I found the idea of an American male attempting to write a companion novel to Mrs. Dalloway, in the style of Virginia Woolf, quite presumptuous. Needless to say I was extremely sceptical. After reading The Hours, I must say it was beautifully executed. Although this is not a sequel of a classic and does stand alone, anyone wanting to read this should read Mrs. Dalloway first to appreciate all the nuances and subtle referrences. Any fan of Mrs. Dalloway (my favorite Woolf novel) should read this... you surely won't regret it.