A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

I am a handful of hours into this work. I just wanted to make a suggestion to those considering reading this work in regards to all the comments on how difficult it is to read.I don't find it difficult at all. It just takes a little patience to get into the style and rhythm. The content of the 'story' is certainly not difficult, the language is clear and easy to grasp. The experiences of the main character are easy to grasp.The early trajectory of the story and the perspective of the young Steven is easy to grasp and become engaged in.Just my perspective of course and I have not read the entire novel. But I don't think all the talk about how difficult a read it is should discourage anyone from reading and enjoying this work. It just is not all that much of a task to read it. Rather, it is very enjoyable to read.

This book has received a lot of praise and I can see why. It can be a slow read due to the style but worth the effort. Very good overview of religion, Ireland and the time period of the early 1900's.

I first read this book in 1954 during my first year of college (yes, I am that old). I did not understand it. I just finished my second reading of the book last week and (gasp!), I understand it! I even understand why I did not understand it when I was younger and I also understand why many young people today would not understand it. Ok, enough of that repetition. Here is what I think.English professors should prep their students before assigning this type book to read. They have to understand what Joyce was trying to achieve in this book and the times Joyce lived in. Today, this can be done by researching the Internet. Joyce grew up in the late Victorian times and was educated in the Edwardian times. He came from a well to do family and underwent the typical classical education of those times (Latin, philosophy, literature, arts, etc.). He also attended a prestigious prep school for boys. While Joyce was educated in Ireland, this type education was very common throughout Europe. There were many sophomoric and sometimes sophisticated discussions among the students when not in the classroom. We don’t have that today. Many of today’s readers, me included, find themselves getting bored reading these types of novels (his book is actually a slightly fictionalized biographical novel). Our world today is more dedicated current times (computers, TV, and “Fun”).My advice is to NOT read this book unless you want to learn about those times and the frustration many young people (mostly boys at that time) had when growing up. They wanted to “find themselves” and tried hard to learn the complexities of life needed for their careers as barristers, doctors, poets, etc. You MIGHT be interested in this book if you like novels by Anthony Trollope, Thomas Hardy, George Bernard Shaw, etc.). How can I NOT give this classic novel anything less than 5 stars? I do understand by a younger reader might give it 3 stars or less, because it is too boring.

"Stephen watched the three glasses being raised from the counter as his father and his two cronies drank to the memory of their past . An abyss of fortune or of temperament sundered him from them. His mind seemed older than theirs: it shone coldly on their strifes and happiness and regrets like a moon upon a younger earth. No life or youth stirred in him as it had stirred in them. He had known neither the pleasure of companionship with others nor the vigour of rude male health nor filial piety. Nothing stirred within his soul but a cold and cruel and loveless lust. His childhood was dead or lost and with it his soul capable of simple joys and he was drifting amid life like the barren shell of the moon."PROs:* Excellent and engaging writing* Some parts can be quite interesting* Nice look into how it was like to grow up around like 19th/early 20th century IrelandCONs:* Some parts can be very boring and monotonous* Very long chapters (only 6 in whole book)* Not a book most people would want to read twice* Author seems to often get distracted with things that, to me, seemed pointless (such as spending pages trying to guess how many birds are flying in the air)"--Look here, Cranly, he said. You have asked me what I would do and what I would not do. I will tell you what I will do and what I will not do. 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 defence the only arms I allow myself to use-- silence, exile, and cunning."A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a semi-biographical novel by James Joyce that showcases his rise from a timid and pious young man to an intelligent, skeptical college student. His transformation is at time very interesting, such as his conversations and activities during school, and at other times very dull, such as him reminiscing about things that may only be important to him.It is simply amazing how much Joyce remembers about his childhood and to the degree to which he remembers it. For examples, he provides a terrifying sermon about the horrors of the Christian Hell that goes on for nearly an entire chapter, a sermon which seemed to have left deep scars on his youth. (Luckily he was able to break free from this religious fear instilled upon him as a boy.) I particularly enjoyed him conversations with his classmates and his philosophical discussions. It is obvious that Joyce is extremely intelligent, from his numerous inclusions of people ranging from Aristotle and Plato to Praxiteles and Percy Shelley. Although the ride was at times very boring, I'd say completing the book was worth it, but I wouldn't be interested in a second reading, at least not for a while."What was after the universe? Nothing. But was there anything round the universe to show where it stopped before the nothing place began?"

Memória e linguagem rica e afetiva de alguém que dominava 17 linguas. Uso frequente de palavras em acepções pouco usuais, que nem o Oxford, exemplifica, mas delicioso e totalmente acessível com vários personagens que irão ressurgir em Ulysses. Dá para ler em inglês

Not hard cover but go for it.

Spedito ed arrivato in poco tempo, buon rapporto qualità-prezzo.📚💸

Sin duda, lo que me llevo a adquirir esta edición fue el diseño de la portada. Una vez que lo tuve en mis manos puedo decir que la calidad de la edición supera a la portada, el texto esta acompañado de abundantes notas que maximizan el entendimiento de la obra tal y como Joyce la concibió.

Read this years ago at Queen’s but reading it again is entirely different. Since then some f Joyce’s writing has become part of our culture. An excellent example of the deep and pervading effects of literature .