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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
This is the most rewarding work I have ever written. It has become my thought processes, and I am entranced, enamored, and obsessed with this book. Complex, dense, and marvelously written. Reading the book is picking up the pieces so you can make them all click in your head at the end. The more I think about it (I can't stop!), the more I love it. This is James Joyce's thesis statement as an artist and a person.
The absolute pinnacle of my reading experiences. Everything is compared to it.
You were wrong, Alisa, I did finish this book! Took me awhile to get into, as he kept changing up the writing style. Plus the middle section about religion was very dry. I found that I preferred the last third of the book the best and wish more of the book was written in that fashion.
Well thank God that's over. I have such mixed feelings about this book I'm not sure how articulate this review is going to be but I'm willing to give it a go.
The first third of this book is amazing. I truly enjoyed getting to know Stephen as a child and being able to see through his eyes as he tries to come to terms with the world around him. The description of hell presented in the book may be one of the most vivid things I have ever read and then this book got bad, so very very bad. Once Stephen got to university I just didn't care, like at all. The stream of conscious writing is very confusing making it a very difficult book to set down and pick back up again.
All in all, I would recommend this to people if you enjoy Catcher in the Rye kind of angsty rambling (Stephen is so Holden Caulfield without actually being as interesting as Holden Caulfield) or are at all interested in modernism or if you're a fan of Joyce. Other than that I'd maybe give this one a miss.
The first third of this book is amazing. I truly enjoyed getting to know Stephen as a child and being able to see through his eyes as he tries to come to terms with the world around him. The description of hell presented in the book may be one of the most vivid things I have ever read and then this book got bad, so very very bad. Once Stephen got to university I just didn't care, like at all. The stream of conscious writing is very confusing making it a very difficult book to set down and pick back up again.
All in all, I would recommend this to people if you enjoy Catcher in the Rye kind of angsty rambling (Stephen is so Holden Caulfield without actually being as interesting as Holden Caulfield) or are at all interested in modernism or if you're a fan of Joyce. Other than that I'd maybe give this one a miss.
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
Even Colin Farrell's delightful voice (pardon me while I #swoon ... ahem) couldn't save this read/listen for me. Joyce's incredibly verbose writing style, and the subject matter, just were not my cup of tea.
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
I guess Joyce doesn't really have a chance of becoming one of my favourites any time soon. Rip my modernism class.