Customer Reviews

Monday or Tuesday: Eight Stories (Dover Thrift Editions)

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This book of eight stories by Virginia Woolf shows Virginia's mind at work demonstrating her "stream of consciousness." Each story flows from one thought to another asking different questions about life. For example, "The Mark on the Wall" questions the meaning of life and existence. "An Unwritten Novel" is about what people hide and what you don't know about a person you seat next to on an "omnibus." All these stories will make you look at life in a slightly different way.

"Monday or Tuesday: Eight Stories," by Virginia Woolf, is an intriguing collection that holds up to re-readings. The copyright page of the Dover Thrift edition notes that the book is an unabridged republication of the edition published in 1921.

In many of these stories conventional notions of plot and character are apparently thrown out the window in favor of a dreamlike, experimental style. At times the stories in this book remind me of the work of Gertrude Stein. Woolf crafts some really memorable phrases and visual images.

The longest of the 8 stories, "A Society" (pp. 3-16) is about a group of women who form a "society for asking questions" about male contributions to the world. This piece has a rich satirical flavor; in it Woolf raises questions about female creativity and procreativity, the nature of fiction, and the impact of female literary artists.

Although at times I often found Woolf's writing obscure, I enjoyed her elegant prose style.

This volume of short stories is a good re-introduction to an author most of us probably haven't seen since High School. The stories are engaging and thought-provoking, and the length is manageable even to someone out of practice with the stream of conciousness style. I carried this book to read between classes one semester and enjoyed the challenge of reading something better than standard leisure fare. This book made me want to see more Virginia Woolf. Well recommended.

This is a slim volume. Virginia Woolf doesn't write stories in the usual sense, with a well-defined plot or a conclusive ending. These stories are more like sketches, concise but incisive, and they leave a powerful impact.

As usual, Virginia Woolf excels in her prose. Every sentence is crafted beautifully, rich in words and richer in meaning. Reading her stories is both a provocative experience and a pleasant pastime.