Our July book discussion will be on Orlando by Virginia Woolf, an English author writing in 1928. Per Goodreads:
Playfully constructs the figure of Orlando as the embodiment of Woolf's close friend and lover, Vita Sackville-West. Spanning three centuries, the novel opens as Orlando, a young nobleman in Elizabeth's England, traces his experience with first love. At the midpoint of the novel, Orlando, now an ambassador in Constantinople, awakes to find that he is a woman, and the novel considers the roles of women in the 18th and 19th centuries. As the novel ends in 1928, a year consonant with full suffrage for women, Orlando stands at the brink of a future that holds new promise for women.
Possible discussion questions may be:
- What is the narrator's role in Virginia Woolf's Orlando?
- What is the nature of the relationship between Orlando and Queen Elizabeth I?
- How is Orlando's relationship with Sasha a strike against conformity?
- What are the benefits of cross-dressing as evidenced in Orlando?
- How does Orlando's reaction to her transformation in Chapter 3 reflect Virginia Woolf's own view of gender and identity?
- How does Virginia Woolf satirize racial and religious intolerance in Chapter 3 of Orlando?
- How do Orlando's views about poets change after she meets the literary giants of the 18th century?
- How do Orlando's thoughts about fame change over time?
- How are Virginia Woolf's feelings about Victorian culture reflected in chapters 5 and 6 of Orlando?
- What is the importance of the chiming of clocks in Orlando?
- Why is Orlando more receptive to a relationship with Shel than one with Harry?
- How does the narrator's reaction to the year Orlando spends writing reflect the sexism of the Victorian era?
Also at this meeting, we'll vote on our book to discuss in August. In keeping with our group's design, we discussed a 21st century woman author in April, a 19th century author in June, and we'll be discussing a 20th century author in July.
As always with cafe-based events, please plan to purchase a beverage or snack from our host to thank them for the use of their space. Higher Grounds also has a delicious lunch/brunch menu, so feel free to come early and dine.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
