There are elements of this book I loved. Elements, also, I didn’t like. I love the creativity. I loved all the parallels and similarities between Mrs Dalloway and this book’s storyline. I loved how all three central characters are linked. I did not love the stream-of-consciousness narration. I get that the author was mirroring Virginia Woolf’s writing style — mirroring Mrs Dalloway. But, my word, these characters (apart from Clarissa) were horribly self-obsessed and infuriating.

So, the story. It all takes place over the course of one day and three narrations. Virginia Woolf, the writer, in 1941, is recuperating in Richmond from bouts of severe depression. Laura Brown in the late 1940s is a pregnant, depressed housewife whose husband is having a birthday. She wants to bake him a cake but is unsatisfied with the result. Unsatisfied with everything, seemingly. Clarissa Vaughan (Mrs Dalloway) is in the 1990s and her dear friend Richard is dying of AIDS. He is a writer who has won an award, and she is throwing him a party to honour him.

And that’s it. There isn’t really a story, as such. Just a lot of self-obsessed ramblings.

Would I recommend it? Not if you like plots and stories. It’s more of a literary fiction thing.

Literary fiction readers. Those who can make sense of stream-of-consciousness without throwing the book at the wall.

Clarissa. I think she was the most relatable character. I really liked the way Michael Cunningham has mirrored the story of 'Mrs Dalloway.' It is clever, I'll give him that.

Stream-of-consciousness. The irony being, it almost sent me into unconsciousness.

Give it immediately away to a charity shop. Never read it again.

Annoyed. Frustrated. Amused, in places.

Michael Cunningham.

I don't.

Again: Stream-of-consciousness!

Interested in buying this? Support Writing.Com by making your purchase of Hours, The (Picador Modern Classics, 1)   from Amazon.Com!

Created Aug 29, 2025 at 6:02am • Submit your own review...