Virginia Woolf's The Waves

[smw]

[I hope this is an acceptable use of the community; if not, my sincere apologies.]

I'm forty pages into The Waves by Woolf, and though I think the prose is beautiful and the structure interesting, I'm having some difficulty becoming invested in the characters and their actions. Beauty and interest without plot a novel does not justify. For those who have read it, does it become more involved? When I finish reading, will I feel as if it was worth the time, or only as if I've read an experiment in style?

Your opinions on the novel are also welcome. This is one that I'm going to have to dwell on to get anything out of it purely on the page-to-page level, so I'm interested in having a good idea of whether or not I should invest the time just now.

Comments

[shanaqui]

I haven't read The Waves, but I've read some of Woolf's other work and had the same feeling. And for me, I definitely decided it wasn't worth the time. Her novels are experiments in style.

[smw]

I suspected as much. I was, I have to admit, hoping for a reply of "forge on! Fascinating things happen later." Ah, well. So it goes. At least I learned a few new words in the process.

[labingi]

I haven't The Waves either, but I had a similar feeling about Orlando. Lovely prose, great wit, and I can't say it doesn't have plot, but the characters never came alive for me. For what it's worth, however, I love Mrs. Dalloway. The plot may be "Mrs. D throws a party," but I found it a moving look at life and relationships and regret.

[smw]

Thank you for the reply! I will keep in mind both your reaction to Orlando and Mrs. Dalloway -- I had hopes for the former, alas.