[.ca] Viking Critical Library Portrait Of The Artist As A ... (ISBN 0140155031)

Not as difficult as everyone says:
This book seems to have been written for style more then anything else, and at times it makes it difficult to read, this is true. But overall the book is not to difficult to read, it is a great introduction to Joyce, if you plan on reading Ulysses, or Finggans Wake, and it's an excellent book to read over and over because you will find things you missed and find reading Joyce's style become easier everytime you read it. Joyce does go into greek mythology a bit and reading about Deadalus (he built the labrynth) will allow you to better appreciate some of the symbolism. But don't read this book if your looking for a nice story to read, read it to appreciate the style and the poetic descriptions Joyce uses. And remember the book is narrated differently as Stephen matures, so it is a little difficult in the beginning due to the constantly broken thoughts when he is an infant, irrational, and extreme (puberty), and then finally logical and intelligent at the very end of the book

The best edition of "A Portrait":
Depending on one's taste and level of concentration, James Joyce's "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" is either tedious flop or a wonderful cornerstone of world literature. (I believe the latter.) I won't go into a discussion of "A Portrait" here because if you are looking at this particular Viking Critical edition, you've already committed yourself to reading it. The value of this edition lies in the critical essays and notes at the end. The notes will help the reader along, as they explain some of the terms and/or conditions that are particular to Joyce's Ireland. The essays are, each and every one, valuable tools. Whether it's an examination of Joyce's life, the creation of "A Portrait", the influences it would have, etc., every essay is a heavy-weight that enchances an understanding of the book. (At least it did for me.) If you're seriously considering reading "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" this is the edition to use.

amazing:
Anyone who doesn't like this book is full of malarky. If you think its pretentious, you're wrong. If you found it "unintelligible" you obviously gave up too easily. Complaints about James Joyce are always the same; do you want everything to be easy? read a comic book. James Joyce is not being self-indulgent; he has a real point to what he does. Sure, his books can be hard to read, but they are always rewarding. James Joyce's books are the most mind-expanding that I've ever read, and I've done alot of drugs, too. Is it pretentious to demand a little bit of attention and thought from your reader? No, and I'm glad that James Joyce wrote what he wrote the way he wrote it. You people that think it's too difficult or "dizzying" need to take up some other hobby, like TV. On the upside, Joyce's works certainly separate the wankers from those with true literary grit.

Excellent novel by one of the greatest writers:
If you're new to Joyce, this would the the book to start with. I definitely wouldn't start with Ulysses as that will put you off with its stream of consciousness. "Portrait" is much more user-friendly and easy to read. This novel is one of the greatest works in the English language. It is not only beautifully written but it can carry a different meaning for people at different stages of their life. Young high school students will find some themes very interesting while a man of 40 can draw new pleasure from reading it a second time. For those interested in Joyce's work, this is a good place to start, for it is easier than his other novels. This is not to say that it is an overly easy book to understand. Anyone who has read The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner knows that the stream of conscienceness style of writing can at times stifle reading comprehension but for the most part give a unique, exciting view of a character. Overall, though, this is an excellent novel and worthy of anyone's effort. As I said, this is a good place to start if you're looking for a Joyce induction. Would also recommend the novels "O Pioneers!" by Willa Cather and the Vonnegut book titled "Cat's Cradle"--these are something different as I don't like reading the same thing over na over.

Beautiful:
Sure its pretentious, frustrating, difficult, etc., but it is also such a rewarding read. Boring sections like chapter 3 with the church sermon set up excellent ones, such as the end of Chapter 4, with Stephen's epiphany, which I must say is the most beautiful, glorious thing I have ever read. the emotion and symbolism (such as Stephen Dedalus taking flight from society much like his Greek namesake Daedalus did from an island) is simply overwhelming. I had to read this for a college english class (as well as write an essay on it) but i still enjoyed it. the stream of conciousness style may be too difficult and odd for some but i found a nice break from other literature, which is more than i can say for the similar novel To the Lighthouse by Woolf (also extremely good stylistically, but much less interesting). brilliant, but not a good introduction to joyce for those still in high school or not used to reading challenging literature. I would recommend "The Dead" to try him out first.