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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“When the soul of a man is born in this country there are nets flung at it to hold it back from flight. You talk to me of nationality, language, religion. I shall try to fly by those nets.”
Joyce, in this fictionalized autobiography, recounts his close brush with the pitfalls of piety.
After hearing a particularly graphic sermon on the wages of sin, an oration of hellfire and brimstone that would have made Pat Robertson proud, young Stephen Dedalus (Joyce’s alter ego) decides to amend his ways. He becomes so devout and pious that a vocation of Catholic priesthood is suggested. But, before Dedalus has a chance to diddle any alter boys, he has an epiphany of reason.
“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 defence the only arms I allow myself to use — silence, exile and cunning.”
When I read that this was Joyce’s first novel I was flabbergasted. This has the polish and panache of a much more experienced writer. Yes, there’s a fixation on flatulence, but there’s also a disarming honesty in Joyce’s stream-of-consciousness style. I personally found this much more palatable and accessible than Ulysses.
Joyce, in this fictionalized autobiography, recounts his close brush with the pitfalls of piety.
After hearing a particularly graphic sermon on the wages of sin, an oration of hellfire and brimstone that would have made Pat Robertson proud, young Stephen Dedalus (Joyce’s alter ego) decides to amend his ways. He becomes so devout and pious that a vocation of Catholic priesthood is suggested. But, before Dedalus has a chance to diddle any alter boys, he has an epiphany of reason.
“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 defence the only arms I allow myself to use — silence, exile and cunning.”
When I read that this was Joyce’s first novel I was flabbergasted. This has the polish and panache of a much more experienced writer. Yes, there’s a fixation on flatulence, but there’s also a disarming honesty in Joyce’s stream-of-consciousness style. I personally found this much more palatable and accessible than Ulysses.
Had to read this for class so I did but definitely would not have soldiered through this if I didn’t have to lol. Some classics hit but some just don't resonate and that is OK.
I appreciate that contextually, Stephen’s development and vocation being a representation of a generational rupture (refusal of collective—nationalistic and religious—identity) during this particular period in Irish history was a big deal at the time. I personally could not help but find the writing and Stephen's character uninspiring and pretentious—which is funny because I never felt that with Holden Caulfield and people seem to compare the two a lot (please, not even close). I always enjoy some good coming of age dramatics and that made it bearable at the start but that whole middle bit... please... that long ass sermon about hell? I don't even want to talk about it... Tried really hard to enjoy this :/ Last chapter is seriously alright though. Good job me for getting there
I appreciate that contextually, Stephen’s development and vocation being a representation of a generational rupture (refusal of collective—nationalistic and religious—identity) during this particular period in Irish history was a big deal at the time. I personally could not help but find the writing and Stephen's character uninspiring and pretentious—which is funny because I never felt that with Holden Caulfield and people seem to compare the two a lot (please, not even close). I always enjoy some good coming of age dramatics and that made it bearable at the start but that whole middle bit... please... that long ass sermon about hell? I don't even want to talk about it... Tried really hard to enjoy this :/ Last chapter is seriously alright though. Good job me for getting there
One thing I will say about James Joyce is that his books are beautifully written. I liked this one more than Ulysses because it actually had a somewhat coherent story, but it still didn't draw me in as much as I would have liked.
“I desire to press in my arms the loveliness which has not yet come into the world.”
I’d love to read this again, in a shorter time frame (I took 1.5 years to finish) and perhaps with a book club to discuss. also would love to do some research or Irish history and maybe some of it would be more profound for me. But man those last 20 pages were beautiful. Joyce’s writing is so beautiful and sometimes I would get lost in the sentences and forget what was going on. And man this guy does love a long sentence.
They really don’t write books like this anymore huh! (Also wondering if sally rooney was at all inspired by his writing style? After reading her books and then finishing this I’m wondering and maybe on the hunt to find that out.)
I’d love to read this again, in a shorter time frame (I took 1.5 years to finish) and perhaps with a book club to discuss. also would love to do some research or Irish history and maybe some of it would be more profound for me. But man those last 20 pages were beautiful. Joyce’s writing is so beautiful and sometimes I would get lost in the sentences and forget what was going on. And man this guy does love a long sentence.
They really don’t write books like this anymore huh! (Also wondering if sally rooney was at all inspired by his writing style? After reading her books and then finishing this I’m wondering and maybe on the hunt to find that out.)
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes