I have mixed feelings about James Joyce. I think he writes beautifully, but his work strikes me as complicated and hard to follow. I think that's probably unfair, though, and it is simply a result of his being much smarter than me. I have a similar sensation any time I read William Faulkner.
I recently finished A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man for my first time - the second novel I have read by James Joyce. I liked it quite a bit. Even more than I had expected to. The young man of the story, Stephen Dedalus, is a poet. He struggles with coexisting with his peers, with his own trials, and with the establishment of his identity and path through life.
As little as I understand poetry, this story still resonated with me. It also explores the concepts of truth, beauty, faith, and art. I feel like James Joyce had some strong opinions on these matters that he had spent a great deal of time considering and some of those considerations made their way into this novel.
Stephen's coming of age is influenced pivotally by his loss of innocence and by his unrequited love for another. He also is later called to, and pressured to, join the ministry but decides to decline. Although he has mixed feelings about God and mixed feelings about joining the ministry, he concludes that his true path lay elsewhere. He was probably wise to conclude so - some of the toughest choices in life, I feel, have to be made with one's gut.
Once again, this volume was part of the 'Greatest Books Ever Written' collection of Easton Press. It was typically gorgeous and well put-together. I've included some shots of the book and a couple of my favorite illustrations from it.
I always loved art more than my capabilities allowed me to express it. In my odd spare moments, I write. Literature is noted in this book as one of the most powerful expressions of art. I think that title probably belongs to ballet or even to music, but I appreciated the sentiment as a book worm and a lover of reading. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a beautiful book that explores many themes that have challenged and pushed humanity throughout its history. I hope my journey someday resonates with others, too.
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