Fiction

Lolly Willowes

Lolly Willowes

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  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-10-08 09:53:47
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Sylvia Townsend Warner
  • ISBN：0241573785
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Reviews

Carolien ，

A girl grows up as the much younger sibling to her brothers and on the death of her mother starts keeping house for her father in the Somerset countryside。 Laura Willowes loves plants and searches for remedies that use herbs and local botany。 On the death of her father， she is sent to live with her brother and his family in London where she drifts around until she suddenly moves to a small village in the Chilterns。 There she is slowly drawn back into her former life with nature with a surprising A girl grows up as the much younger sibling to her brothers and on the death of her mother starts keeping house for her father in the Somerset countryside。 Laura Willowes loves plants and searches for remedies that use herbs and local botany。 On the death of her father， she is sent to live with her brother and his family in London where she drifts around until she suddenly moves to a small village in the Chilterns。 There she is slowly drawn back into her former life with nature with a surprising result。 This must have caused a sensation when it was first published。 。。。more

Janet Miller ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 An interesting story of a woman who has to live with relatives most of her adult life。 She was a spinster and not allowed to be on her own。 When her parents died， she left for a different town to live by herself。 She ends up being a witch。 The only thing I didn't like about the book was the way it was written。 It was almost all description and very little dialog。 I would have given it 4 stars but had to give it three。 The worst part was the book is only 160 pages， but it is divided into only 3 p An interesting story of a woman who has to live with relatives most of her adult life。 She was a spinster and not allowed to be on her own。 When her parents died， she left for a different town to live by herself。 She ends up being a witch。 The only thing I didn't like about the book was the way it was written。 It was almost all description and very little dialog。 I would have given it 4 stars but had to give it three。 The worst part was the book is only 160 pages， but it is divided into only 3 parts。 I don't want chapters 50 pages long or more。 I prefer shot chapters。 I have to start and stop reading frequently and I prefer to stop at a new chapter。 Short chapters keep you reading just one more。 You feel like you are getting somewhere faster。 。。。more

Annika Papke ，

so charming <3 this is my ideal life trajectory i think

Rachel Doose ，

4。5 starsA perfect fall read， written by a communist lesbian in the 1920s。

January ，

Lolly Willowes Or the Loving Huntsman by Sylvia Townsend Warner 5h 45m narrated by Sarah Nichols， 222 pagesGenre: Classics， Fantasy， Feminism， Witches， 20th Century， British Literature， Womens Fiction， Literary FictionFeaturing: Spinsterhood， Clingy Relatives， London， Countryside， Witchcraft Rating as a movie: PG/PG-13 My rating: ⭐️⭐️½My thoughts: 📱5% 17:46 into Ch。 1- This is a little dull。 Going to the back of the rotation for now。 📱15% 54:35 Ch。 2 - I'm not loving it but I'm not giving up。 📱4 Lolly Willowes Or the Loving Huntsman by Sylvia Townsend Warner 5h 45m narrated by Sarah Nichols， 222 pagesGenre: Classics， Fantasy， Feminism， Witches， 20th Century， British Literature， Womens Fiction， Literary FictionFeaturing: Spinsterhood， Clingy Relatives， London， Countryside， Witchcraft Rating as a movie: PG/PG-13 My rating: ⭐️⭐️½My thoughts: 📱5% 17:46 into Ch。 1- This is a little dull。 Going to the back of the rotation for now。 📱15% 54:35 Ch。 2 - I'm not loving it but I'm not giving up。 📱45% 2:40:46 Ch。 4/Pt。 3/really 60% - I'm so over this story。 It's interesting but nothing is really happening。 I need purpose in my stories。 📱60% 3:28:24 Ch。 5/Pt。 3 - 😡 It was nearly 20 minutes before I accepted that I was listening to the same chapter I finished。 I noticed it right away but because the chapters are so long I thought made I accidentally paused in the middle。 I finally skipped to chapter 5 and I hear "part 3" right where I left off。 I was wondering why I wasn't even halfway through this book after all of the chores I did。 SMH。 I blame Hoopla。 I didn't find it funny， it wasn't quite boring but it was close。 When I finally saw the scenes in my head the story got weird， I didn't like the ending， although I get it。 I really felt like I needed a lesson plan for the first quarter of this book。 Recommend to others？: Nope。 It is most definitely someone's taste but I'm not putting my name behind it。 。。。more

Kathryn ，

I was interested in this book because it’s billed as BOTM’s first botm。 And let me tell you， if I hadn’t been leading a buddy read of this and reading it for a challenge prompt （that I now realize I’ve already fulfilled） I would have DNFed it early on。 This book was boring！ To use the author’s own word， there was a lot of “rhapsodizing” and very little dialogue。 And there are no chapters， just three parts with no breaks。 But what really gets me is the sudden turn the book takes — spoiler: Lolly I was interested in this book because it’s billed as BOTM’s first botm。 And let me tell you， if I hadn’t been leading a buddy read of this and reading it for a challenge prompt （that I now realize I’ve already fulfilled） I would have DNFed it early on。 This book was boring！ To use the author’s own word， there was a lot of “rhapsodizing” and very little dialogue。 And there are no chapters， just three parts with no breaks。 But what really gets me is the sudden turn the book takes — spoiler: Lolly is suddenly a witch and is basically BFFs with Satan。 Um， what？？ The only thing I appreciated about this book was Lilly’s determination to go where she wanted and do what she wanted whether her family supported her or not。 But otherwise， I could have done without this book and I do not recommend。 。。。more

Graziella ，

Sottofondo:Go tomorrow - The haunting of hill House1 hour loop

Bridget Bonaparte ，

Perfect little fall novel about a 47 year old woman who desperately tries to get away from her family and decides to become a witch。 A fun twist on a spinster novel。

Jess | dapper。reads ，

I remember now why classics are not my favorite。 I spent much of this book trying to understand why some of the stuff in it was important。 As it turns out， it really wasn’t。 Many of the classics are this way which leads me to believe it’s just how books were written in the past。 The story itself， once sorted from the nonsense， is very intriguing and I found myself invested in Miss Willowes and hoping she’d eventually find her way。 While the synopsis ensures us she does， there were many times tha I remember now why classics are not my favorite。 I spent much of this book trying to understand why some of the stuff in it was important。 As it turns out， it really wasn’t。 Many of the classics are this way which leads me to believe it’s just how books were written in the past。 The story itself， once sorted from the nonsense， is very intriguing and I found myself invested in Miss Willowes and hoping she’d eventually find her way。 While the synopsis ensures us she does， there were many times that I didn’t feel she would ever realize her potential。 Had this been a short story I’d have loved it - but apparently I’m a modern day reader … don’t use three words when one will do。 。。。more

Samantha Bowman ，

I enjoyed the ending more than the beginning。 Most of the pacing was very slow to me however I would recommend to those who like classic literature。 I also realize that a book from the 1920's will have different language and pacing than more current reads and tried to keep that in mind throughout。 I enjoyed the ending more than the beginning。 Most of the pacing was very slow to me however I would recommend to those who like classic literature。 I also realize that a book from the 1920's will have different language and pacing than more current reads and tried to keep that in mind throughout。 。。。more

Sarah ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Dalla trama me lo aspettavo accattivante， la Warner è sicuramente capace di trasmettere il sogno rurale di Laura ai lettori e la sua insofferenza per i venti anni di vita buttati nella finzione di essere solo "Zia Lolly"。。。 Ciò detto arrivata a pag 121 su 176 ancora non è successo nulla， non c'è alcuna curiosità che mi spinga a terminarlo。 Peccato。 Dalla trama me lo aspettavo accattivante， la Warner è sicuramente capace di trasmettere il sogno rurale di Laura ai lettori e la sua insofferenza per i venti anni di vita buttati nella finzione di essere solo "Zia Lolly"。。。 Ciò detto arrivata a pag 121 su 176 ancora non è successo nulla， non c'è alcuna curiosità che mi spinga a terminarlo。 Peccato。 。。。more

Mary ，

This would make a great Halloween movie！ I'm moving into a third book by her soon。 Such a great style of writing。 Most of her works have been tricky to find， out of print， etc。 But I have enjoyed them enough to be motivated to find them。 Recommended by the NYT Review of Books。 This would make a great Halloween movie！ I'm moving into a third book by her soon。 Such a great style of writing。 Most of her works have been tricky to find， out of print， etc。 But I have enjoyed them enough to be motivated to find them。 Recommended by the NYT Review of Books。 。。。more

Cellardoora Maar ，

What the hell 。。。Ab 60% hab ich es nur noch überflogen， um es nach etlichen Monaten einfach nur noch hinter mich zu bringen。 Zur Erinnerung: das ist ein echt kurzes Buch！Im ersten Teil geht’s nur um ihre Familie。 Schon mal nicht so übermäßig spannend。 Dann zieht sie weg - und BÄM wirres Hexenblabla wird vom Stapel gelassen。 Uiiiii， super bedeutsam。 Nicht。Spricht mich nicht an。 Schade ums Geld。

Daisybirch ，

4。5 stars。 Difficult to rate this as it didn’t really match up to the expectation given by the blurb of the Penguin Modern Classics edition:‘Lolly Willowes， so gentle and accommodating， has depths no one suspects。 When she suddenly announces that she is leaving London and moving， alone， to the depths of the countryside， her overbearing relatives are horrified。 But Lolly has a greater， far darker calling than family: witchcraft。’We get 70 pages into a 160 page novel before Laura moves to the coun 4。5 stars。 Difficult to rate this as it didn’t really match up to the expectation given by the blurb of the Penguin Modern Classics edition:‘Lolly Willowes， so gentle and accommodating， has depths no one suspects。 When she suddenly announces that she is leaving London and moving， alone， to the depths of the countryside， her overbearing relatives are horrified。 But Lolly has a greater， far darker calling than family: witchcraft。’We get 70 pages into a 160 page novel before Laura moves to the countryside。 Also， she never actually practices the witchcraft which seems latent in her earlier on in her life （fascination with herbs， etc）， so that was slightly disappointing given what I’d been led to expect by the blurb。 She does move to the countryside ‘alone’， but she takes a room in a married couple’s cottage - from the blurb I was expecting a greater sense of isolation （like a cottage on her own in the middle of the woods or something）。 However， I did like the alternative。 The small village setting and its interaction with the ‘witchcraft’ was often funny。 The conversation that takes place at the end was very moving。 A beautiful ending but it just seemed a shame that the novel ended just as Laura’s life as a witch seemed about to start！ Anyway， I can see why Updike seems to have really rated Warner。 Am probably going to read Witches of Eastwick next to compare。 。。。more

Anne ，

This is a fun little feminist book that starts slow and really drags， to the point that， apparently， many readers get bored and don't finish。 If the middle of the book drags so， just think how much the LIFE it portrays has made women not want to finish。 But， Lolly。 or Laura， decides to change the finish and things pick up a bit。 It was written in 1926 so it's low on violence， blood， gore and curse words。 But the writing is delightful and that makes it worthwhile。 I gulped this down in one evenin This is a fun little feminist book that starts slow and really drags， to the point that， apparently， many readers get bored and don't finish。 If the middle of the book drags so， just think how much the LIFE it portrays has made women not want to finish。 But， Lolly。 or Laura， decides to change the finish and things pick up a bit。 It was written in 1926 so it's low on violence， blood， gore and curse words。 But the writing is delightful and that makes it worthwhile。 I gulped this down in one evening and enjoyed even the draggy parts because of the writing。 。。。more

Charlotta ，

Actually 3，5 stars - had to round up。

Kalpana Misra ，

A rollicking read。

Cassandra ，

I didn't like Lolly Willowes as much as I thought I would。 It was a bit boring， to be honest。 The best part was the last 50 pages or so and by that point， I was just looking forward to it being done。 I didn't like Lolly Willowes as much as I thought I would。 It was a bit boring， to be honest。 The best part was the last 50 pages or so and by that point， I was just looking forward to it being done。 。。。more

Isabella Boyde ，

☆2。5The book is written in beautiful prose， and there is an endearing quality about Laura Willowes's desire to be alone。 The book also features a strong， progressive feminism that is unusual for its time。 However， the characters as well as the plot of the story failed to pique my interest。 ☆2。5The book is written in beautiful prose， and there is an endearing quality about Laura Willowes's desire to be alone。 The book also features a strong， progressive feminism that is unusual for its time。 However， the characters as well as the plot of the story failed to pique my interest。 。。。more

Sonia Panico ，

"Ma le donne lo sanno di essere dinamite， e non vedono l'ora che si verifichi l'esplosione che renderà loro giustizia。 Ad alcune può capitare la religione， e così sono a posto， immagino。 Al le altre però - e sono tante - cos'altro resta se non la stregoneria？"Questa frase riassume benissimo l'essenza di questo libro。 È una delizia da leggere， la prosa scorre velocemente soffermandosi spesso sui passaggi della campagna inglese creando una atmosfera perfetta。 Il libro giusto al momento giusto。 "Ma le donne lo sanno di essere dinamite， e non vedono l'ora che si verifichi l'esplosione che renderà loro giustizia。 Ad alcune può capitare la religione， e così sono a posto， immagino。 Al le altre però - e sono tante - cos'altro resta se non la stregoneria？"Questa frase riassume benissimo l'essenza di questo libro。 È una delizia da leggere， la prosa scorre velocemente soffermandosi spesso sui passaggi della campagna inglese creando una atmosfera perfetta。 Il libro giusto al momento giusto。 。。。more

robyn ，

This book is nearly perfect - the last page or two broke its spell， for me - but you do have to be in the right frame of mind。 You have to be ready to sink slowly into it， because it's a slow， leisurely drop into the peaceful and uneventful life of a British spinster who， almost without noticing it， becomes middle-aged and taken for granted by a loving family。 But sometimes a terror， a longing， grips her without warning， always seasonally， always gone again as soon as it came。 Our inkling of the This book is nearly perfect - the last page or two broke its spell， for me - but you do have to be in the right frame of mind。 You have to be ready to sink slowly into it， because it's a slow， leisurely drop into the peaceful and uneventful life of a British spinster who， almost without noticing it， becomes middle-aged and taken for granted by a loving family。 But sometimes a terror， a longing， grips her without warning， always seasonally， always gone again as soon as it came。 Our inkling of the supernatural comes abruptly and yet it's been building up quietly all alongLolly Willowes is lauded as a feminist text， and - yes。 But it partakes of the spirit rather than the letter， and can for that reason be read by anyone， I think - anyone that would enjoy Meet me at the Museum or a Man Named Ove， or any book about any person， man or woman， deciding to live on their own terms， and finding happiness late and in a different form than they'd expected。 It's beautifully written。 It makes you feel as if you're experiencing the world with a young child's sense of attention and wonder and complete immersion。 。。。more

Marina Sofia ，

Probably 4。5 stars for me， not quite perfect because there is a lot of 'telling' in the first part。 But excellent observations about the stultifying expectations of the family， and then the joyous bid for freedom。 Probably 4。5 stars for me， not quite perfect because there is a lot of 'telling' in the first part。 But excellent observations about the stultifying expectations of the family， and then the joyous bid for freedom。 。。。more

Fiona ，

Singular and entertaining！Unfortunately， my copy previously belonged to one of those “academics” who think nothing of defacing a book with a highlighter and inane comments in search of content for a sure to be awful proto feminist essay。

Damian ，

Absolutely batshit--in the best possible way。 Middle-aged， upper middle-class， spinster Aunt， Lolly Willowes， ups and leaves her stultifingly comfortable London life。 Her family couldn't be more shocked。 She moves to an out of the way little village that she has only ever seen on a map and falls in love with nature again and her own company。 Oh， and she meets the Devil and becomes a witch。 It is deftly observed and funny and angry and what it has to say about class and gender remain hideously re Absolutely batshit--in the best possible way。 Middle-aged， upper middle-class， spinster Aunt， Lolly Willowes， ups and leaves her stultifingly comfortable London life。 Her family couldn't be more shocked。 She moves to an out of the way little village that she has only ever seen on a map and falls in love with nature again and her own company。 Oh， and she meets the Devil and becomes a witch。 It is deftly observed and funny and angry and what it has to say about class and gender remain hideously relevant now。 I wish I'd read it sooner and will now devour more STW。 。。。more

Laura ，

*4。5

Yulia Kazachkova ，

This novel is in a way about lady gaga， because the character is undoubtedly a lady and she is， well， actually quite gaga。When I’m 47 and a spinster， please， please， I implore you， remember to tell me that I don’t need to go far into the woods and imagine myself a witch in league with Satan my Master （aka loving Huntsman！） to feel free and independent。 Please， bring me to my senses should I be seized by this unfortunate malaise。 All I need to be free is a lot of money， in fact， but that is irrel This novel is in a way about lady gaga， because the character is undoubtedly a lady and she is， well， actually quite gaga。When I’m 47 and a spinster， please， please， I implore you， remember to tell me that I don’t need to go far into the woods and imagine myself a witch in league with Satan my Master （aka loving Huntsman！） to feel free and independent。 Please， bring me to my senses should I be seized by this unfortunate malaise。 All I need to be free is a lot of money， in fact， but that is irrelevant to the book。Nothing， virtually nothing of interest happens here。 It’s not exactly boring， but the only saving grace is the language of course。 Sylvia Townsend Warner’s English is impeccably English。I do not recommend this book to anyone who merely wishes to pass the time reading。 This book is a statement underneath and a nonentity at face value。And if this is indeed an early feminist classic （as we’re informed by relevant authorities）， it hides itself well under a tub of folly。 Written in 1920s， and the author was all misunderstood as to the real deep meaning of the novel。 Poor dear， shouldn’t she’ve been more explicit in the pre-postmodernist day and age？ 。。。more

āfhfh ，

–– we who are witches 。。。。。

Pat ，

Truly beautiful dream-like writing。 Lolly， one of the 'invisible women，' a forgettable middle-aged spinster， is grateful Satan finds her and women like her interesting and worth "the hunt。" - pb。 Truly beautiful dream-like writing。 Lolly， one of the 'invisible women，' a forgettable middle-aged spinster， is grateful Satan finds her and women like her interesting and worth "the hunt。" - pb。 。。。more

Christine ，

I first learned about this book while reading How To Be A Heroine by Samantha Ellis。 She mentions that Lolly Willowes was actually published three years before A Room Of One's Own by Virginia Wolf。 It is a super trippy well written commentary on a women's right to live as she pleases and I really adored it， it seems like a crazy brave thing to have published as a woman in 1926。 I also loved a lot of her descriptions of the natural world， including a scene where she's unexpectedly handed a big sp I first learned about this book while reading How To Be A Heroine by Samantha Ellis。 She mentions that Lolly Willowes was actually published three years before A Room Of One's Own by Virginia Wolf。 It is a super trippy well written commentary on a women's right to live as she pleases and I really adored it， it seems like a crazy brave thing to have published as a woman in 1926。 I also loved a lot of her descriptions of the natural world， including a scene where she's unexpectedly handed a big spray of golden brown beech leaves in a cozy little store on an autumn night and it changes the trajectory of her life。 。。。more

Sydney Edens ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 of course i liked this book， it has magical realism duhsooooo good！！ “one doesn’t become a witch to run round being harmful， …it’s to escape all that— to have a life of one’s own， not an existence doled out to you by others…”virginia woolf before virginia woolf i love that it started out with a jane austen feel and ended with her talking to satan。 feminist lesbian icon lolly， i want to be her when i grow up

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Lolly Willowes

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Lolly Willowes&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Lolly Willowes&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0