and evokes the perfect, mesmerising atmosphere.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definitely not! Could only listen in half an hour sittings.

Any additional comments?

I really think this would be an easier read than a listen. I first read this almost 30 years ago and felt it was time to revisit it. The writing is beautiful and I could listen to Nicole Kidman read the beautiful prose for hours. However in order to keep focused and keep up with who was who I had to listen in short bursts.

Worth persevering!

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Nicole Kidman reading Virginia Woolf is nothing shy of perfection. Possibly the best audible I've done yet.

I mean, it doesn't get better than this!

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The overall synopsis of the story is very simple and about a family, their holiday within Skye and whether they will go to see a lighthouse which is situated on a rock just out to sea. What on paper appears to be a very boring and strange story when it is actually read suddenly becomes more alive.

What the story is actually about is the individual thoughts and their thought process. It is a book which is entirely in the moment and with the strange random thoughts that often ping into people’s minds.

For me what brought the book alive was Woolf’s masterful use of language; the beauty and weird nature of words which can evoke so much. I loved the sometimes rhythmic words, the use of poems and reiteration of the same word. The impact of these was lovely and I found at times that I just wanted all these words to wash over me. The impact of this was that I found that I sometimes did not pay enough attention to listening to the story and found that I was a bit lost as to what was happening.

I think this is a book which requires repeat listening to both fully understand the linear story and also to begin to get to grips with each characters individual consciousness.

A tough book but one which is worthwhile!

Masterful use of language

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