Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Dubliners by James Joyce

1 review

surdiablo's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Alright, I can say without hesitation that this is the most challenging book I have ever read in my life so far ( Not that I have read many at this point 😅 ). My feelings are all over the place and I am positive that half of the references flew over my head as I am neither Irish nor Christian, to be well-versed in the historical events and policies mentioned in this book, except for a vague understanding deriving from the footnotes and some Wikipedia research. I'm unsure if I am articulate enough to express my thoughts regarding this, especially considering my lack of familiarity with the setting and the fact that it's one of the most eloquent writings I have ever come across, but I will give it a try.

So Dubliners, the short story collection is what I really enjoyed. They offered glimpses into the lives of several middle class families in the 1900s, reminding me how stagnating or frustrating life can be, especially under the clutches of politics and religion. Most of the stories may seem anti-climactic or futile by the end at first glance, but I was able to appreciate them once I understood it's all about the characters and their realizations about certain matters, or the lack of it in some cases. They were bleak or depressing for the most part and explores several themes like love that never blossomed, abusive households, effects of nationalism and urbanization and sometimes just plain old lollygagging. My favorite short-stories were 'Eveline', 'A Little Cloud', 'A Painful Case' and 'The Dead' as I found them mentally devastating. What I appreciated most regarding the short-stories was how interesting they were to read, even when the characters are mundane and it's not plot-driven at all.

Now 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man' on the other hand, I struggled immensely to push through. We see the growth of Stephen Dedalus, the author's alter ego,
from a little boy who doesn't know what to follow, confused about the division within his family based on nationalism and Catholicism, to a near adult who decides to become an artist without compromising his values. We see him question the corporal punishments in school, partake in debaucheries, become extremely pious as he fears damnation, have epiphanies about what he truly wants in life, etc.
The prose itself is nothing short of excellent and we see the voice of the character slowly maturing as he grows up. It also had one of the most immersive and vivid descriptions I have ever read concerning
imprisonment in hell.
However, it's also very dense, mostly aimless and sometimes disjointed. Of course you could say it naturally would be, considering that we are following the mind and thought process of an individual as he reaches adulthood for the majority, but it just wasn't interesting enough for me to make up for how meandering it was. Regardless of my struggles, I wouldn't say it's not my cup of tea for certain as there were several moments that had me engrossed. It's just something I would probably appreciate more when I am much older and experienced with a widened taste when it comes to literature. While I am interested in reading the remaining works of Joyce, I don't think I will try them anytime in the near future.😅
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