Rating: 
Summary: it wouldn't even burn
Review: In my case Portrait managed to take frustration and disappointment to previously unimaginable heights and it undisputedly stands as the most unsatisfying piece of literature I've ever attempted to digest. Initially Portrait simply bored me beyond belief, but then it also seriously enraged me on account of its meandering pointlessness. In order to protect my sanity I found myself compelled to take drastic measures and set aside my objections to the ritual burning of books. However, I could only get the bonfire I erected to eat away a disappointingly small part of my copy of the book. Thus Portrait even refused me the pleasure of seeing it go up in flames... (I will probably get a lot of stick for this, but having survived Portrait I should be able to deal with the worst kind of written abuse anyone can come up with.)
Rating:
Summary: Not worth all the Hype
Review: I have heard that this book is one of the best English works of the 20th century, ranking high in many lists and such. I highly disagree. I TRIED to read this book, but the book is simply very uninteresting. I lost the point Joyce was trying to make not only because I lost interest, but also because the point is buried under multiple layers of philosophy and symbolism. My conclusion, if you are looking for a book that delves into human development in a highly realistic manner, get THE CATCHER IN THE RYE instead. Not only is CATHCER more enjoyable, you will get the point even if you are only an average reader.
Rating:
Summary: One Boring Book
Review: I understand that this is a great book, but I just don't see it. I am just an average reader and I didn't catch any of the philosophical meanings Joyce had behind his writing, and even if I did, this book would still be terrible. Joyce failed to spark even the smallest bit of interest within me. Similar to Dubliners, I had to put this book down before reading seven or more pages at one time.
Rating: 
Summary: Portrait Of A Boring Young Man
Review: I will not argue the fact that Joyce is a master of the English language. Nor will I argue that at times he has very good insight into the psychological motivations of art, religion, and sociology. He possesses both of these talents. However, the manner in which they are presented in this book is simply disappointing. I am an avid reader and can appreciate thick philosophy woven artistically into an intriguing story. This book has sparse bits of philosophy and an occasional artistic stitch, but by and large fails to create a fabric that sparks my interest. Throughout this book, I found myself hopelessly holding onto the idea that, "this is one of the greatest books ever written in the English language," and was left there holding onto that hope afterwards because it failed to deliver anything more.The story drags at the beginning, and while the minutia of Stephen's life is important to understand where he ends up, its focussed on way too much; the first 80 pages are useless and will leave you rolling your eyes for relief. Next, while a certain degree of specificity is important in terms of describing a scene, the precision to which he describes things, largely irrelevant things, can only be construed as "filling" to make this very short book acceptably long. Say something. Repeat it for emphasis. But don't fixate on it for pages and pages and pages. Lastly, the "meat" of the book, that being what actually made the man into an artist, is so sparse and loosely hung on the frail skeleton of plot, that any person reading this book hungry for some sort of insight or depth is ravishing and unsatisfied at the end, anxious to be filled up by some other book. Kundera is much better at doing what this "master" was intending to do. He cuts off the fat and leaves raw, creative, chiseled, philosophical muscle on the bone for a reader to savor. I wish I would have spent my time rereading something of his instead of deciding to pick up a book about the very slow and boring progression of this artist's perception.
Rating: 
Summary: A must for aspiring artist
Review: This was a wonderful book about the struggle of an artist coming to terms with himself. This book helped me see the way that being an artist runs counter to society. The story flows at an even steady pace, and needs to be read carefully. Every line that Joyce writes deserves at least a moments thought. This is the kind of book that can be read and studied over and over. It is however written for a narrow group of readers, and someone looking for light reading should proabably read something else. If you do read this novel though, enjoy!!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book
Review: This book is a detailed examination of the artist. This is packed full of knowledge, which should be the point of enjoying an art form such as writing. Those interesting in perpetuating their own petty cliches and content to read the same story a million times in their lifetime by all means do, but for someone who wants to grow everytime they read a book, read authors such as Joyce or Gaddis, who forge complete characters and understand the infinite human condition.
Rating:
Summary: Remarkable in every SENSE of the word!
Review: James Joyce really challenged me with this novel, yet I enjoyed every minute spent in attempt to grasp the full meaning. What I liked the most were the epiphanies at the end of each chapter, where Stephen's senses are drastically heightened. Each epiphany is then followed by another series of questioning and doubt. I am sure that many readers can relate to Stephen in some way, for he struggles to find the meaning in his own life. He cannot find it through nationality, family, and even religion. Likening himself to Lucifer, Stephen remains in a state of doubt and disbelief in Catholicism, claiming "I will not serve." He must break free from all of the restraints that are holding him back from individual thought and go beyond in order to develop his own artistic theory. I am thankful that we were forced to read this in AP English. Thank you MR. WALCHANOWICZ!!!
Rating:
Summary: One of the most beautiful stories ever written
Review: James Joyce is, without a doubt, the best writer in the twentieth century. His ability to weave words together, to balance reality with stream of conciousness, neither becoming overwhelming, is superb. The most accessible Joyce (with stream of consciousness), Portrait is a wonderful book and should be recommended to all.
Rating: 
Summary: An easy, yet complicated book
Review: This novel is considered one of the greatest ever written. If you are a professor of English, to you it probably is. This novel starts off very easy, but then accelerates into a more complicated novel as the main character gets older. If you're looking for a book to tear apart in search of symbols and metaphors, then this is the one. If you're looking for a nice, easy read, I'd look somewhere else.
Rating:
Summary: Up and until 1/10/99, the greatest published novel.
Review: "A Portrait" is an example of art as emotion delivered. Stream of consciousness with special attention to le mous joust, help make the most important novel of this modern century.
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