One Day; Three Women; Two Married, One Gay (The Hours - Michael Cunningham)

Member Name: MattRoberts

Product:	The Hours - Michael Cunningham
Date:	23/05/03 (323 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant writing , Great twist

Disadvantages: None

A normal day in June. Who would think a normal day in June could be a full story. A full book, nonetheless. And the normal day in June not only being the first of many days, but also being the one and only day in the novel.

Does a story of one day remind you of another book? Well, it should. It should remind you of Mrs Dalloway written by Virgina Woolf in the 1920's. The book was very controversial at the time, but after her suicide in the 40's, the book grew and grew by the year, and by today it's become one of the best loved books in literature.

It's very obvious that Michael Cunningham was a big fan of Virgina Woolf, and really respected her as a person. It comes through that he idolises her, and felt her pain, and knew what it was like.

The book begins with a prologue. In the prologue, it describes Virgina committing suicide, by drowning herself in a local river.
"She hurries from the house, wearing a coat too heavy for the weather. It is 1941."
Something you'll recognise in this novel is that the book isn't stuck to the rules.

Cunningham doesn't stick to the fact that you cant begin a sentence with "And". He doesn't care that the rules of the English language says you MUST use metaphors, similes and alliteration to produce a good book. Well, in The Hours, Cunningham proves all of these wrong, and shows it's the words that matter.

In the prologue, it describes Virginia's suicide thoroughly. Cunningham made up Mrs Brown and Mrs Dalloway, the two other characters in his book, but Virgina was a real person, who breathed the same air as all of us.

She walked this earth, and although he didn't see with his eyes what Virgina did and went through, you feel he knew what she went through by reading her novels and feeling her pain and anguish, and researching her life so thoroughly.

He makes it clear to us, that Virgina didn't want to
kill herself. She had "headaches" for many years. I think, as Cunningham suggested many times, these headaches were more than a little headache caused from hunger or loud noise. These headaches were her name for the voices she heard in her head. I think her death was due to insanity.

All Cunningham's characters are depressed and down. The people around them seem to be wary of them. Scared that they're going to push them over the edge. In Mrs Brown and Mrs Woolf's stories, he makes it clear that the two have suffered with insanity and depression.

Cunningham does that a lot. He tells us, but not in so many words. This isn't a book to read when you aren't concentrating. You must read thoroughly, taking every word in deeply. If you do, you'll be able to see Cunningham's brilliance of managing to make us think and feel, without being told to, through words.

I think The Hours is growing every year, and it's received a lot more attention after the movie was released a few months ago. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in the U.S.A, and I think Cunningham's The Hours, in years to come, will be like Bronte's Wuthering Heights of today. Both are saddening novels of hate, jealousy, depression, insanity and love. And whilst The Hours is set in a single day, and Wuthering Heights is set over 60 years, they still have strong similarities.

** THE PLOT **

The Hours is the story of three very strong and likeable women. All have their worries, and their problems. All are friendly, and you'd probably smile to al of them if you saw them in the street. You might even courteously say hello to one in a shop. But, it's odd to think, these people you say hello to, could be having a life like one of these women.

The three characters are - Laura Brown, Clarissa Vaughan and Virgina Woolf. I will give in an insight into each of their lives, and what there are likes.

Mrs Bro
wn.

This is Laura. She lives in Los Angeles in 1949. A troubled pregnant, married mother of one, who wants only to be alone with her book on a sunny morning in June. She's married to simple Dan, and has a three year old boy called Ritchie.

Her day is her husband's birthday. We don't know her age or his, but age doesn't seem important. He keeps a lot of his characters a mystery, like he's wary of telling us too much about him; like they're so precious.

Her chapter begins with her being in bed reading Mrs Dalloway. She's a pregnant woman in bed reading a book that was written almost 30 years ago. Whilst she's reading she wonders why a woman would kill herself - why Virginia Woolf a famous writer would kill herself.

It's obvious from the start of Mrs Brown's story she's been depressed in the past. She's scared to come down the stairs in the early stages of the book. She's been in bed for hours, and it's 9:00am. Her husband, a year older today, would set off to work in a few minutes, she knows she has to go downstairs. She MUST, but she can't seem to go.

When she does go, her three-year-old son - Ritchie, and her husband - Dan, greets her. Cunningham writes so beautifully, that, even without adding the words, you can see the picture in your head anyway. You see the two - son and father - scared and wary what to say to the mother and wife.

Most of Laura's story is about claustrophobia. Not the kind where you get scared in small spaces, the one where you get scared emotionally. It's very obvious she's not happy in her marriage, and she seems to have an odd bond with her son Ritchie. One where she loves him dearly, but can't seem to show it.

Like many of us Laura just wants to go. Leave her town. Her family. Her people. But, not in the way, where she just jumps on a bus. She doesn't want to be with them. But, she doesn't want to
be somewhere without them. She wants something than can only be done through suicide!

What the book tells us about Laura's past is very little. With the two other characters we know bits from their teenage years. We learn about some of their family, but with Mrs Brown, it's as if she's a secret to us readers, and we shouldn't be reading about her.

Even though Virginia is the only woman who did really live, to me it feels like Laura was the one. Laura was the woman whom walked this earth. She feels like her story is the truest, and that all her pain really happened.


Mrs Woolf.

This is Virginia. It's in London in 1923. It is very clear whilst reading the book, that Cunningham did a lot of research for his work here. Virginia Woolf committed suicide in 1941, and most of her family are dead, so he must have worked very hard for it.

It's pretty certain that the day it's set in with Virginia is fictional, but her feelings, ways, hopes, dreams, families are all true. I think he knew what made Virginia happy, sad and hurt. I think he's made an effort to look behind the words in her novels - especially Mrs Dalloway - to recognise her pain, and also to recognise her true feelings, that very little people knew of.

On her day, she begins to write Mrs Dalloway. It's rather odd, as Mrs Brown is beginning to read it; Virginia is beginning to write it. I expected Virginia to write big bulks of the novel in the book, but she only writes a mere 250 words of Mrs Dalloway in the book.

But, you feel this is enough. The whole day is Virginia thinking about different things. If something happens she wonders how that would fit into the book. How Mrs Dalloway would deal with this situation, how she'd feel.

Most of Mrs Dalloway, it seems, was written in Virginia's head that day. She lived her fears, her advantages and disadvantages, her pain, and most of her life. She see
med to create an entire life in her head in one day.

Like Laura, Virginia is talked to very lightly by her family, her husband - Leonard - especially. They also seem to be wary they'll set her over the edge. Also, there are references in the book that Virginia suffered with insanity.

She's moved out of London into a small town just outside the capital, but it seems that she moved there for a reason, because she longs to return, but her husband refuses to let her go.

Although the day is totally made-up, you feel it did happen. You feel Virginia has come to Cunningham and told him all about a day in her life; the day she started Mrs Dalloway.

Told him all about her worries troubles and wishes. Told her what made her feel so alive, and told him all about her love for her dear, considerate and loving husband - Leonard.

Mrs Woolf is very rarely in the book, and there are only 50-60 pages on her day in the book. But, you do manage to feel the sense of happiness from the talented authoress. Whilst Laura seems to be heading to insanity, it feels Virginia is recovering and getting over her insanity!

Mrs Dalloway.

It is Modern day New York. This was my favourite story of all three. At least 90 pages are on her day, and it probably the most filled day. Mrs Brown's day ends at 10:30pm, and Virginia a bit sooner, and they begin at around 9:00am. Whilst Mrs Dalloway's begins earlier and ends at 11:55pm.

There is much more of a story to this woman. Much more depth. Much more confusion. She feels guilty all the time. She feels helpless. She feels a bit lonely. She feels so much, that she is a confused person.

Everyone else is wary with Mrs Brown and Mrs Woolf. And, although people should be wary with Mrs Dalloway, they aren't. She should be treated with care, but people seem to walk all over and treat her like shit.

Her real name is not Mrs Dalloway at all. Her actual name
is Clarissa Vaughan, but as a young girl, her best friend Richard nicknamed her this, because he thought she was a wonderful woman from literature, and she deserved to be likened to such greatness.

You see this a lot in Clarissa's story. Her looking back. Remembering. Regretting. Hoping. Wishing. Wasting her life. She has been with her girlfriend - Sally - for 18 years and loved her dearly.

Deep down, although her and her best friend Richard are both gay, they seem to have a love for each other, like no one else has ever experienced. They seem to want each other, but they feel they can't, and more importantly they couldn't.

It seems Clarissa's life is full of regrets. She loves Sally, and her daughter Julia - whom she got by receiving sperm from a sperm bank. She loves them very much. But, it seems she wishes she'd have gone a different way in life. Taken a different road.

Her best friend Richard, who she loves so dearly, is dying of AIDS. His lover, friends, family have left him, and the only person to look after him is Clarissa. She has to come and see him getting thinner and thinner each day, getting weaker and weaker by the day.

That's what her life's revolved around - Richard. They had a passionate kiss when they were 19years old. Nothing became of it. But, they both wanted something to. They were both desperate to love one another.

Clarissa is a very lonely person. She's probably the person who has the most family and friends out of the three women, but she's alone in a different way. She feels she needs to care for everyone. But, there's no-one to care for her.

She's arranging a party for her best friend Richard. He's won a prize for writing great poetry. But, will he turn up?

^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
Mrs Brown - Mrs Brown was chosen to feature in this novel, because she began to read Mrs Dalloway. She is learning about her
going to buy flowers in London. She is learning about her past and present.

Mrs Woolf - She was chosen to be in the book, because her day, is the day she's writing Mrs Dalloway. Although she starts very little of the novel, she makes the whole story in her head on that day. Even if it's not on paper.

Mrs Dalloway - She is Mrs Dalloway. Not in so many words, I mean Mrs Dalloway has been published as a book, but she lives like her, and her friends compare her to her. Clarissa is a strong woman, and so was Mrs Dalloway. Basically, it's like reading the book, in much more modern tone.


Style of writing.

As I said earlier, the style of writing is very, very different to other books. Cunningham makes it exciting, yet still calm. If Ms Woolf/Dalloway/Brown goes somewhere, he will say something like this.
"She rose and head for the kitchen (what would she get? Why would she get it?)"
It's as if the woman doesn't know herself. It's as if Cunningham is trying to make us think deeper. To feel deeper, even.

He brings us each person, not in a big bulk, but in intervals in the novel. He gives us Mrs Dalloway, then Brown, then Woolf and back to Dalloway, etc. This is extraordinary how he keeps us remembering each character. He does no reminding when he hasn't written about one woman for so many pages. But, he doesn't need to, anyway.

It's written so touchingly and dramatically, that you don't need to be reminded at all, because it's so easy to remember it all yourself without any help.

This is Cunningham's first novel. He has written books about wars and conflicts, but this is his first fictional novel. But, if you do think about it, it's not really a fictional book. Most of it is re-telling a story, or a story about a woman who really did live. And I think that's a big part of the book that makes you like it even more - the fact that some st
ories may be true.

What the story tells us about the author.

I have never read such a book that tells me so much about the author, than this one. It shows so much, and makes you want to meet him and ask him all these questions!

There's a lot of lesbianism in the novel. Each woman experiences a kiss with another woman on the day, and each feels something afterwards. Clarissa isn't confused, she's been an outed lesbian for years, but the other two feel odder; especially Laura, when she experiences the kiss.

I think the words also tell us he's very fond of all woman. He feels for all, especially Virginia, whom he makes out as a goddess! Of course she has faults, and he tells us of these, but he still makes her out as a marvellous person.

Also, back to the lesbianism, most of the book is built around sexuality. All of the women, not so much Virginia, are unhappy with their relationship they're in at present, and are falling for someone else.

They aren't necessarily in love with that other person, but they're different. They are more exciting. They have more of an edge to them. A darker side, and they want more excitement.

My opinion.

This may be the best modern book I've read. Wuthering Heights is my favourite novel, but that was written almost 200 years ago, so it would be unfair for both books to compare them.

But, The Hours brings a sense of hatred and love to you. You feel you should like a character, because a character you like, likes the that character you don't like. It's odd, because this happens in real life.

You can see Cunningham hasn't set out to write a book with a different world in it. He's set out to write a book that can make you think, and not make you feel you're going into another world, but you're staying in this one, and you can see what this world is like.

The Hours does have a twist, but it&#
39;s not a common one. It will make you cry, and maybe it will make you smile. It did sock me, as I'm sure it will you, and it sort of brings things onto perspective.

Without saying too much, it shows how little things can affect someone's life so easily. Cunningham hid the twist very well, but if I read back no it, I'll know it is so obvious throughout the book, but it's almost impossible to guess, unlike some twists in books!

I think every woman and man should read this book. Even if they aren't into deep books, it gives something to all. It makes you sit and read all day long, and it's a mere 230 pages long, and has very large writing, so it wont take you long to read.

It will probably leave you wanting more, as it did with me. I just picked it up and started from the beginning again. It was wonderful. It made me smile, and little books do that for me.

If you've never read Mrs Dalloway - I have - read it before reading The Hours. Then you'll be able to read The Hours with even more excitement. Then you could give the film a go. I haven't seen the film, yet, but I hope it gives literature genius its justice.

All in all!

The book appeals to all in one way or another, and reading each woman story makes you smile, laugh, cry and even sad. It makes you see what life can be like for women with different lifestyles and dreams. It can be make you feel, which very little books can do.

Written By: Matt Roberts.

Summary: