I'm reading... Virginia Woolf in Manhattan by Maggie Gee. I know, I can't believe it either that this is a real thing. It's like a fangirl's dream come true.
The author will be at the conference so I thought I'd read it now and have her sign it! I got it for Christmas. It's written from the POV of Virginia, Angela, and Angela's daughter Gerda. Angela has a soon-to-be-ex-husband named Edward. It starts off with Angela, a famous writer, traveling to NYC to go to the New York Public Library to do Woolf research and the library has VW's manuscripts! I live here and I didn't even know that! She's doing research for an upcoming conference in Istanbul. (She and Virginia will go there later in the book and I think Virginia hooks up with a Turk--stay tuned.)
As she's reading all of a sudden Virginia Woolf materializes in the library and Angela can't believe it. Virginia Woolf has come to the 21st century!
First thing VW wants to do is call Leonard and Angela has to tell her that Leonard has long been dead.
It's interesting how we treat authors after they die. Virginia, in the book, has no idea that we (whoever wants to read about her) know about nearly EVERYTHING of her personal life, her diaries are public, letters, love life, illnesses, childhood, how she treated servants, how much she earned, her daily habits, etc.
For example, Angela showed Virginia The Google and Virginia asked Angela if she can see Leonard through there. Angela looks up Leonard on Google Images and Virginia says, "Mongoose." Angela is spooked by how she actually knows Virginia and Leonard's petnames for each other.
The book does a good job of illustrating the frustrations of having an author come back many years later. Virginia doesn't know much about any of the technology (this is a lot of fun), changed fashions, and she's wondering where all her friends are. Not only that, but because she killed herself she's full of guilt that she has this new chance to ponder why exactly she did that while she can't change the situation. She's also relieved to know that people still read her because that was one of her fears, that her books were failures.
(When I was little I wrote about what it would be like if Zhuge Liang came to the 21st century...)
Angela is also wondering if it's all a dream, but she takes care of Virginia (who obviously has no money) and she just can't believe that VIRGINIA WOOLF IS HERE IN THE FLESH! PINCH ME I'M DREAMING! I know it kind of sounds like a fanfiction, but their conversations about all sorts of things and inner thoughts are interesting and there is a plot.
Virginia's always thinking of something and taking it all in. She's also a bit spoiled and as Angela says, is used to servants, but who cares, she's COOL. Virginia is kind of all over the place, feeling guilty about Leonard, reminiscing, evaluating Angela, thinking about New York, etc.
I don't love Angela as a character, haha. The only reason I don't care for her is that she feels she has "one up" over Virginia because at least she has a daughter and Virginia had no children. Wow, how lame of her! She even admits that it's shallow of her to think that way, but she still thinks that way. Gross.
I noticed she also has some insecurities and may be even jealous of Virginia. She thinks of how Virginia never went to university (while Angela has several degrees, both earned and honorary), but was thought to be the cleverest woman in the country and has written masterpieces. She thinks of how Virginia was born privileged. She also noticed how much Virginia and Leonard loved each other and how that reflects back on her own marriage to Edward. Example:
'Are you an acquaintance of my husband's?'
'I've heard of him. Everyone has.'
And her long, almost equine face relaxed. Those mournful, haunted eyes sparkled, her full lips lifted in a sweet, shy smile. Yes, a chalice of happiness. 'Do you think so? Mr. Woolf will be amused to know that.'
You love him still, I thought with pain, pain for her and then for me -- Edward said he loved me, but he still walked out. Had I ever been loved as Virginia was?
Deep, bro. She actually asks, "Would she somehow always make me feel like a failure?" Angela also feels insecure about her writing. Although she's won prizes she wants to be a *part* of literature, like Virginia.
I'm only about a quarter of the way through so there's a lot more adventure in store. I opened the book at a random part and they go to Istanbul and I'm pretty sure... VIRGINIA WOOLF HAS SEX WITH A TURK! If I was writing about Virginia Woolf I donno if I'd go there with my creativity. It seems out of character, but at the same time, it's sort of believable. I also don't know how the story ends or how VW goes back to the dead. Right now though, they're learning about each other and trying to make money by selling off books. Maybe Angela will learn how to be a better writer and get some big insights. They've gone to the Central Park Zoo!
I'm having fun especially because I live here and I can vividly see all the places they've gone to so far.
Overall, it's an easy and good book to read. Maybe only long-time Woolf nerds would appreciate it completely, mainly because of the references, but it's enjoyable even if you aren't well-acquainted.
They met in their early 20s but then he left for Ceylon and reunited like ten years later, good God. He was such a cool guy too and I can't believe they're actually making a plaque for this omg this is too cuuuuute brb *explodes*.
