chaptersbymidnight's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Incest
spiderpirate's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lola425's review against another edition
4.0
Prepub. Due out June 2020.
If you liked the Paris Wife you will like this book. A fictionalized version of the life of Lucia Joyce, daughter of James Joyce. Even if you put that information aside, it is an interesting story about how a woman's drive, ambition, and talent could be squashed by social convention and the effects that it might have on a young woman, regardless of who her father is.
Recommended for historical fiction fans who enjoy reading about real-life characters. Solid book group choice.
If you liked the Paris Wife you will like this book. A fictionalized version of the life of Lucia Joyce, daughter of James Joyce. Even if you put that information aside, it is an interesting story about how a woman's drive, ambition, and talent could be squashed by social convention and the effects that it might have on a young woman, regardless of who her father is.
Recommended for historical fiction fans who enjoy reading about real-life characters. Solid book group choice.
thecaledonianrose's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway, thanks to Annabel Abbs.
Concerning the life of Lucia Joyce, the daughter of Irish-born author James Joyce, the book takes place between the years 1928 and 1934, divided between Paris, London, and Zurich. I went into the novel knowing absolutely nothing of Lucia Joyce beyond that she was once a fêted dancer of the Modern school, and of course, her famous father.
The perspective is first-person past, told through the voice of Lucia herself in Paris as a student and performer of dance in the height of the Roaring Twenties when the city was home to a diverse group of artists. During the course of the novel, there are mentions of numerous writers, artists, dancers, and so on who made up Bohemian Paris until the 1930s - Joyce, Beckett, Emile Fernandez, Gertrude Stein, Joan Miro, Picasso, etc - along with their patrons.
I did not realize that the Joyces were largely supported by the author's patrons, that their lifestyles were largely dependent on the beneficence of those patrons for their subsistence - their rent was paid, food purchased, clothing, etc as a result of these gifts. Their social lives were floated on the backs of their patrons, even Lucia's dance studies were subsidized by the patrons. It helps explain a good deal of the unending stress within the Joyce family.
As the book goes on, those strains slowly begin to reveal themselves as fractures, a downward spiral from which there is no escape for Lucia. The narrative becomes increasing erratic and disjointed to reveal the onset of Lucia's mental illness. What seems rooted in reality and very possible turns out to be anything but, manifesting at the conclusion of the novel in a rushed dénouement and an abrupt ending that leaves so many questions but very few answers.
I do not know that I would broadly recommend this book, and if I do, it will be with a number of trigger warnings. Had I known more of Lucia Joyce and her illness, I'm not certain I would have read this book. Read at your own risk.
Concerning the life of Lucia Joyce, the daughter of Irish-born author James Joyce, the book takes place between the years 1928 and 1934, divided between Paris, London, and Zurich. I went into the novel knowing absolutely nothing of Lucia Joyce beyond that she was once a fêted dancer of the Modern school, and of course, her famous father.
The perspective is first-person past, told through the voice of Lucia herself in Paris as a student and performer of dance in the height of the Roaring Twenties when the city was home to a diverse group of artists. During the course of the novel, there are mentions of numerous writers, artists, dancers, and so on who made up Bohemian Paris until the 1930s - Joyce, Beckett, Emile Fernandez, Gertrude Stein, Joan Miro, Picasso, etc - along with their patrons.
I did not realize that the Joyces were largely supported by the author's patrons, that their lifestyles were largely dependent on the beneficence of those patrons for their subsistence - their rent was paid, food purchased, clothing, etc as a result of these gifts. Their social lives were floated on the backs of their patrons, even Lucia's dance studies were subsidized by the patrons. It helps explain a good deal of the unending stress within the Joyce family.
As the book goes on, those strains slowly begin to reveal themselves as fractures, a downward spiral from which there is no escape for Lucia. The narrative becomes increasing erratic and disjointed to reveal the onset of Lucia's mental illness. What seems rooted in reality and very possible turns out to be anything but, manifesting at the conclusion of the novel in a rushed dénouement and an abrupt ending that leaves so many questions but very few answers.
I do not know that I would broadly recommend this book, and if I do, it will be with a number of trigger warnings. Had I known more of Lucia Joyce and her illness, I'm not certain I would have read this book. Read at your own risk.
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
5.0
Review nearer to publication but I just wanted to recommend this now as I read this and thought oh my god can this be true? It is and even more shocking because of it.
James Joyce had a daughter who was placed in an asylum for reasons that will shock you and then kept there for opinions and the culture of the times which shock you even more. I can' honestly believe this was true and what women of the time had to go through but here you are. What's worse is the way mental health issues of the time were dealt with.
This is a really interesting and poignant book to read that is part true part fiction and really reveals more of the life of James Joyce and Samuel Beckett that you didn't know. I was mesmerised and shocked at the same time.
Out in June and should definitely be on your TBR pile.
James Joyce had a daughter who was placed in an asylum for reasons that will shock you and then kept there for opinions and the culture of the times which shock you even more. I can' honestly believe this was true and what women of the time had to go through but here you are. What's worse is the way mental health issues of the time were dealt with.
This is a really interesting and poignant book to read that is part true part fiction and really reveals more of the life of James Joyce and Samuel Beckett that you didn't know. I was mesmerised and shocked at the same time.
Out in June and should definitely be on your TBR pile.
diannel_04's review against another edition
I know I'm being picky but the Renoir movie was made two years before she met Beckett. Playing fast and loose with details like this really bugs me. I also didn't like the writing style. DNF.
fleurli's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
kellylacey's review against another edition
5.0
The Joyce Girl By Annabel Abbs. The book is beautifully written. It’s very enjoyable to read and it flows easily. Actors say when they make movie biographies and they spend so long learning about the character they play that they get a special unique experience. If that’s the case then I hope it goes for writers too. Because I truly want to believe that the spirit of Lucia Joyce, was with Annabel Abbs as she wrote The Joyce Girl. Looking on with pride and love for Annabel’s wonderful work.
Normally, I start my book and I try to read as much as I can over two or three sittings. As I began the book I realised my normal reading practice of forming the characters in my head would not work. As Lucia and her family were real people. So I googled for some photos, then I found a voice recording of James Joyce and so I had it in my head. This is not necessary for the enjoyment of the book. It was just a person thing of mine.
The book takes us through the avant-garde Paris to London and Zurich. I have been to Paris and it is a City with a heartbeat of culture and love. It is captured exquisitely in the book.
As I turned each page, I grew more and more in love with Lucia Joyce and her passion for dance and love. The characters and their journey are brought to life. Her unusual family lifestyle and living in the shadows of Mr James Joyce.
The book would have taken a lot of research and you can tell it was written with care and attention to details. It covers an array of many topics. With so many strong characters. This is a must read, even if your TBR pile is so high. After finishing the book I wanted to learn much more about Miss Joyce. Lucky there are some wonderful links on Annabel Abb’s website.
Website ~ www.annabelabbs.com
Twitter ~ @annabelabbs
Please check out my blog ~ lovebooksgroup.blog
Normally, I start my book and I try to read as much as I can over two or three sittings. As I began the book I realised my normal reading practice of forming the characters in my head would not work. As Lucia and her family were real people. So I googled for some photos, then I found a voice recording of James Joyce and so I had it in my head. This is not necessary for the enjoyment of the book. It was just a person thing of mine.
The book takes us through the avant-garde Paris to London and Zurich. I have been to Paris and it is a City with a heartbeat of culture and love. It is captured exquisitely in the book.
As I turned each page, I grew more and more in love with Lucia Joyce and her passion for dance and love. The characters and their journey are brought to life. Her unusual family lifestyle and living in the shadows of Mr James Joyce.
The book would have taken a lot of research and you can tell it was written with care and attention to details. It covers an array of many topics. With so many strong characters. This is a must read, even if your TBR pile is so high. After finishing the book I wanted to learn much more about Miss Joyce. Lucky there are some wonderful links on Annabel Abb’s website.
Website ~ www.annabelabbs.com
Twitter ~ @annabelabbs
Please check out my blog ~ lovebooksgroup.blog
malaikatheresa's review against another edition
4.0
Die Idee des Buches - um einmal nicht über den Superstar zu schreiben sondern über die Menschen in seinem Umfeld - gefällt mir sehr. Auch die Kapitel, die abwechselnd einmal im Behandlungszimmer von Doktor Jung und dann wieder in Lucias Vergangenheit spielen, finde ich sehr gelungen. Das gibt dem ganzen Buch eine gewisse Tiefe, ohne die das Buch nicht dasselbe wäre.
Aber leider konnte mich Lucia als Protagonistin nicht überzeugen. Sie wirkte im grössten Teil des Buches irrsinnig naiv und das hat mir das Lesen sehr erschwert. Ich konnte sie nicht als unsympathisch abstempeln, da sie durch ihre Kindheit geprägt und in einem sehr schwierigen Familienverhältnis aufgewachsen ist - im Schatten ihres Vaters, dem berühmten Schriftsteller, im fast schon hassgleichen Verhältnis zu ihrer Mutter und mit einem Bruder, der eigentlich selbst in eine Heilanstalt gehen müsste.
Für mich war es daher sehr schwer, eine Meinung über Lucia zu bilden, da ihre Geschichte so vielschichtig ist und die Autorin eine historische Figur beschrieben hat und daher ihre schriftstellerische Freiheit begrenzt war.
Trotzdem empfehle ich das Buch an alle weiter, die in Lucia Joyce interessiert sind und denen es nichts ausmacht, dass sie ziemlich naiv ist und denjenigen, die über ein Mädchen lesen wollen, das durch ihre Eltern in einen Käfig gezwungen wird und nicht mehr hinaus kommt.
Aber leider konnte mich Lucia als Protagonistin nicht überzeugen. Sie wirkte im grössten Teil des Buches irrsinnig naiv und das hat mir das Lesen sehr erschwert. Ich konnte sie nicht als unsympathisch abstempeln, da sie durch ihre Kindheit geprägt und in einem sehr schwierigen Familienverhältnis aufgewachsen ist - im Schatten ihres Vaters, dem berühmten Schriftsteller, im fast schon hassgleichen Verhältnis zu ihrer Mutter und mit einem Bruder, der eigentlich selbst in eine Heilanstalt gehen müsste.
Für mich war es daher sehr schwer, eine Meinung über Lucia zu bilden, da ihre Geschichte so vielschichtig ist und die Autorin eine historische Figur beschrieben hat und daher ihre schriftstellerische Freiheit begrenzt war.
Trotzdem empfehle ich das Buch an alle weiter, die in Lucia Joyce interessiert sind und denen es nichts ausmacht, dass sie ziemlich naiv ist und denjenigen, die über ein Mädchen lesen wollen, das durch ihre Eltern in einen Käfig gezwungen wird und nicht mehr hinaus kommt.