A Room of One's Own

By: Virginia Woolf

Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson

A Room of One's Own, based on a lecture given at Girton College Cambridge, is one of the great feminist polemics. Woolf's blazing polemic on female creativity, the role of the writer, and the silent fate of Shakespeare's imaginary sister remains a powerful reminder of a woman's need for financial independence and intellectual freedom.

©2011 CSA Word (P)2011 CSA Word

A classic that resonates today

I really had no idea what this book was about, I simply knew it was a classic. It’s also the first thing I’ve ever read by Woolf. Unprepared as I was, I was initially charmed by the lecture format, greatly enhanced since I was listening to the audio book performed by Juliet Stevenson. Within minutes I was completely entranced by the amazing writing . . .

“The river reflected whatever it chose of sky and bridge and burning tree, and when the undergraduate had oared his boat through the reflections they closed again, completely, as if they had never been. There one might have sat the clock round lost in thought. Thought --to call it by a prouder name than it deserved-- had let its line down into the stream. It swayed, minute after minute, hither and thither among the reflections and the weeds, letting the water lift it and sink it until --you know the little tug -- the sudden conglomeration of an idea at the end of one's line: and then the cautious hauling of it in, and the careful laying of it out? Alas, laid on the grass how small, how insignificant this thought of mine looked; the sort of fish that a good fisherman puts back into the water so that it may grow fatter and be one day worth cooking and eating.”

And unlike so much of what gets written, the ideas behind the writing were even more well-considered than were the words themselves. As I read, my mind flitted between feeling grateful that I was born in a post-feminist world, where many women do have “rooms of their own” and incomes to support them in pursuit of their dreams, and realizing that so much of what Woolf describes as the subjugation of women is still going on today.

El papel de las mujers atraves de los años

If you could sum up A Room of One's Own in three words, what would they be?

Este libro te muestra como las generaciones ha tomado la mujer atraves de los años, y no es por la religion, es por el echo que siempre tomaron las mujers menos inteligentes.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Esta pregunta no va con este libro.
Este libro es una analisis de la mujer en ficcion, que Virginia Woolf queria contestar a cerca de que la mujer debia tener su pripia casa y tener dinero.

Which character – as performed by Juliet Stevenson – was your favorite?

La vos de ella es muy agradable y perfecta para el libro. No habian caracters en este libro, el caracter es Virginia Woolf.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No. Esta pregunta no va con este libro

Any additional comments?

Audibles. Antes de poner este tipo de preguntas generales debe analizar la clase de libro que la persona va a revisar. Muchas de estas preguntas no VAN CON ESTE LIBRO.

Highly Recommended

An invaluable reading of the history of women’s writing during the 17th through 20th centuries. A tremendously enjoyable and I formative listen.

A necessary read for every woman.

I only wish I had read it early in life. Woolf exposes the uneven playing field between men and women.

Essential

Re-experiencing this masterpiece by listening to Juliet Stevenson’s fabulous reading was inspiring. Highly recommend this.

not the feminist manifesto i wanted it to be

i admit that woolf is a fantastic writer and definitely a product of the times in which she wrote, but the final chapter's regression of all the statements made in preceding chapters took away from the novel as a whole. A Room of One's Own is eloquent and forward-thinking, but heavily influenced by Woolf's internalized misogyny and, at times, self-contradictory.

Perfect blend of content and narration

Like Mrs. Dalloway (also read by Juliet Stevenson), this is a magical blend of wonderful writing and fabulous narration that makes this a joy to listen to. This began as an address on women in fiction, both as characters and writers, but it became so much more as the story of Woolf's thoughts and research move into the lives of women and their place in English society over history, in relation to men and outside of men.

A classic well read - if you haven't read it, you must, and if you have, you should enjoy the narration.

A Piece of Magic from Shakespeare's Sister

How was it for Leonard Woolf to have such an outspoken female wife? I never have given much time to Leonard but I found myself wondering over him while I read this beautiful piece by the brilliant Virginia. I revel in her examination of male versus feminine value, how common it was for patriarchy to place value on a subject of war and to devalue the subject of the drawing room. Woolf did not have an ordinary mind or a normal one.

Anyway, read this and you will still already have read it too late. Nevertheless, read it! Listen to it. Soak it in!!!

incredible

for years I have heard of this book. so glad I finally picked it up!

No Intro from Ali Smith

I keep waiting for it, but it wasn't included. A shame. Posting so others will know.