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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
challenging
slow-paced
A-Z of Classics Readalong - J
Well, that was a unique reading experience.
--
I really love the idea behind this novel, there was so much of it that was new to me when reading. It's the first novel where the character has started as a 5-year-old and finished as a 20-year-old (roughly). I really love getting to know a character and their development in-depth like that.
Stephen was mostly likeable. I liked him as a kid, he was really sweet and how he thought of women and love in such a tender and romantic way was really sweet. And he's a deep-thinker, an intellectual who is always questioning and mulling over life and what it means and what it stands for, and I really liked reading about a character like that. I'm someone who also does that, I enjoyed the stream-of-consciousness that was albeit confusing, but I read a study guide along with it which kept it making sense to me, and I'm someone who is a big back-and-forth/random thinker/talker, so it was nice to be able to read a narrative like what goes on in my mind!
But sometimes Stephen, and the book, wasn't likeable. That middle section where we had to read reams and reams of content/rants about hell, and then Stephen himself turns overly religious- I saw a comment on the GR Status Updates where someone said 'I think the whole of Ch3/4 was ironic', which is true and funny, but was still tedious to read. Also Stephen himself turned dislikeable when he started going to 'harlots' like! What happened to sweet Stephen who revered women?? He also turned into a bit of an arrogant arse aswell...
But then it brought it back at the end of Ch4 because that whole end of the chapter was beautiful and I was listening to a Harry Potter music playlist and it had just hit a really beautiful/inspiring part of the playlist at the same time I was reading it and it made a really nice moment. And then
in Ch5 I did like (as someone who occasionally writes poetry) that we got to see what he was thinking and feeling, and how that translated into him writing a poem- that was such a fun and enjoyable idea.
I also learnt a lot about Irish history, which considering I'm part Irish (but idk that side of the family at all) I should probably know about it, but anyway I've learnt more now! It was really interesting getting Stephen's (arrogant) perspective on the fact that Ireland was actually colonised, but the arrogance that he blamed his ancestors for losing their language and that he shouldn't have to repay their debts by learning it... Stephen
Well, that was a unique reading experience.
--
I really love the idea behind this novel, there was so much of it that was new to me when reading. It's the first novel where the character has started as a 5-year-old and finished as a 20-year-old (roughly). I really love getting to know a character and their development in-depth like that.
Stephen was mostly likeable. I liked him as a kid, he was really sweet and how he thought of women and love in such a tender and romantic way was really sweet. And he's a deep-thinker, an intellectual who is always questioning and mulling over life and what it means and what it stands for, and I really liked reading about a character like that. I'm someone who also does that, I enjoyed the stream-of-consciousness that was albeit confusing, but I read a study guide along with it which kept it making sense to me, and I'm someone who is a big back-and-forth/random thinker/talker, so it was nice to be able to read a narrative like what goes on in my mind!
But sometimes Stephen, and the book, wasn't likeable. That middle section where we had to read reams and reams of content/rants about hell, and then Stephen himself turns overly religious- I saw a comment on the GR Status Updates where someone said 'I think the whole of Ch3/4 was ironic', which is true and funny, but was still tedious to read. Also Stephen himself turned dislikeable when he started going to 'harlots' like! What happened to sweet Stephen who revered women?? He also turned into a bit of an arrogant arse aswell...
But then it brought it back at the end of Ch4 because that whole end of the chapter was beautiful and I was listening to a Harry Potter music playlist and it had just hit a really beautiful/inspiring part of the playlist at the same time I was reading it and it made a really nice moment. And then
in Ch5 I did like (as someone who occasionally writes poetry) that we got to see what he was thinking and feeling, and how that translated into him writing a poem- that was such a fun and enjoyable idea.
I also learnt a lot about Irish history, which considering I'm part Irish (but idk that side of the family at all) I should probably know about it, but anyway I've learnt more now! It was really interesting getting Stephen's (arrogant) perspective on the fact that Ireland was actually colonised, but the arrogance that he blamed his ancestors for losing their language and that he shouldn't have to repay their debts by learning it... Stephen
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think I read this a long time ago when my sister was in high school, and for some reason, I found it readable then. But I wasn't reading it for school, so I don't remember too much about what I read except that I was surprised it was as readable as it was. But I think reading it now as an adult, I probably appreciate it more, and listening to the recording by Jim Norton was helpful for me. I also have a recording with Colin Farrell who does it with an Irish accent, which definitely makes sense since Joyce was Irish. But somehow after listening to both, I decided I preferred the Jim Norton recording. YMMV obviously. I don't think I realized that this story was at least inspired by events in the author's own life and that in spirit at least, it was somewhat of an autobiography. I found Stephan Deadalus' journey from childhood to adult artist to be oddly compelling and rather enjoyed experiencing this book as an adult. Chapter 3 was particularly masterful, I thought, with the feel of attending a Parochial school with the sermons being drummed into you. I felt like he really captured that period of Dedalus' life and it makes me wonder how much of that Joyce experienced. I suspect it would have to be pretty close. The contrast with the next chapter with the girl and the feel of the seaside is so completely opposite you can almost feel the deep breaths being taken. Those two chapters were probably the most compelling for me. Overall, if you've never read this for school, or you did but you didn't like it at the time, this is a pretty quick read and is worth the time spent.
SUMMARY:
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man portrays Stephen Dedalus's Dublin childhood and youth, providing an oblique self-portrait of the young James Joyce. At its center are questions of origin and source, authority and authorship, and the relationship of an artist to his family, culture, and race. Exuberantly inventive, this coming-of-age story is a tour de force of style and technique.
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man portrays Stephen Dedalus's Dublin childhood and youth, providing an oblique self-portrait of the young James Joyce. At its center are questions of origin and source, authority and authorship, and the relationship of an artist to his family, culture, and race. Exuberantly inventive, this coming-of-age story is a tour de force of style and technique.
challenging
reflective
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:
No
not for me. couldnt grasp onto a character, barely could get ahold of stephen. first 2 chapters were really engaging, especially that dinner scene. lost it by the preaching in the 3rd. some excerpts i loved but not most. i guess i would not feel so confident in my heretic nature without catholics like joyce paving the way before me, so thanks for that. i liked his critiques of nationalism. i can feel so jealous as an american that irishmen have so much pride in their country, but nationalism is just another institution to pour ur hopes and dreams into, mostly in vain. i liked his thoughts about the english vs the irish languages as well. i disagreed with his thoughts about art. no woman has a name, he is so obsessed with his lust but of course does not lend these women any respect. stephen doesnt even love his mother. maybe this is a hint at his naivete but whatever, i know plenty of young men that love their mothers. one day i will read joyce’s better books but not for awhile. gonna listen to a podcast analyzing this work to try to figure it out.
Before Holden Caulfield, there was Stephen Dedalus. Joyce uses his self-insert to explore everything under the umbrella of adolescent angst: grappling with societal/religious contradiction, sexual obsession, and discovering one’s own identity.
That said, Joyce’s famously dense prose are an obstacle to work through.
That said, Joyce’s famously dense prose are an obstacle to work through.