Orlando: A Biography Audiobook

" An amusing historical whimsy that looks at gender performativity and the arrogance of writing poetry. A pleasing whistle-stop journey through 400 years of European history. "

" One of her most imaginative, beautiful books, asking questions about gender fluidity before it was a pop culture topic. "

" A weird book... not my favorite, but interesting (to a point). "

" Virginia Woolf never disappoints, and I loved this novel--it's different from that which she typically writes. "

" Had no idea what this book was about, just hooked onto it because I'd never read any books by Virginia Woolf and the description mentioned this book as one of her more "accessible" works. Hmmm.... so it hit me like a brick when all of a sudden the male main character is transformed into a woman. It was a shock, and then I was somewhat disappointed because my beginning effort at getting into the book and becoming attached to Orlando and the wonderful rhythm of the language felt yanked out of my grasp. I had to go read some background on the novel to feel like it was "okay" to keep reading--that Woolf had probably based Orlando on a woman Woolf had a "crush" on, etc. I guess I just didn't have enough connection to Orlando as a main character to suspend my disbelief about his sudden gender-switching. "

" one of vwoolf's most accessible works, i think; not that that's a bad thing. and the [relative] lightness of orlando is refreshing among the clarissa dalloways and the septimuses, the lily briscoes and the rhodas. "

" I don't much care for Virginia Woolf. "

" My favorite Woolf so far. A great read. "

" one of those books I don't understand and myself I don't find them genius.. just crazy and without sense. "

" Beautifully written--categorized as fiction, but an actual biography of her intimate friend, Vita Sackville-West. "

" Magical! Don't read the back of the book before reading this. The movie, with Tilda Swinton, doesn't really do this justice. "

" Woolf has some really incredible passages in this book. Her comprehension on the fluidity of sex and gender is really amazing, and she even makes fun of herself. Loved it. "

" I came quite late to Virginia Woolf but I've enjoyed everything I've read so far and Orlando was no exception - probably the best yet. A magical, surreal tale quite different from her other books that I've read. "

" Getting better :) Her peverse, arrogant depression isn't in this later work. "

" I do believe that one lifetime would have been sufficient! "

" "feminist"/love story version of parody books like crying of lot 49.. "

" Of all Virginia Woolf's writing, I do believe Orlando is my favorite. It's approachable from many viewpoints. This certainly qualifies as Classics and Great Literature, yet it is a really fun read. I consider it a comfort read, and re-read it about every three years. "

" Did not like this nearly as much as I expected to ... "

" Brilliant and charming, Woolf toys with gender, time, literary conventions, and her reader, all with an expert hand. A fantastic read that I put off for far too long. "

" 1 star is too much. This was so awful. "

" I've read and re-read this book several times. I've taught it. Well -- it's a masterpiece. Of course Virginia Woolf wrote it, so it ought to be a masterpiece. My recommendation: read Middlesex, then read Orlando. You'll be amazed that she penned it in 1928. "

" This book inspired me to get a sex change and live forever. "

" I was the only person in my class who really liked this book when we read it. I remember feeling the transformation in the middle of the story to be almost necessary for the plot. I also think it's something all men should experience, at least for a while! "

" Highly enjoyable and thought provoking, even funny. "

" I don't much care for Virginia Woolf. "

" This book inspired me to get a sex change and live forever. "

" This book was a lot of work. Woolf pulls out all of the stops on artistic license. If you try to take it literally you will pull what's left of your hair out. Reading it as poetry seems to work better. "

" I read the first 100 pages, and skimmed the rest. Boring as hell. "

" Virginia Woolf never seizes to impress me, in this novel she explores the role of gender in society by writing about Orlando, a man who turns into a woman when he/she turns 30. Woolf achieves to give awareness of female writers and how they are sometimes disregarded in literature. "

" LbW selection, October 2010. Fascinating critique of the biography, her father's area of expertise. "

" Kinda kooky, but the prose is so beautiful. "

" fun, but a little dragged out at the end. glad i read it, though. definitely interesting. "

" i gave up and didn't finish liked the first part but then got bogged down I loved it as a play but had a hard time with it as a book some lovely parts but not enough to hold me SORRY "

" I liked this except for the last 3 pages. "