Reviews

Dubliners by James Joyce

gauriraut's review against another edition

3.0

After almost 2 years, I am done!

3.5/5
Better than the sum of its parts.

I didn't enjoy all the stories. No. Correction: I didn't understand all the stories. The cultural, religious, political, and linguistic context was too complex for me to decipher on my own (r/thehemingwaylist thanks for all the help).

However, I do see why this anthology has stood the test of time. It's a fine glimpse of a Dublin I wasn't alive to see. Not all characters are good (from what little we know of them), but I still enjoyed how Joyce simply narrated the happenings of their lives without any judgement. The people went about their business and we followed them like their shadows silently watching, learning, and observing.

The stories I enjoyed the most (Eveline/ Counterparts/ Clay/ A Painful Case/ A Mother/ The Dead) were the ones that evoked the most emotional response in me, which is a feat considering all, except for The Dead are under 15 pages.

genocide_joe's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

liz_harrison's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.0

jcc23's review against another edition

4.0

Dubliners es un conjunto de relatos situados en Dublin y que se divide en cuatro grupos: cuentos de infancia, juventud, adultez y de la vida pública. En general, la trama puede parecer trivial, pero la narración tiene un alto componente de simbolismos que dejan mucho para el análisis. Cada cuento me demandó una relectura como mínimo y complementé la lectura con los análisis que incluye la edición que cito, la cual recomiendo. Fue mi primera lectura de Joyce y volveré a él muy pronto, seguramente con El retrato de un artista adolescente. No le doy 5 estrellas esta vez, pero es un libro que mejora con las relecturas, así que delego la calificación final a mi futuro yo.

zerofactorial's review against another edition

5.0

I learned the meaning of sublime only recently, in class last Spring, and this was the first time that word, in its depth of meaning struck me so deeply about some work. In this case, especially the finale of "the Dead."

k_camrn's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

ilovegravy's review against another edition

2.0

The book your English teacher would love and maybe even praise.

bdeutsch's review against another edition

4.0

Impressive how well it evokes what life must have been like for these people, and what kind of people they were, in a way that makes early 20th century Irish people seem relatable and accessible. I love Joyce’s use of epiphany throughout the stories, especially in Araby, After the Race, Two Gallants, A Little Cloud, A Painful Case, and The Dead, for the way these scenes are written leave just enough unsaid.

adeeba_ahmed's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

1.0

dragonna's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

3.0