I am reading “Portrait Of An Artist As A Young Man” by James Joyce for our book group. This is considered to be one of the greatest books of the 21st Century. BY WHO??? Why is there such a spectacular difference between what the academics decide is a top read compared to Joe Public? Normally it isn’t that difficult to write a review of the book after we’ve had our meeting. We can usually find things to say. But with this book, it seems that most of us are struggling.
I am only a quarter of the way through (after over a month) and would be very interested to know if there’s anybody out there who can reassure me that it is going to get better.
So far, my review consists of:-
“I have no idea what he’s talking about. It appears to be a load of old bollocks interspersed with some interesting observations about the lightness or paleness of the sun”.
Happy to be wrong here. Please help.
Karin
March 12, 2010Too funny! I nearly botched a college admissions interview many years ago by expressing a similar opinion (but managed to be admitted after all, and even went on to study English literature – go figure).
Can’t help you out with Joyce, though – sorry. Quite an ambitious book club you have there.
Kristin
March 12, 2010I know people love it and that it’s supposed to be the most accessible of Joyce’s books but for me, it didn’t get any better. And I will never get those days back in my life.
Di Foden
March 13, 2010I think you are supposed to pretend you read it and found it was fabulous. So on behalf of everyone who has ever tried to read a book because they have been told it is wonderful and a classic, and found out it was a load of crap, I salute you.
Eclipse
March 14, 2010Sounds like Villette by Charlotte Bronte… Was supposed to study it for English Lit A-level but it was so crap I never finished it. Didn’t get the story, couldn’t identify at all with the heroine and could never motivate myself to read it.