Podcast Summary: Book Club - Let's Talk About 'Mrs. Dalloway' at 100

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Book Review
• Host/Author: The New York Times
• Episode: Book Club: Let's Talk About 'Mrs. Dalloway' at 100
• Release Date: June 27, 2025

Introduction and Guest Introductions [00:35 - 02:24]

Gilbert Cruz opens the episode by introducing himself as the editor of the New York Times Book Review. He sets the stage for the Book Club's discussion, highlighting the centennial celebration of Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway. Joining the conversation are:

• MJ Franklin: Host and editor at The New York Times Book Review.
• Joumana Khatib: A returning editor and regular podcast guest.
• Laura Thompson: A first-time guest and fact checker at the Book Review.

MJ Franklin warmly welcomes the guests, commending Joumana on her recent profile of author Jonas Hasan Kamiri and introduces Laura, who shares her personal journey to discovering Virginia Woolf through A Room of One's Own.

Personal Connections to Mrs. Dalloway [02:24 - 05:08]

Laura Thompson recounts a poignant memory from her study abroad experience in England, where a Virginia Woolf scholar guided her and her classmates to the River Ouse—the site of Woolf's suicide. This experience deeply impacted her understanding of the novel's themes of mental health and societal pressures.

Joumana Khatib shares her unique connection with the book, describing how she read Mrs. Dalloway every summer for four years while working at a creative writing camp. She fondly recalls organizing "Dala Day" with friends, dedicating entire days to reading the novel together.

Initial Reactions and General Impressions [05:08 - 16:00]

MJ Franklin asks the guests to share their overarching thoughts on Mrs. Dalloway. The consensus is one of admiration and appreciation for the novel's depth and emotional resonance.

• Joumana Khatib praises Woolf's ability to portray tactile and physical emotions, citing a scene where a former love interest, Peter, bursts into Clarissa Dalloway's house, reflecting on his grief [07:40]. She highlights how the novel's interiority allows readers to seamlessly transition between different characters' consciousness.

  "Woolf has this amazing ability to pass the baton from consciousness to consciousness between characters in a way that's quite seamless and I find very moving." [06:50]

• Laura Thompson emphasizes the novel's enduring relevance, noting how each reading unveils new layers and connections with the characters' lives. She relates her identification with characters like Septimus and Lucrezia, the latter being Septimus's wife, highlighting their groundedness and hopefulness despite their struggles.

Reader Engagement and Online Reflections [12:24 - 14:14]

MJ Franklin shares insights from readers who participated in the online discussion:

• Celine from Dallas, Texas was surprised by the characters' timeless and relatable qualities, particularly the diverse forms of love depicted.
• Juliet from Seattle reflects on how Mrs. Dalloway was pioneering in its focus on an elderly woman's consciousness, a concept that has since become more commonplace in contemporary fiction.
• Cookin from New York appreciates the novel's exploration of missed opportunities and the pervasive presence of death in the characters' lives.

Joumana Khatib humorously imagines a crossover where Clarissa Dalloway receives a copy of All Four, celebrating the novel's lasting impact and inspiring fanfiction.

Deep Dive: Themes and Modernism [16:00 - 27:45]

Laura Thompson delves into the revolutionary aspects of Mrs. Dalloway, highlighting its departure from traditional realism through its focus on characters' inner lives and consciousness. She connects this to the contemporary interest in psychoanalysis and the fragmented realities post-World War I.

MJ Franklin draws parallels between Woolf's modernist techniques and today's literary experiments that capture the fragmented nature of modern life, such as the influence of the internet and the "post-truth" era.

Joumana Khatib discusses the parallelism between Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Warren Smith as echoes and foils of each other. She notes that eventually, Septimus was incorporated into the final version of the novel to balance Clarissa's character, adding depth and contrasting perspectives on life and death.

"It's impossible. I don't want this to sound macabre. I legitimately don't mean this as a macabre comment. But my understanding is that her work was really her life ballast." [16:54]

MJ Franklin reflects on the novel's capacity to embody complex societal and personal themes within its narrative structure, emphasizing the role of literature in articulating and exploring profound human experiences.

Strategies for Engaging with Mrs. Dalloway [28:19 - 33:27]

MJ Franklin and the guests provide practical tips for readers who might find Mrs. Dalloway challenging:

• MJ Franklin suggests alternating between reading the text and listening to the audiobook, as well as reading passages aloud to better grasp Woolf's rhythmic prose. She also recommends pausing to reflect on the passage's significance, inspired by George Saunders' approach.

• Laura Thompson recommends utilizing annotated editions, such as Mervyn Jones' annotated version, to better understand historical and cultural references. She also advocates for a mindful reading approach, allowing oneself to daydream and fully inhabit the characters' experiences.

• Joumana Khatib emphasizes the importance of embracing the emotional and intellectual flow of the novel without striving to grasp every detail, allowing flexibility in engaging with the text.

Final Reflections and Recommendations [33:27 - 41:59]

As the discussion winds down, the guests share their favorite aspects and beloved characters from the novel. Joumana expresses mixed feelings about the character Peter Walsh, while MJ Franklin shares a poignant quote describing Richard Dalloway's "adorable, divine simplicity."

Recommendations:

• Laura Thompson recommends The Passion According to GH by Clarice Lispector, likening its stream-of-consciousness style to Woolf's work. She also suggests Less Bohemians by Edna O'Brien for readers seeking experimental narrative forms.

• MJ Franklin creates a comprehensive Virginia Woolf reading guide, including:

  • To the Lighthouse – For continued exploration of Woolf's narrative techniques.
  • Orlando – Celebrating gender fluidity and playful storytelling.
  • A Room of One's Own – For feminist perspectives and literary analysis.
  • Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Brown – Woolf's nonfiction insights on character construction.
  • The Hours by Michael Cunningham – A Pulitzer-winning homage to Mrs. Dalloway.

• Joumana Khatib also recommends Guess Headshot by Rita Bullock and Tilt by Emma Paty, both of which employ innovative narrative structures and deep interiority reminiscent of Woolf's style.

Closing and Upcoming Book Club Announcement [41:59 - 43:41]

MJ Franklin wraps up the discussion, encouraging listeners to continue the conversation online and revealing the July Book Club selection:

• July Book Club Book: The Catch by Yrisa Daily Ward
  • Synopsis: A mind-bending thriller about twin sisters grappling with the sudden return of their mother, who appears unchanged after 30 years of presumed disappearance. The novel explores themes of reality, identity, and familial bonds.

Listeners are invited to join the next discussion on July 25th and engage with fellow readers through the New York Times Book Review platform.

Gilbert Cruz signs off, thanking the guests and encouraging listeners to subscribe for full access to New York Times podcasts.

Notable Quotes:

• Joumana Khatib [06:50]:

  "Woolf has this amazing ability to pass the baton from consciousness to consciousness between characters in a way that's quite seamless and I find very moving."

• MJ Franklin [09:10]:

  "Thought Peter. It almost broke my heart too, he thought, and was overcome with his own grief, which rose like a moon looked at from a terrace, ghastly, beautiful with light from the sunken day."

• Joumana Khatib [16:54]:

  "I think the other thing, it's impossible. I don't want this to sound macabre. I legitimately don't mean this as a macabre comment. But my understanding is that her work was really her life ballast."

• Laura Thompson [35:45]:

  "She has one of the most indelible cockroach images in all of Latin American literature."

Conclusion: The episode provides a comprehensive and intimate exploration of Mrs. Dalloway, celebrating its centennial through personal anecdotes, critical analysis, and reader engagement. The hosts and guests delve into the novel's intricate narrative style, enduring themes, and its significant place in literary modernism, offering valuable insights and recommendations for both new and seasoned readers.