The style here is similar to that of Faulkner and Woolf - stream of consciousness. Personally, I have a difficult time following that because not everything makes sense while you're reading it. The book's overall theme of the introduction of a young man into the world and the church and acquiring knowledge about each is not a bad one, but I think I would better appreciate this book if I was a man. It's what I would call a "man's" book.

I would not recommend the book unless you're reading all the classics. I would, however, recommend reading the first five pages. Joyce's description of himself as a young boy, the "moo cow," and the image of the red ball rolling under the sofa is brilliant.

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"By far the most living and convincing picture that exists of an Irish Catholic upbringing. The technique is startling...A most memorable novel." H.G. Wells

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bought for a class in high school, good book.

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We are introduced to the character Stephen as a young boy as he grows to manhood. Stephen is sometimes strange, smart, brave and shy. Emphasis on the strange most of the time.

This is a book I almost wish I had read it for a class so there would be a discussion and I would understand it better.

I am not sure how Joyce considers this young man an artist because he is inches away from becoming a priest. Unless this is suppose to be Joyces story. The first chapter is gibberish to me and I almost didnt go past it. But I did and it got better. Although as soon as it got better and I understood what Stephen was talking about he would on OCD rant about pretty much on anything like hell, authors, philosophy

I know a lot of people dislike this book and sadly I am one of them.

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For this definitive edition, Chester Anderson compared Joyce's final fiar copy manuscript in his own handwriting (which is located at the National Library of Ireland in Dublin) with all the texts published in England and America, and with lists of corrections and changes noted by Joyce, some of which were never made in any public versions. This definitive edition was the basis of Anderson's doctoral thesis at Columbia.

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James Joyce, using his most lyrical voice. The classic tale of Joyce's life and times. He put Ireland on the map.

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