Where do we like to read? And books inspired by Virginia Woolf. It’s a very ‘us’ episode.
In the first half of this episode, we’re adopting a question suggested by Teddy – reading at home vs reading elsewhere – and discuss our favourite places to read (alongside some wonderful suggestions from some Patreon patrons. Check out our Patreon page!) In the second half, we look at two books inspired by Virginia Woolf – one is Mrs Woolf and the Servants by Alison Light (non-fiction), and the other is The Hours by Michael Cunningham. It was a really fun discussion!
We also talk more about tea than usual, just to even things out.
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The books and authors we mention in this episode are:
The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck
Stoner by John Williams
The Mandelbaum Gate by Muriel Spark
The Carlyles at Home by Thea Holme
At Bertram’s Hotel by Agatha Christie
The Millstone by Margaret Drabble
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Diary of a Provincial Lady by E.M. Delafield
A Home at the End of the World by Michael Cunningham
By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham
Land’s End by Michael Cunningham
Forever England by Alison Light
Common People by Alison Light
Cluny Brown by Margery Sharp
The Gipsy in the Parlour by Margery Sharp
Interestingly I nearly read The Wayward Bus for one of our clubs – it’s still somewhere in the house…. I like Steinbeck but I haven’t read enough of his fiction. As for where to read – I prefer a comfy perch either in a house or in a shady outdoors (not fond of the sun) but frankly I’ll read anywhere…
I really must read some of my Steinbecks, but Rachel did make that one sound interesting…
Rachel: I don’t have an Adirondack chair (though I’d like one!), but I do have a rocking camp chair, and I put my feet up on a wooden table my housemate made. This is in the backyard of a rental house, so the paint on the deck is peeling terribly and the yard is more of a prettyish wilderness, but it still manages to approach an idyll on a warm summer evening. :D
Wait, Simon, you were reading a print book and weeding? That is so funny!
I’ve only read A Room of One’s Own. What’s a good place to start with a Virginia Woolf novel?
I was indeed! I’m sure my neighbours were amused.
I always recommend Jacob’s Room as a good place to start with VW’s fiction. It was her third novel, and the first that was a bit more experimental in style – but without being in her fully modernist stylistic period. So it might be a good place to get a sense of what she can do.
Thank you!
really enjoyed this podcast. Simon weeding and reading, Rachel’s somewhat snarky remarks about cats, Rachel’s insight into VW and her suicide, all great. Living as I do in Northern California, my generation grew up reading Steinbeck. Grapes of Wrath is a must read, you can visit the John Steinbeck museum in Salinas California which is near most of the inspiration for his books. A overlooked book is Travels with Charley, the museum has the actual truck he used for that journey. Charley was a standard poodle. Re The Wayward Bus, there was a wonderful film staring Jayne Mansfield made in 1957.
There, I’ve shared all my California knowledge. Keep up the great work, by the way and nothing to do with anything, I really loved the music in the film, The Hours, it was my intro to Phillip Glass.
I want to thank you both for helping me finally crack Virginia Woolf’s fiction. I have read & loved her diaries & letters & find all of the Bloomsbury set fascinating, but I have tried & failed to read her fiction many times. I have wanted to read The Hours too, but knew I shouldn’t until I had read Mrs. Dalloway, & so was stuck. Anyway– something about hearing you all talk about both books made me try again. This time, a door was unlocked & I really loved Mrs. Dalloway– all the words words words from previous tries became follow-able images & ideas. And I loved The Hours too. Reading them back to back helped me see more of the parallels & homage Cunningham intended. So thank you!!
I am going to take your advice and try Jacob’s Room next!
Alexandra, that is wonderful news! That makes me very happy – so pleased that you have cracked VW.