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vixenreader's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The prose is dense, but the themes are accessible, and makes a great entry point into Joyce’s body of work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Classism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Child death and Sexism
Be aware that the book also discusses poverty, debt, vivid descriptions of hell, dogmatic attitudes, and internal shame.roshanmaegaddi's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Surprisingly, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I read it because Hozier recommended it and I love his music. I can definitely sense Hozier moments here...things that feel like I heard from his music. Maybe that's one of the reasons why I enjoyed it.
It's a very slow book for me but the pace does go up and down. I love books that flow into a character's consciousness so smoothly like the way Virginia Woolf writes. And this book by James Joyce is just up that ally. I haven't read an Irish book that disappointed me. Yes, this also reminded me of Sally Rooney and how she discusses politics and religion.
I am now excited to read Diviners. This book isn't perfect but I found it so entertaining to read about men crippled by with their sex and youth. James Joyce captured what it is like to grow up in a Catholic household and country and the struggles of just growing up.
It's a very slow book for me but the pace does go up and down. I love books that flow into a character's consciousness so smoothly like the way Virginia Woolf writes. And this book by James Joyce is just up that ally. I haven't read an Irish book that disappointed me. Yes, this also reminded me of Sally Rooney and how she discusses politics and religion.
I am now excited to read Diviners. This book isn't perfect but I found it so entertaining to read about men crippled by with their sex and youth. James Joyce captured what it is like to grow up in a Catholic household and country and the struggles of just growing up.
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
sherbertwells's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
With the help and hindrance of family, friends and teachers, author avatar Stephen Dedalus grows from a confused child into a freethinking artificer. While many passages in this archetypical Bildungsroman are accurate to my own experience (minus a few pre-Vatican II details), any personal affection I have for Joyce or his prose is overwhelmed by distant awe.
“I will not serve that in which I no longer believe, whether it call itself my home, my fatherland or my church: and I will try to express myself in some mode of life or art as freely as I can and as wholly as I can using for my defense the only arms I allow myself to use, silence, exile and cunning” (291)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual content, Homophobia, Death, Colonisation, and Alcohol
Stephen has a major Madonna-Whore Complex and while that's definitely an intentional choice for the story it doesn't really get 'resolved' so that might be obnoxious...
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