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seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review against another edition
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, and Toxic friendship
stefo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
I have really mixed feelings about this book, it has some brilliant moments, especially Chapter 3. Unfortunately however its very sluggish, I almost fell asleep reading like 10 times until I realized I could take in this mess by audiobook, and by God was that a good decision, everything was so much easier to understand without having to suffer Joyce's lack of commas in his sentences. As for themes go I quite enjoyed Stephen's internal tumult and questioning of everything around him, It did remind me of when I was 10 or 12, after his Catholic school days however (start of Chapter 5) stuff became very, very dry and boring. I really did not care about the characters' banter and debates of beauty and aesthetics as they are pretty outdated.
I surely hope that Ulysses is much better and a more interesting read since everyone told me to read this book here and Dubliners first. Will take a long break before reading anything Joyce however. Very LIGHTLY recommended, only for people who like this type of heavy literature.
I surely hope that Ulysses is much better and a more interesting read since everyone told me to read this book here and Dubliners first. Will take a long break before reading anything Joyce however. Very LIGHTLY recommended, only for people who like this type of heavy literature.
Content Warnings
Minor: Physical abuse, Violence, Excrement, Antisemitism, and Religious bigotry
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, Sexism, and Violence
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Colonisation
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...