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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
the language of this book is breathtaking— but to be honest i found myself skimming most of it, searching for the point hidden in pages-long explication. maybe it’s because i read this novel for class and was on a tight schedule to finish it, but i found reading ‘portrait’ similar to trying to drink molasses: it tastes good, but you have to choke it down.
I first read this book when I was 17 and I think I credited it with genius as a way to fill in the gaps I couldn’t comprehend.
In revisiting it I’m more turned off by Joyce’s pontificating in the second half of the novel. In the first half this works both as a study of the human mind and its unconscious formation and habit to draw connections as well as a thorough investigation of religious fervor. The entire third section is enough to inspire PTSD in any former Catholic and at times even enough to scare one into reconsideration.
But, Stephen’s (Joyce’s) salvation through art after he sheds his religiosity comes off as hollow as art becomes his new religion but not in the inspiring spiritual sense and more as a new battlefield for him to conquer through discipline and study. After his epiphany on the beach Stephen the character becomes immediately insufferable as a smarmy know it all with an inflated sense of self. He thinks he’s smart. He thinks he’s funny. He’s all too eager to show this to everyone.
The book redeems itself toward its end in Cranly and Stephen’s final conversation/meditation. But not enough to wash off the stench of the preceding 50 pages which sucked the artistry out of the first half and replaced it with noxious theorizing and pontificating as a show of intellectualism. Interested to read more Joyce in hopes he used this first run to get all of this insecurity out of his system or at least enough so that it isn’t such a barrier to a fully realized idea.
In revisiting it I’m more turned off by Joyce’s pontificating in the second half of the novel. In the first half this works both as a study of the human mind and its unconscious formation and habit to draw connections as well as a thorough investigation of religious fervor. The entire third section is enough to inspire PTSD in any former Catholic and at times even enough to scare one into reconsideration.
But, Stephen’s (Joyce’s) salvation through art after he sheds his religiosity comes off as hollow as art becomes his new religion but not in the inspiring spiritual sense and more as a new battlefield for him to conquer through discipline and study. After his epiphany on the beach Stephen the character becomes immediately insufferable as a smarmy know it all with an inflated sense of self. He thinks he’s smart. He thinks he’s funny. He’s all too eager to show this to everyone.
The book redeems itself toward its end in Cranly and Stephen’s final conversation/meditation. But not enough to wash off the stench of the preceding 50 pages which sucked the artistry out of the first half and replaced it with noxious theorizing and pontificating as a show of intellectualism. Interested to read more Joyce in hopes he used this first run to get all of this insecurity out of his system or at least enough so that it isn’t such a barrier to a fully realized idea.
A challenging, brilliant novel. The story of a young Irishman throwing off the yoke of nation, religion, and family to embrace a life of independence and solitude as an artist.
I feel like I only scratched the surface with this first read; Joyce’s dense prose and postmodern writing style takes some getting used to, especially as it actively evolves alongside Stephen.
A few points for further reflection after a second reading: I was intrigued by Joyce’s use of bird imagery throughout the novel and, in particular, during the beach scene. Why does Joyce compare several characters to bats? I am also curious how Eileen could be the object of Stephen / Joyce’s courtly love, and if so, how the depiction may be ironic or at least different from Dante’s relationship with Beatrice in the Divine Comedy.
I feel like I only scratched the surface with this first read; Joyce’s dense prose and postmodern writing style takes some getting used to, especially as it actively evolves alongside Stephen.
A few points for further reflection after a second reading: I was intrigued by Joyce’s use of bird imagery throughout the novel and, in particular, during the beach scene. Why does Joyce compare several characters to bats? I am also curious how Eileen could be the object of Stephen / Joyce’s courtly love, and if so, how the depiction may be ironic or at least different from Dante’s relationship with Beatrice in the Divine Comedy.
Mixed thoughts.
I loved the religious aspect and chapter and Stephan’s conversation about aesthetic, art and purpose however I found it quiet dense and I can’t figure out the purpose for the dense ness ?
I loved the religious aspect and chapter and Stephan’s conversation about aesthetic, art and purpose however I found it quiet dense and I can’t figure out the purpose for the dense ness ?
A third of the time it reads as autobiographical, another third historical non-fiction, and the last third coming of age fiction. Very difficult read, I would recommend substantial knowledge of Irish history and James Joyce before reading.
So, unbelievably, it is still March in the current Groundhog Day existence that is Covid-19, 2020 and I am still reading a bit o' the Irish. I started to read Ulysses by James Joyce, got a few pages in, had to look up an obscure word or pronunciation and realized that I must read > Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man < first. Luckily, my local library is closed but you can still borrow ebooks and this one was available.
Apparently, this is semi-autobiographical and Joyce's first book. I love starting with a writer's debut! I am unsure if I got everything out of this that I was supposed to (when I thought a book was difficult before, I didn't really know what difficult was.) This book has the weighty subjects of religion, politics, and philosophy all rolled into one.
But, THE WRITING IS !!AMAZING!!:
"Near the hoardings on the canal he met the consumptive man with the doll's face and the brimless hat coming towards him down the slope of the bridge with little steps, tightly buttoned into his chocolate overcoat, and holding his furled umbrella a span or two from him like a divining rod."
Who in the actual f#%k writes like that???!!! His descriptive, beautiful writing was worth the read in itself. My absolute favourite part was the fire and brimstone retreat our main character, Stephen, attends where I (along with Stephen) was quite sure I was headed to Hell at any time. The description of Hell is FIERCE and scarier than anything ever -- and your entire senses are involved in the imagery: it is the darkest dark you have ever (not) seen, the screams of the damned and the taunts of the demons, the smells of rotting everything, the feeling of the fire that burns you for eternity, not to mention the psychological agony of your soul forever being parted from God: "This, then, to be separated for ever from its greatest good, from God, and to feel the anguish of that separation, knowing full well that it is unchangeable: this is the greatest torment which the created soul is capable of bearing, pœna damni, the pain of loss." I love a good scare and the horror in this chapter is for reals!!!!
P.S. Ulysses will not be attempted at this time. My brain needs a bit of a break.
P.P.S. I just did a quick re-read before hitting send and thought I would add a little note. I am not being flippant about Covid-19. I do not wish this virus on anyone. I, like everyone else, is horrified by what is happening globally. I have parents about 4.5 hours away who I desperately would love to be with during this time. I have children. I have friends in different parts of the world. I have, basically, been laid off from the dental office where I work and things are changing every couple of days. Last week we were seeing emergency patients only, on a rotation, Monday to Thursday, for 4 hours a day. This week, I am down to one 4-hour shift, 3 Thursdays out of the 4, not seeing patients, fielding emergencies over the phone. (Our patients need treatment and are at a loss of what to do. And the dental field is already a cause of constant anxiety and fear.) My husband is still working every day so he is our person who is running all the necessary errands. My son is supposed to graduate this year and already has learning difficulties/differences. Home schooling is not something I relish -- at all! I am highly doubtful school will continue this year. The rites of passage, grade 12 prom and graduation? Who can know??? But, we are healthy. We are together. We may have our days and nights mixed up. We may be slightly obsessed with food at the moment. I try to guilt my boyz into going for little walks with me around the neighbourhood so their thumbs don't fall off from the video game marathons with their friends. We have our moments but we're all still talking to each other
Apparently, this is semi-autobiographical and Joyce's first book. I love starting with a writer's debut! I am unsure if I got everything out of this that I was supposed to (when I thought a book was difficult before, I didn't really know what difficult was.) This book has the weighty subjects of religion, politics, and philosophy all rolled into one.
But, THE WRITING IS !!AMAZING!!:
"Near the hoardings on the canal he met the consumptive man with the doll's face and the brimless hat coming towards him down the slope of the bridge with little steps, tightly buttoned into his chocolate overcoat, and holding his furled umbrella a span or two from him like a divining rod."
Who in the actual f#%k writes like that???!!! His descriptive, beautiful writing was worth the read in itself. My absolute favourite part was the fire and brimstone retreat our main character, Stephen, attends where I (along with Stephen) was quite sure I was headed to Hell at any time. The description of Hell is FIERCE and scarier than anything ever -- and your entire senses are involved in the imagery: it is the darkest dark you have ever (not) seen, the screams of the damned and the taunts of the demons, the smells of rotting everything, the feeling of the fire that burns you for eternity, not to mention the psychological agony of your soul forever being parted from God: "This, then, to be separated for ever from its greatest good, from God, and to feel the anguish of that separation, knowing full well that it is unchangeable: this is the greatest torment which the created soul is capable of bearing, pœna damni, the pain of loss." I love a good scare and the horror in this chapter is for reals!!!!
P.S. Ulysses will not be attempted at this time. My brain needs a bit of a break.
P.P.S. I just did a quick re-read before hitting send and thought I would add a little note. I am not being flippant about Covid-19. I do not wish this virus on anyone. I, like everyone else, is horrified by what is happening globally. I have parents about 4.5 hours away who I desperately would love to be with during this time. I have children. I have friends in different parts of the world. I have, basically, been laid off from the dental office where I work and things are changing every couple of days. Last week we were seeing emergency patients only, on a rotation, Monday to Thursday, for 4 hours a day. This week, I am down to one 4-hour shift, 3 Thursdays out of the 4, not seeing patients, fielding emergencies over the phone. (Our patients need treatment and are at a loss of what to do. And the dental field is already a cause of constant anxiety and fear.) My husband is still working every day so he is our person who is running all the necessary errands. My son is supposed to graduate this year and already has learning difficulties/differences. Home schooling is not something I relish -- at all! I am highly doubtful school will continue this year. The rites of passage, grade 12 prom and graduation? Who can know??? But, we are healthy. We are together. We may have our days and nights mixed up. We may be slightly obsessed with food at the moment. I try to guilt my boyz into going for little walks with me around the neighbourhood so their thumbs don't fall off from the video game marathons with their friends. We have our moments but we're all still talking to each other