The Hours
The Hours seemed to revolve around the theme “Nothing matters, everyone dies.” This would seem, at first glance, very depressing. In truth, I did find The Hours fairly depressing, but that did not preclude me from liking it.
One of the reasons that it was enjoyable was the very real characters, each one complete with a background, strengths and imperfections. Michael Cunningham has a knack for very whole characters. Even Mary Krull and Walter Hardy, who appeared only briefly, had personalities that were fleshed out with broad strokes. Their physical descriptions were articulated and an idea of their histories and futures were alluded to. Actually, the The Hours gives the feeling that it might be a chapter in a larger book. It does not try to give a complete history, and almost assumes that the reader has some prior knowledge about things. It also does not tie everything up in a neat bow or answer all the reader’s questions.
Because the novel occupying the space of only one day in each of the heroines’ lives. In order to draw time out that way, the author must go into great detail about background and the thoughts of each character. It did move fairly slowly in that regard, but it was able to hold my interest with it’s thoughtful and profound descriptions of feelings and surroundings. The extraordinary in the everyday sights and sounds gave it a “stop and smell the roses” feel, and not just that. In the undercurrent of the novel was the urgency to feel all things wonderful and sad.
One of the reasons that it was enjoyable was the very real characters, each one complete with a background, strengths and imperfections. Michael Cunningham has a knack for very whole characters. Even Mary Krull and Walter Hardy, who appeared only briefly, had personalities that were fleshed out with broad strokes. Their physical descriptions were articulated and an idea of their histories and futures were alluded to. Actually, the The Hours gives the feeling that it might be a chapter in a larger book. It does not try to give a complete history, and almost assumes that the reader has some prior knowledge about things. It also does not tie everything up in a neat bow or answer all the reader’s questions.
Because the novel occupying the space of only one day in each of the heroines’ lives. In order to draw time out that way, the author must go into great detail about background and the thoughts of each character. It did move fairly slowly in that regard, but it was able to hold my interest with it’s thoughtful and profound descriptions of feelings and surroundings. The extraordinary in the everyday sights and sounds gave it a “stop and smell the roses” feel, and not just that. In the undercurrent of the novel was the urgency to feel all things wonderful and sad.
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