Reviews - A Portrait of the Artist As A Young Man

2.22k reviews for:

A Portrait of the Artist As A Young Man

James Joyce

3.43 AVERAGE

nickygra's review against another edition

4.75

challenging reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

graceesford's review against another edition

2.0

mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

oliviaquintero's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 60%

bro so fucking boring mindless dribble

lyssquee's review against another edition

4.0

challenging reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Impossible to actually give a star rating to James Joyce, because any shortcomings may just be my own.

I enjoyed this much more than I expected to. Some truly incredible bits of prose. I often felt like the writing was washing over me like a gentle wave, and it was up to me to catch that wave or let it crash beyond me.
Stephen is a generic moody teenage boy... with serious Catholic guilt and access to too many heady historical philosophical ideals. He made me laugh many times with his melodrama and overthought theories on art, religion, and the soul - theories which he himself contradicts via his mere existence. He is not very likeable, but that itself makes him strangely lovable.

I have never read a book as slowly as I read this one. A lot of work to understand, but worth it.

kal9000's review against another edition

5.0

Beautiful beyond words

amandak's review against another edition

2.0

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kittyboberts's review against another edition

5.0

This piece of art describes the inner thoughts of a young person as he grows up and his views and perspectives change. James Joyce has created a very real character and infused this book with powerful, compelling imagery.