Group Read - Orlando - Who's in...

Welcome, we would like to start a group read of Virgina Woolf's novel Orlando: A Biography on or around October 20, 2008. The book was published in 1928 and is a Fictional biography; Woolf wrote Orlando from her home in London, 1927–1928, between To the Lighthouse and The Waves.

I'll read it with you all. I've read it before, but the last time was about 5 years ago. A reread would definitely be in order.

I'm planning on it. Thanks for starting the thread.

I'm in.
Yesterday I ordered a Norwegian paperback edition of Orlando and I'll receive it in a few days.

I'm currently reading a Norwegian biography on Virginia Woolf (Virginia Woolf. En biografi) by Bjørg Vindsetmo (journalist and author).

On my bookshelves:
Til fyret ('To the Lighthouse')
Mrs. Dalloway
Bølgene (The Waves)
Et eget rom ('A Room of One's Own)

Welcolme Kjellika! I 'm looking forward to this read.

I finished poisonwood yesterday and will use this weekend to post my thoughts. I'm also starting Kristin tonight--I'll use my old translation until the new one comes. So by the time Orlando read comes I should be ready to handle both reads.

I love VW--but have never read Orlando. I've read and own To the Lighthouse and have read and "lost" Mrs. Dalloway and The Waves--they are high on my list to replace. I own A Room of One's Own but haven't read it yet. I also have both Common Reader volumes and various extracts from her diaries, a biography by her nephew and other related items. When i make my Virginia Woolf order at Amazon to replace my missing volumes I'm also planning to buy Flush: A Biography which is about the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning's dog.

I would love to join in the read, though I have to admit that I have only read Woolf's A Room of One's Own a couple of times (and saw the wonderful production on Broadway with Eileen Atkins). Can't believe my education has been so lacking!

I probably won't be able to fit Orlando in until the end of term--maybe the end of November, if I'm organized. But I'd love to participate.

Welcome theaelizabet & Nickelini

I am just reading A Room of One's Own for the first time; I wish I could get a DVD of the Broadway production, I heard PBS filmed the stage production in London, but netflix doesn't have it listed - drrrats!
I have read none of Ms. Woolf's novels and I'm looking forward exceedingly to the pleasure over the next few months.

After reading all the novels by the Bronte sisters; I read an essay by Virginia Woolf Called "Jane Eyre and Wurthering Heights". I loved how she described and enlighten me further on their style of writing and their influences.

I would like to join you too! Just have to fish my copy out of one of my many boxes of books I have read!

I have read Mrs Dalloway and To the Lighthouse and Orlando but rereads are definitely in order.

I also have on my tbr pile A Room of One's Own, Jacob's Room, Night and Day, and The Waves.

Thanks rosemeria for starting this group read.

I hope it is not too late to join the read. I am ordering the book today!

According to #1 we should start the read on or about October 20, 2008, that is in a week from now. Is that correct?

How long will it take to finish it, do you think?
Orlando isn't a very voluminous book (my Norwegian edition has got 222 pages), but maybe it is a "difficult" one.... (??)

#9 englishrose60 & #10 hemlokgang

I'm glad you are going to be joining. It will be fun to discuss VW.

I'm pretty sure the read is supposed to start October 20th. That's when I'm aiming to have a pretty clear deck to begin reading. I'm sure rosemeria will give us warning ahead of time!

#11> kjell, it is not a difficult book to read, as opposed to many other by V.W., and quite entertaining too.

Well let's see... we could break it up into three sections to be read in 3 week:
Chapter 1 & 2 ...starting Oct 20th
Chapter 3 & 4 ... " " Oct 27th
Chapter 5 & 6 ... " " Nov 3rd

Does the above schedule work for the rest of you? Any other suggestion are welcome, especially from those who have read the book before.
My book is 329 pages, includes illustrations of Orlando and has an index(that's cool) and one of the sexier covers.

#14 the schedule

That sounds very doable for me--about 110 pages per week is nice and leisurely so it won't tax us and three weeks seems great. I may read the last 2 chapters the weekend before Nov. 3 because on that day I start the William Dampier group read. But I won't post anything until after the 3rd.

Should there be a thread dedicated to this read? It might help others find it if they are interested--and if we advertise it!

I must go out and buy it this week.

#14. That's fine by me!

#14
The schedule suits me well :)

Should we divide the book into three new topics, to avoid spoilers?

Definitely kjellika

I'll create them now.

I ordered the book yesterday and the schedule is perfect. Can't wait!

I've not read Virginia Woolf before, but this book seems to keep coming up for me recently. I finally ordered a copy, but I haven't read it yet. Hope you don't mind that I'm not a member of the group, but I'll probably drop by for the discussion from time to time. Happy Reading!

I will hitch a ride as well and appreciate the proposed schedule. Thanks.

Thanks for setting up the section threads. The schedule sounds perfect.

I think everyone is part of every group on LT, unless I am mistaken......Ride along, contribute, or lurk.

I saw this group on the group read-literature page, where I've been lurking, waiting for the new book. And it just so happens that I read Orlando not too long ago. It was my first Woolfe novel. I'm up for a reread and discussion - the book was fascinating, and quite unusual.

#22 PhoenixTerran, , 23 bk04011, & 25 hemlokgang

Some groups require that you join in order to post to the threads--but this is not one of them!

We welcome any one who wants to join the group read--happy to have you aboard!

Bought the book today!

I've never done a group read before but Orlando is one of my favorites and due for a reread so I'm looking forward to revisiting it and lurking.

Welcome, bellawether--I hope you will also share your insights on the book. It is fun to read and "discuss" -- it enhances everyone's experience.

Dived into a few boxes and eventually found my copy of Orlando as well as a few other Woolfs! It's times like these when I realise I should also tag my boxes of books!

>31 englishrose60: That is a good idea! It would also benefit those of us who like to browse your library for book-shopping ideas. :)

Christina - my boxes of books are already catalogued on LT! What I should have said was tagged which box each book is in to make life easier for myself! Will amend my previous post! Hope I have not disappointed you too much!

I use the comments field for a description of where each of book is and it suits me very well.

I still spend a lot of time running up to the attic to pull out particular volumes, but I now know exactly which boxes to head for!

I read Orlando a few years ago but I should love to do a reread.

You are better organised than I am then! Sounds like it's time to hunt out your copy of Orlando and join us!

I shall be heading for the attic to pull out my copy of Orlando tonight!

FleurFisher

Glad to have you aboard--this should be a fun read.

I'd like to join this one. I have the book and have been wanting to read it for ages. This will be the perfect motivation to read it now. I think I can start it by the middle of next week (have to finish my current book first, and life doesn't let me read very quickly).

Friends - Having lurked a bit I would very much like to join in. My favourite VW is A Room of One's Own. I love the fact that it was a lecture that was really delivered to those ladies in Cambridge (where, incidentally, I was privileged to study).

I have not read Orlando before so welcome this opportunity. Thank you for taking the initiative rosemaria. I recognise a number of LT friends from elsewhere - this promises to be a great read in great company =)

Hello Julie - I'm delighted to see you here!

Julie, you are such a flatterer!!!
;-)

Hello ladies, oops and gentlemen =)

I started this evening and have a great edition with all eight photos in as well. In addition it has a forward by Quentin Bell 1989 the nephew of VW. Published by Vintage in the UK it is apparently The Definitive Edition. I think I recall reading somewhere that VW continued editing it after the first published edition.

Which editions are other friends reading I wonder?

I have the Harcourt publication. Nothing definitive about it, but I'll get the story from it. I love the illustrations.

I have a 1993 virago edition. No introduction, just VW's preface then straight in. I love the illustrations too!

I have a 1993 QPB edition--VW's preface and the story with 8 illustrations. Can't remember how i got it, but it is in excellent condition.

Plan to start reading tomorrow.

Still awaiting the arrival of a BookMooch copy!

The 2006 Harvest Annotated edition is in the mail. Should get it in a couple of days, hopefully.

I have the Wordsworth Classics addition with notes and introduction by Merry M. Pawlowski, Professor at California State University.

I hope all you lucky ones with annotations and notes will help us poor souls who only have VW's text! I'm sure there will be helpful information about many of her references.

I've got a Norwegian paperback edition published by Pax Forlag (Norwegian publishing house) in 2005, and translated by Merete Alfsen. It contains eight b/w illustrations, a foreword to the Norwegian edition, an index and a sort of Orlando's timeline.

Start reading today, I think.

I thought I would save buying a book and I originally looked up Gutenburg Project, but it is not there. yet. I know there is always the library, they may have something different, but I can't turn down pages or mark it and I love to make books my own.

>yareader2

Orlando will not be public domain (and thus available to be on Project Gutenberg) in the US until 2024. By UK copyright law, it won't be public domain until 2012.

However, it is public domain under Australian copyright law. So, if you check the Australian version of Project Gutenberg (here), you can find Orlando online here.

Mine is the regular Harvest/Harcourt paperback edition.

Mine is the Harvest Books; Annotated edition.

#52 Your post confirms that all copyright law needs to be rethought for the 21st century!

#52
Thanks,
Now I'm able to read Orlando even in its original language.