I truly loved this remarkable book about Joyce.

Edna O'Brien is indeed such an outstanding and brilliant writer.

This is the very first portrayal of Joyce that I have ever read, and it had such a profound impact on me that as I was reading, I could actually vividly picture him, his family, and their diverse surroundings.

His life, relationships, and motivations, I firmly believe, are authentically and meticulously analysed by O'Brien.

Her interpretations just feel so right and spot-on.

Her short yet powerful book not only encompasses Joyce's life and his extensive travels but also provides a brief and captivating picture of the story of 'Ulysses' and offers a deep understanding of the joy that lies within the words, sounds, feelings, and origins of 'Finnegan's Wake'.

After having read and listened to the former, I am now so deeply moved that I am compelled to attempt reading the latter!

It is truly a remarkable piece of work that has opened up a whole new world of Joyce for me.

James Joyce is a complex figure. His life was filled with both brilliance and cruelty. He was a literary genius, but also had his flaws. The more one delves into his story, the more disappointed one might become. He seemed to not only confront his inner demons but allowed them to completely consume him.

While it's impossible to deny his literary prowess, it's also hard to overlook his less-than-admirable qualities as a human being.

O'Brien's writing style is thoroughly enjoyable. Even though she is clearly a Joyce fan, she presents a balanced view of the man. She doesn't shy away from his faults but also gives due credit to his genius.

In conclusion, James Joyce remains a fascinating and controversial figure. His work will continue to be studied and admired, but his personal life serves as a reminder that even the greatest of geniuses are not without their flaws.

This biography of Joyce read like a novel, or poetry in parts.

In fact, there were times when, not having read Ulysses, I was unsure whether Edna O'Brien was quoting or paraphrasing.

A biography of Joyce really needs to be written by an Irish man or woman.

O'Brien, in a warts and all description of his life, helps us to understand that his inadequacies were part and parcel of his genius.

She delves deep into the complex and often tumultuous life of Joyce, revealing the flaws and foibles that made him the man he was.

From his early struggles as a writer to his later success and acclaim, O'Brien's account is both engaging and enlightening.

She shows us that Joyce was not just a literary giant, but also a flawed human being with his own set of insecurities and weaknesses.

Overall, this biography is a must-read for anyone interested in the life and work of James Joyce.

James Joyce is a highly influential figure in the world of literature.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Joyce had a complex and eventful life.

He was known for his innovative writing style, which challenged traditional narrative structures.

His works, such as "Ulysses" and "Finnegans Wake," are considered masterpieces.

Joyce's writing was deeply influenced by his experiences growing up in Ireland, as well as his travels and studies abroad.

Despite facing numerous difficulties and setbacks, including financial struggles and censorship, Joyce remained committed to his art.

His unique vision and literary talent continue to inspire generations of writers and readers alike.

Overall, James Joyce's short biography is a testament to his remarkable creativity and enduring legacy in the literary world.

I listened to the audiobook of this short biography of James Joyce.

Prior to this, I had limited knowledge about Joyce's life. However, this audiobook provided a relatively comprehensive portrayal, spanning from his birth to his death. It delved into a great deal of detail regarding both the writing and publication of "Ulysses," and also offered a summary and literary criticism of it. Less space was dedicated to Joyce's other works.

A significant portion of the focus was on Joyce's relationships with women. This included Nora Barnacle, the woman with whom he spent his life, as well as a series of mostly unnamed prostitutes. Although Edna O'Brien contends that the overall picture is complex and multifaceted, Joyce largely comes across as a self-obsessed jerk. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that he produced towering masterpieces.

The biography itself is exquisitely written, featuring some almost poetic turns of phrase. The audiobook is narrated splendidly with an Irish voice, which adds to the authenticity and charm of the listening experience.

Most excellent read.

This simple phrase holds a world of meaning. It implies that the piece of writing being referred to is of the highest quality, engaging, and captivating.

When we come across a truly excellent read, it has the power to transport us to different worlds, introduce us to new ideas and perspectives, and evoke a wide range of emotions.

It can be a novel that keeps us on the edge of our seats, a non-fiction book that educates and enlightens us, or an article that provides valuable insights and information.

An excellent read is not just about the words on the page; it's about the experience it offers. It makes us think, feel, and reflect.

So, the next time you come across something that you consider to be a most excellent read, take a moment to appreciate it and share it with others.

Let the power of great literature and writing continue to enrich our lives.

Excellent brief biography. Thank you, Ms O’Brien, for the portrait. It gives a whiff of the man, his life, loves, and labors.

Ms O’Brien has managed to capture the essence of this individual in a concise yet engaging manner.

The biography provides a snapshot of his journey, highlighting the significant events and relationships that have shaped him.

We get a sense of his passions and the hard work he has put into achieving his goals.

It is a testament to Ms O’Brien’s skill as a writer that she can convey so much in such a short space.

The portrait she has painted is vivid and memorable, leaving the reader with a lasting impression of the man.

Overall, this is an excellent piece of work that offers a fascinating insight into the life of an interesting individual.

Well done, Ms O’Brien!

Okay, a survey was conducted, and it was found that her prose was very Joycean. Joycean prose is known for its complexity, rich language, and unique style. It often challenges the reader and requires a deep understanding of the text. Her prose may have incorporated elements such as stream of consciousness, multiple perspectives, and experimental language. This could have made her writing stand out and吸引 the attention of readers and critics alike. The survey might have also explored the specific aspects of her prose that were Joycean, such as the use of vivid imagery, the manipulation of time and space, or the exploration of complex themes. Overall, the fact that her prose was described as Joycean indicates that she has a talent for writing in a style that is both innovative and engaging.

Although the reader is a bit irritating,

I'm glad I listened. It's a fair and concise biography of Mr. James-Mad-Genius Joyce.

This biography provides a good overview of Joyce's life and works, presenting both the man and his art in an accessible way.

However, I'm not sure if I'm ready for something more scholarly just yet.

Maybe I need to soak up more of Joyce's unique style and language first.

Let me get through Finnegan's Wake first,

which is known for its complexity and experimental nature.

After that, perhaps I'll be better equipped to handle a more in-depth study of Joyce's life and works.

For now, I'll continue to enjoy this biography and look forward to delving deeper into Joyce's world in the future.

**Title: A Review of "James Joyce" by Edna O’Brien**

Edna O’Brien's "James Joyce" is an outstanding addition to the Penguin Lives series. This concise yet comprehensive biography, consisting of around 200 pages, effectively captures the essence of Joyce's life and work. The series, which includes biographies of other remarkable figures such as Joan of Arc, Charles Dickens, and Jane Austen, offers readers a valuable opportunity to explore the lives of influential individuals.

O’Brien, a highly respected Irish author, brings a unique perspective to the biography. She skillfully presents Joyce with both his flaws and his creative genius. Joyce's era was marked by male-dominated societies and unfair treatment of women, which can be difficult for modern readers to accept. However, Joyce himself seemed to exhibit an excessive sense of entitlement and self-indulgence. O’Brien also delves into the complex relationship between Joyce and the Irish people, highlighting how his portrayals of life in Ireland and the poverty-stricken Irish were deeply hurtful to them.

It is interesting to note that Joyce left Ireland in his 20s and spent the rest of his life living and writing in Continental Europe. Despite this, his works remained firmly rooted in his Irish heritage. Overall, "James Joyce" by Edna O’Brien is a great introduction to the life and works of this influential writer. It serves as an excellent jumping-off point for further study and exploration.

Edna O'Brien's book about James Joyce in the Penguin Lives Series is concise yet profound. It is short, sweet, and filled with a sorrow that is truly devastating.

Now that I have accumulated a significant number of words in the realm of fiction, I can approach this book from a completely different perspective than I would have a few years ago. For another writer, this book holds a very different meaning compared to a mere reading fan of James Joyce. The fact that O'Brien is a writer herself endows this slender volume with certain innate insights that others might not possess. However, these insights, which are the magic of this little book, may be overlooked by those who have not traversed a similar path.

O'Brien poses a thought-provoking question: "Do writers have to be such monsters in order to create?" She believes they do, presenting a paradox. While grappling with language to capture the human condition, writers become more callous and detached from the very human traits they vividly depict. There can be no external responsibilities, no interruptions, only the continuous inner drone, rhythmic and insistent, striving to create a living moment of both beauty and austerity. For Joyce, people were becoming increasingly remote and would eventually become specters.

This passage holds a different significance for a writer than for a reader. I don't necessarily concur with the "monster" characterization, but it is undeniable that the more one writes about life in the world, the more one inevitably withdraws from it. Writing is a long, arduous, and singularly isolated process that becomes indistinguishable from obsession. Writers who do not experience this disconnection from the external world are almost always hacks.

Can we truly know Joyce? I'm not sure. We can read about the Joyce that others knew, study his letters, but anything a writer pen must always be suspected of being manipulative and self-serving. Many writers write to create a world they can absolutely control, escaping from the uncontrollable world where non-writers lead their lives. Clearly, O'Brien and Joyce understood this, but can a non-writer who reads this book also appreciate it, or will they only see Joyce as an egomaniac, an out-of-touch, crazy artist?

O'Brien describes Joyce's word-sickness, if it can be called that: his immersion in the language he created. She tells us that sometimes his absorption was so intense that he lost consciousness. Between two words, he might insert two hundred more, and a single page would expand to twenty or thirty pages. I can relate to this all too well. This is the portrait O'Brien paints of Joyce, and I find it to be remarkably accurate.

Writers can understand this as being literally true, but I'm not sure if readers can truly fathom that O'Brien is not speaking metaphorically.

This book, while covering the remarkable achievement that is ULYSSES, is also devastatingly sad. Joyce's life was filled with pain and cruelty, and he inflicted pain and cruelty on those around him. Are Joyce's faults morally forgivable when compared to his singular achievement? I don't have an answer, and I don't think there is a definitive one. I know that Joyce changed the world in a profound way, even if many of us who recognize this can only barely begin to understand how he did it and what it means for the rest of us. This is not just a fan's rant: Joyce altered our understanding of something fundamental about words and language, and few of us have ever come close to encompassing that astonishing, even shocking, upside-down vision. The implication is that we have only just begun to explore the vast possibilities of words and language that Joyce has pointed us towards.

Edna O'Brien has worked well, like the English tabloid newspapers. It seems that even James Joyce was well-known, and I understood that his surroundings didn't seem to know how to deal with this man. Some people are really irresistible. The story of his daughter Lucia is one of the most interesting parts in the book. I read it with pleasure.

Edna O'Brien's works often explore complex themes such as love, relationships, and the human condition. Her writing style is vivid and engaging, drawing readers into the lives of her characters.

In this particular work, the portrayal of Lucia adds an extra layer of depth and intrigue. Lucia's story is filled with drama, heartbreak, and moments of hope. It makes the reader empathize with her struggles and root for her to find happiness.

Overall, Edna O'Brien's work is a testament to her talent as a writer. She has the ability to create compelling stories that stay with the reader long after the book is finished.