A Writer's Diary: Being Extracts from the Diary of Virginia Woolf

After coming across of a mention of Virginia Woolf in another book. I decided to check out some of her writing at the local library. I came across this book and picked it up. I had heard of Virginia Woolf, but had never read any of other writing. I feel like I have much in common with Ms. Woolf. I too, have the heart of a writer. I know well what she means when she talks about books that scream to be written. I also enjoyed reading critiques of books that I've also read. I also found it fascinating to read about how she came with the idea for each of her books and the process of writing each one.

The fact that Ms. Woolf was bipolar is also clear in this book. There are times when she is almost frenzied with energy and passion, and other times, when she is so down in the dumps she can barely function. Even though, I am not bipolar, I know what a struggle it can be to live with depression and how much of an impact it can have on your writing and your ability to concentrate and write. That is something I struggle with myself.

I found this book to be a very enjoyable read. I definitely plan on checking to see if I can locate more of her books at the library.

This is one of the greatest books ever compiled/edited (here, by the brilliant Leonard Woolf-too often completely disregarded for his own unique editorial genius) after Virginia Woolf's most tragic suicide. What you will learn from this book is the spectacularly heroic efforts VW expended moment to moment, hour to hour, day to day, month to month, year to year, and decade to decade to prevail over those inner demons by utilizing her great gift of writing herself out. This is an extraordinary Masterpiece in English Literature as well. A must-have for anyone with even a scintilla of understanding about Bi-Polar Illness and Depression insofar as how torturously difficult it can be to simply carry on...let alone glitter like the Heavenly star VW surely was. Oh - and as long as her books are still in print, I don't see her as really "gone" at all.