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kt_pags's review
3.0
My review applies to the full trilogy... not just this, the final book in the trilogy.
As an Irish-American Catholic, myself (as Studs Lonigan is), growing up in Boston, I was motivated to read The Studs Lonigan trilogy primarily for three reasons.
First, because I wanted some sense what it is was like for an Irish-American to grow up in a major American city back in the day when the Irish were not quite welcome in America. My grandmother and grandfather, children of Irish immigrants, grew up in the 1900 to 1920 time period in Boston so I wondered if this trilogy would give me some insight as to what life was like for them. Also I came of age in the late 60’s early 70’s, a time when Boston was rife with racism. There were segregated neighborhoods in Boston for the Italians, Irish, and Blacks. Forced Busing amplified the issues. South Boston was known to be a very tough place primarily populated by poor Irish-Americans. The racism, bigotry, and woman degradation that was prevalent in this book was offensive to me but not shocking due to the environment I grew up in. I found Studs Longan’s life in the 20’s and 30’s in South Chicago to be somewhat similiar to my experiences as an Irish-American kid in Boston in the 60’s and 70’s, aside from Irish prejudice and the depression (but perhaps you could compare/offset the 1930’s depression to the recession and inflation issues in the 70’s).
Next, I was also motivated to read the book because its listed in Modern Libraries Top 100 Novels book list and the New York Public Library’s “20 Books Every Irish-American Should Read” book list.
Lastly I was motivated because I want to learn about my Irish-Catholic heritage. As an Irish-American I lived most of my life (I’m 65 now) without thinking much nor celebrating my Irish heritage. In my generation my Irish ethnicity had become irrelevant, I was just another American white kid. It was only later in life, when I visited Ireland on a whim and fell in love with the place, did I take an interest in my Irish heritage.
I was hoping for some insight as to how his neighborhood tough persona, apathetic attitude towards school, and contradictory catholic behaviors, formed but did not find any. His mother doted on him and his siblings. His father worked hard and they lived a blue collar lifestyle. They sent their kids to Catholic School and did what they thought was the right to do. But never the less Studs’ decided that being a tough guy, drinking, hooliganism, and whoring was a cool lifestyle he wanted to live.
I found the writer to be relentless and penetrating in describing Studs life and daily experiences as an apathetic self-destructive tough city kid. The first two books were tough reads, I grew tired and bored of all the repetitive drinking and hooliganism tales… it just went on and on. I wondered how this trilogy could possibly be on Modern Libraries 100 Best Novel list. But I liked this, the third, book though, but I don’t think you can appreciate it unless you’ve read the first two books of the trilogy. In it Studs begins to realize the wrong choices he made, but continues on his path of self destruction, but not quite full-speed ahead as in the previous two books. Again the racism, bigotry, and woman degradation is shocking by today’s standards. But you have to keep in mind the book was written during the depression in the 1930’s and that was the reality of the day.
Without revealing any spoilers, I think the trilogy did, in-deed, give me a good perspective of a tough Irish-American Catholic kid’s life in an American city in the 20’s and 30’s, and I got a feel of some some of the desperation that some people felt during the depression years. Again it was hard to read, but I’m glad I read it.
As an Irish-American Catholic, myself (as Studs Lonigan is), growing up in Boston, I was motivated to read The Studs Lonigan trilogy primarily for three reasons.
First, because I wanted some sense what it is was like for an Irish-American to grow up in a major American city back in the day when the Irish were not quite welcome in America. My grandmother and grandfather, children of Irish immigrants, grew up in the 1900 to 1920 time period in Boston so I wondered if this trilogy would give me some insight as to what life was like for them. Also I came of age in the late 60’s early 70’s, a time when Boston was rife with racism. There were segregated neighborhoods in Boston for the Italians, Irish, and Blacks. Forced Busing amplified the issues. South Boston was known to be a very tough place primarily populated by poor Irish-Americans. The racism, bigotry, and woman degradation that was prevalent in this book was offensive to me but not shocking due to the environment I grew up in. I found Studs Longan’s life in the 20’s and 30’s in South Chicago to be somewhat similiar to my experiences as an Irish-American kid in Boston in the 60’s and 70’s, aside from Irish prejudice and the depression (but perhaps you could compare/offset the 1930’s depression to the recession and inflation issues in the 70’s).
Next, I was also motivated to read the book because its listed in Modern Libraries Top 100 Novels book list and the New York Public Library’s “20 Books Every Irish-American Should Read” book list.
Lastly I was motivated because I want to learn about my Irish-Catholic heritage. As an Irish-American I lived most of my life (I’m 65 now) without thinking much nor celebrating my Irish heritage. In my generation my Irish ethnicity had become irrelevant, I was just another American white kid. It was only later in life, when I visited Ireland on a whim and fell in love with the place, did I take an interest in my Irish heritage.
I was hoping for some insight as to how his neighborhood tough persona, apathetic attitude towards school, and contradictory catholic behaviors, formed but did not find any. His mother doted on him and his siblings. His father worked hard and they lived a blue collar lifestyle. They sent their kids to Catholic School and did what they thought was the right to do. But never the less Studs’ decided that being a tough guy, drinking, hooliganism, and whoring was a cool lifestyle he wanted to live.
I found the writer to be relentless and penetrating in describing Studs life and daily experiences as an apathetic self-destructive tough city kid. The first two books were tough reads, I grew tired and bored of all the repetitive drinking and hooliganism tales… it just went on and on. I wondered how this trilogy could possibly be on Modern Libraries 100 Best Novel list. But I liked this, the third, book though, but I don’t think you can appreciate it unless you’ve read the first two books of the trilogy. In it Studs begins to realize the wrong choices he made, but continues on his path of self destruction, but not quite full-speed ahead as in the previous two books. Again the racism, bigotry, and woman degradation is shocking by today’s standards. But you have to keep in mind the book was written during the depression in the 1930’s and that was the reality of the day.
Without revealing any spoilers, I think the trilogy did, in-deed, give me a good perspective of a tough Irish-American Catholic kid’s life in an American city in the 20’s and 30’s, and I got a feel of some some of the desperation that some people felt during the depression years. Again it was hard to read, but I’m glad I read it.
giddypony's review
4.0
I have complicated feelings about this book. I think he could have Hused an excellent editor at times. However, I also see why it was written the way it was. The stream of consciousness, the repetitiveness of Studs (and other's ) thinkings shows how trapped Studs is, largely in circumstances, in this book, not entirely of his making. His buying into the popular male myth stops him from pursuing his education - although he doesn't appear bright enough to make it.
So much of this is timely for today - it really ought to be read more. The way race is used to manipulate the lower classes is especially telling. And while we don't listen to racist priests on the radio, we have Limbaugh. And dance marathons were the reality shows of toda.
So much of this is timely for today - it really ought to be read more. The way race is used to manipulate the lower classes is especially telling. And while we don't listen to racist priests on the radio, we have Limbaugh. And dance marathons were the reality shows of toda.
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