MRS. DALLOWAY

This audiobook, one of Woolf's most famous novels, takes place over the course of one day, following Clarissa Dalloway as she prepares to host a party. The past and present overlap in Clarissa's memory as she interacts with a broad range of characters. Woolf's stream-of-consciousness style has a halting, labored air as narrator Helen Lloyd makes her way through repetitive sentences and abrupt shifts. Lloyd's voice is lovely, and her skill as a narrator is clear, but this novel does not make the best use of these qualities. That said, some listeners may prefer the audio to the print version because it does get the story across efficiently. For other listeners, Woolf's prose may come across as too stilted and cold. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2021]