Reviews - A Portrait of the Artist As A Young Man

2.23k reviews for:

A Portrait of the Artist As A Young Man

James Joyce

3.43 AVERAGE

magicaltats's review against another edition

1.0

... I have no idea what went on in this book. Like, I was fine for the first chapter or so, but then it lost me majorly. Yeah.

writesdave's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-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

For a "classic" of literature, this left me lacking, and I'll acknowledge that I probably am not smart enough to truly grasp it. In fact, I'll use the same overall line that I used in my review of "Gatsby": I just don't get it. The prose is beautiful and the story compelling, but... I don't know, it didn't live up to the hype. And don't get me started on an entire chapter of a sermon about what happens when you *don't* walk the straight and narrow hand-in-hand with one certain religion, even if that chapter offered context for why our protagonist strayed from the flock. Overrated. Maybe I'll read it again sometime.

logancsmith51's review against another edition

3.0

I’m glad Stephen didn’t take the job

Tough read, very heady language. When it hit, it really hit but when it slogged it really slogged. Overall, good book, the transformation from a young boy to a young man is so familiar in a very personal way. The feelings of isolation and entrapment are written so well from the point of view of “the artist” in each time period. I loved the section right after he turned down the offer to become a priest. Stephen feels a type of exuberance for capturing his own life for what HE wants, and it’s great! Makes me want to get out and experience life a little more!

Love really is the greatest art…. I can say this cause I’m married

“To discover the mode of life or of art whereby your spirit could express itself in unfettered freedom”

red117's review against another edition

5.0

small child MOGS the church.

hundredacre's review against another edition

4.0

Joyce’s writing style is naturally difficult to get used to. It was interesting to be able to get a sense of how lost someone can feel when they’re in the wrong situation. His relationship with God, women, his fellow man, and himself seemed to change based on the day. He was grounded in nothing but confusion. He had to create meaning for himself by making something that he deemed as beautiful in order to feel a connection to others in a way that religion, politics, and philosophy could never quite fulfill in him.

nihilisk's review against another edition

5.0

You’d be hard pressed to find more poetic prose. Stephen’s revelation along the riverside is one of the greatest passages I’ve ever read. I was somewhat disappointed this book ended so soon and so abruptly; I could have read a hundred pages more. Not necessarily what I was expecting, but a strong recommend to any reader of English, although people who demand traditional plot(s) won’t find much here in that vein. This is almost more a philosophical text than a literary one, but no less inspiring for it. One for the ages. Stephen’s distinction between the writer and the poet was an instant earmark for me.