The History Book Club discussion

BUDDY READ DISCUSSION THREAD

This is a buddy read thread for the following book: - KICKOFF IS JANUARY 16TH, 2017

by James Joyce

The thread is also set up in honor of HBCs IRELAND challenge.

Dubliners is a collection of 15 short stories by James Joyce, first published in 1914. The fifteen stories were meant to be a naturalistic depiction of the Irish middle class life in and around Dublin in the early years of the 20th century.

The stories were written at the time when Irish nationalism was at its peak, and a search for a national identity and purpose was raging; at a crossroads of history and culture, Ireland was jolted by various converging ideas and influences. They center on Joyce's idea of an epiphany: a moment where a character has a special moment of self-understanding or illumination. Many of the characters in Dubliners later appear in minor roles in Joyce's novel Ulysses. The initial stories in the collection are narrated by children as protagonists, and as the stories continue, they deal with the lives and concerns of progressively older people. This is in line with Joyce's tripartite division of the collection into childhood, adolescence and maturity.



by James Joyce

About the Author

One of the 20th century's greatest writers, James Joyce was born in Dublin in 1882, and his native city is at the heart of his best-known books: Ulysses, Finnegans Wake, and the short story collection Dubliners. His flowing, sometimes musical, often challenging prose has provoked and inspired generations of readers. He died in 1941.

Brief Biography

Date of Birth:
February 2, 1882

Date of Death:
January 13, 1941

Place of Birth:
Dublin, Ireland

Place of Death:
Zurich, Switzerland

Education:
B.A., University College, Dublin, 1902





Remember we use spoiler html on a single thread discussion. This discussion can begin on January 16th if folks are ready. We place a beginning and end date on the discussion but both dates are always open ended and you can read the book as you like with a group of like minded members.

Thanks and Enjoy. Samanta will be leading the buddy read.

The discussion and read begins January 16th and the formally led discussion ends on March 12th. However, group members can read the book at any time and post here and somebody will always respond to your posts - but it is always more fun to take part in the actively led discussion if one can find the time to join in and participate.

both by James Joyce

Remember the following:

Everyone is welcome but make sure to use the Goodreads spoiler function.

If you come to the discussion after folks have finished reading it, please feel free to post your comments as we will always come back to the thread to discuss the book.

The rules

You must follow the rules of the History Book Club and also:

First rule of Buddy Read:
Respect other people's opinions, no matter how controversial you think they may be.

Second rule of Buddy Read:
Always, always Chapter/page mark and spoiler alert your posts if you are discussing parts of the book.

To do these spoilers, follows these easy steps:

Step 1. enclose the word spoiler in forward and back arrows; < >

Step 2. write your spoiler comments in

Step 3. enclose the word /spoiler in arrows as above, BUT NOTE the forward slash in front of the word. You must put that forward slash in.

Your spoiler should appear like this:
(view spoiler)

And please mark your spoiler clearly like this:

State a Chapter and page if you can.
EG: Chapter 24, page 154

Or say Up to Chapter *___ (*insert chapter number) if your comment is more broad and not from a single chapter.

Chapter 1, p. 23
(view spoiler)[I know everything now about chapter one and I am going to post it here - oops I better place this in a spoiler alert so I do not ruin the book for others. (hide spoiler)]

If you are raising a question/issue for the group about the book, you don't need to put that in a spoiler, but if you are citing something specific, it might be good to use a spoiler.

By using spoilers, you don't ruin the experience of someone who is reading slower or started later.

Thanks.

You can copy and paste below to get your spoiler right:

<spoiler>Put Text Here</spoiler>

Table of Contents (Wordsworth Classics Edition)


General Introduction v
Introduction v
Works Cited in Introduction and Notes xix
A Selection of Other Works xix

The Sisters 1
An Encounter 9
Araby 17
Eveline 23
After the Race 27
Two Gallants 33
The Boarding House 43
A Little Cloud 49
Counterparts 61
Clay 71
A Painful Case 77
Ivy Day in the Committee Room 85
A Mother 99
Grace 109
The Dead 127

NOTES 161

For those who like a schedule, you can follow this one below. You are welcome to read faster or slower, since this discussion will remain open after January.

JANUARY 16TH THROUGH JANUARY 22ND
General Introduction v
Introduction v
The Sisters 1
An Encounter 9

JANUARY 23RD THROUGH JANUARY 29TH
Araby 17
Eveline 23

JANUARY 30TH THROUGH FEBRUARY 5TH
After the Race 27
Two Gallants 33

FEBRUARY 6TH THROUGH FEBRUARY 12TH
The Boarding House 43
A Little Cloud 49

FEBRUARY 13TH THROUGH FEBRUARY 19TH
Counterparts 61
Clay 71

FEBRUARY 20TH THROUGH FEBRUARY 26TH
A Painful Case 77
Ivy Day in the Committee Room 85

FEBRUARY 27TH THROUGH MARCH 5TH
A Mother 99
Grace 109

MARCH 6TH THROUGH MARCH 12TH
The Dead 127

NOTES 161

ABOUT DUBLINERS

by James Joyce

Synopsis:

"Dubliners" was completed in 1905, but a series of British and Irish publishers and printers found it offensive and immoral, and it was suppressed. The book finally came out in London in 1914, just as Joyce's "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" began to appear in the journal "Egoist" under the auspices of Ezra Pound. The first three stories in "Dubliners" might be incidents from a draft of "Portrait of the Artist," and many of the characters who figure in "Ulysses" have their first appearance here, but this is not a book of interest only because of its relationship to Joyce's life and mature work. It is one of the greatest story collections in the English language--an unflinching, brilliant, often tragic portrait of early twentieth-century Dublin. The book, which begins and ends with a death, moves from "stories of my childhood" through tales of public life. Its larger purpose, Joyce said, was as a moral history of Ireland.

PRAISE

“A hundred years on . . . Dubliners has been absorbed into our literary landscape, but in the early part of the twentieth century it was the sort of book that hadn’t been seen much before, certainly from an Irish writer, and much of it shocked the conventional literary world. . . . [Joyce] was taking the lived landscape of his childhood and transforming it into something universal. . . . The stories contain some of the most beautiful sentences ever written in English.” —Colum McCann, from the Foreword

"The collection endures for so many reasons, beginning with the exquisite language, the universality of its Dublin specificity -- and the sense granted to the reader that each story somehow continues beyond its final word." - Dan Barry, The New York Times

"Dubliners is one of those books that tracks you through life, that you return to again and again, finding something new every time." - Paul Murray, The Paris Review

“....arguably the most important single-author short story collection in the English language.” —KQED, “Great Lit Perfect for Summer Reading”

Those of you who are going to read Dubliners. Use the spoiler html because this is a single thread discussion.

1. Read message two and that message shows you the rules for the buddy read discussion and how to do the spoiler html.

2. Message 3 actually shows you the spoiler html code. Use it on this thread.

All, we do not have to do citations regarding the book or the author being discussed during the book discussion on these discussion threads - nor do we have to cite any personage in the book being discussed while on the discussion threads related to this book.

However if we discuss folks outside the scope of the book or another book is cited which is not the book and author discussed then we do have to do that citation according to our citation rules. That makes it easier to not disrupt the discussion.

Folks, please let us know if you will be joining in the first group read for the Ireland challenge. This will be a buddy read beginning on January 16th ending on March 12th but you can go at your own pace. Samanta will be leading the discussion. Everyone is welcome.

Kickoff for discussion is January 16th

Have not done a buddy read before, but am intending to try as I have always meant to read this (and I am doing the Ireland challenge).

Very good Carlton - see you on the 16th

Hi Carlton! I'm glad you want to join us in this discussion. Can you tell us something about yourself and why are you interested in reading Dubliners/James Joyce? Thank you!

I have the book and am waiting to start. It came highly recommended from my mother.

Hi, I have decided to read this and join in. I have read a number of books on Ireland and find the period just after WW1 very interesting. This will give me some more information leading up to this period, and of course I am doing the Ireland challenge.

Hi, Everybody! My name is Alex. I decided to join this buddy read (a first for me) as I've never read any Joyce, but have wanted to for a few years. I thought this would be a good way to get started. Looking forward to it!

Welcome Brina, Frank and Alex. Glad you decided to join the discussion. Looking forward to your participation, because I firmly believe each one of us will have our own unique input on the stories.

Welcome Katya and Sharon. Looking forward to your participation.

>18 Samanta
I read Ulysses back in 1983 and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man in 1985, so thought it was time to revisit Joyce. I have enjoyed a number of other more contemporary Irish novelists since (Seamus Deane, Jennifer Johnston, Sebastian Barry, Anne Enright and Colm Toibin) and probably have Celtic ancestry (I am Manx (born on the Isle of Man, a small island between Ireland and UK), although I have lived in England for a long time).

I'll have to come to you for guidance on Irish literature. :) I read a few of Jennifer Johnston's books back in high school (borrowed in the British Council Library of Zagreb) and I remember liking them a lot. I think I will have to revisit her someday.

Be sure to make citation when mentioning books and authors other than the Dubliners.

by James Joyce
by James Joyce
Seamus Deane
Jennifer Johnston
Sebastian Barry
Anne Enright
Colm Tóibín

I'm still very new to the group, and to be honest I am a bit overwhelmed by all of the guidelines and instructions so I haven't been very active. I'm going to give it the old college try, though, and try to participate in this buddy read. I have already read the first 4-5 stories in Dubliners, but will probably hold off on the others until closer to their corresponding dates. This is the first time I've read any Joyce, and so far I'd say he's not really my taste, but perhaps that will change as I read more. Looking forward to discussions, and perhaps reading others insights and thoughts can help me find more appreciation.

Welcome Janet! Yes, Joyce might not be everybody's cup of tea, but that is ok. We look forward to hearing opinions from both sides.

I plan to join in. I've read Joyce before, but not this one. I have a Library copy. This will be a good one for the Read Ireland challenge.

I found a copy on Project Gutenberg for those who want to join in, but don't have the book:

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2814/...

Yes there are many free copies of the book on line, etc and even audio versions. Nice to have some buddy reads where everybody can join in.

Thank you for pointing that out Michele.

I am new to the group and would like to join!!

Welcome Dianne - you can see that my computer and goodreads seemed to hiccup at the same time - (smile)

Thanks for the invite! I tend to read a lot of American fiction and nonfiction, this will be a great change of pace for me. I'm excited to get started and hear everyone's opinion of the book.

Welcome Diane and Shannon.

Sarah - it is not alright to self promote.

Hi, I plan to join in. I read Dubliners many, many years ago and didn't really appreciated it, so I thought rereading it with this group would help me enjoy it more.

Bentley: Oh sorry. Actually, I didn't manage that challenge, the link was to the blog of the person who organised it, not my blog ;-)
Anyway, I'll be more carefull in the future.

Thank Sarah - there is no problem - just a helpful reminder and we have to delete all such posts

I am planning to join in. I have had this on my kindle for awhile. Frankly reading James Joyce scares so it is nice to be reading with others who can pick up the nuances I miss.

Looking forward to reading with this large group :)

Don't be afraid Kathy -we are all in the same boat together.

James Joyce is an accomplishment first - then a joy second. So just stick with it and us and you will be fine.

Brina - we look forward to reading your posts.

Remember everybody - the more everybody posts the better the discussion.

Hello! This is my first buddy read for this group. I'm excited to get started. I have been staring at the book since I bought it last month! :)

Very good Brett

SPOILER - ENACTMENT OF THE SISTERS - KICKOFF ON JANUARY 16TH

Folks if you want to watch an adapted version of the first story after reading it of course - feel free to watch the link below in spoiler html.

This would be a major spoiler so do not watch it until after you have read the first story and realize that the film maker took some license in the details.

(view spoiler)[Video adaptation of The Sisters - Major Spoiler
Don't View until after you have read the story
Link: https://youtu.be/E53pFokIY_g (hide spoiler)]

SPOILER - READING OF THE SISTERS BY FRANK MCCOURT - KICKOFF ON JANUARY 16TH

Folks if you want to LISTEN to a version of the first story after reading it of course - feel free to click on the link below and listen to Frank McCourt read the first story - The Sisters.

You might want to read along while Frank McCourt reads the story - sometimes that helps get the gist of the story better

(view spoiler)[Audio of The Sisters - Spoiler
Don't Listen until after you have read the story or read and listen at the same time - read by Frank McCourt
Link: https://youtu.be/gJuCqeF7xE0 (hide spoiler)]

Why is James Joyce's 'Dubliners' so Cool?
WNYC

On the 100th anniversary of James Joyce's "Dubliners," three New Yorkers among the book's biggest fans talk about how the Irish writer's collection of stories continue to inspire them: author Victor LaValle, Larry Kirwan of the band Black 47, and author and broadcaster Frank Delaney

Remember there are four structures running through the book and stories: - a) childhood, b) adolescence, c) maturity, d) public life. Joyce takes ordinary people who you might pass by on the street and not notice and he makes them important.

Link: https://youtu.be/eeEKp7enbVw

Source: Youtube

Spoiler enactments of the stories Araby, Eveline, Clay and The Dead - Read the stories first when you come to them in the syllabus.

(view spoiler)[Video - On Demand Video - Part One - Araby:
https://youtu.be/f5_75_7KfpY?list=PLU...

Video - On Demand Video - Part Two - Eveline
Dubliners: a Quartet, EVELINE
https://youtu.be/XeU34eHY7K0?list=PLU...

Video - On Demand Video - Part Three - Clay
https://youtu.be/IeqNxYqzL8E?list=PLU...
Dubliners: a Quartet, CLAY

Video - One Demand Video - Part Four
https://youtu.be/_biTFM83phc?list=PLU... (hide spoiler)]

Why read James Joyce?

James Joyce's Dubliners has meant many things to readers over the course of its century in print. We asked three New Yorkers who are among the book's biggest fans for their take on the Joyce classic and how his stories continue to inspire them: author Victor LaValle, Larry Kirwan of the band Black 47, and author and broadcaster Frank Delaney

Link: https://youtu.be/nOVFwljgw6Q

Folks, I am moving the help links and anything that might be spoiler to the spoiler glossary thread for the Dubliners:

This is the link to the spoiler thread for Dubliners - lots of good stuff here but we do not want to impact the non spoiler thread for the buddy read here. But if you need some help - the following is the link:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

No we are your buddies (smile) - welcome.

It should be fun - Samanta will be leading the discussion but everybody needs to post and spur the discussion along. On this thread we use the spoiler html - because this is a discussion about the book itself. There is a spoiler thread and glossary where the spoiler html is not necessary but not this thread.

Well for folks who are new to Joyce or reading it for the first time - of course you understand but it is pretty easy - we even give you a copy and paste. Just do a copy and insert your text in the middle.

Look at message 2 and 3 and try it out - we are here to catch you.

No need to do that - we will help you - just try - and if you cannot for whatever reason - master it and I think you will be able to - you can post on the spoiler thread. So there you go. Don't give up - once you master it - you will think - what was so hard about this.

What I meant was that even if it takes the entire discussion as long as you are trying - we are here to help you. Don't worry. No worries here.

Very kind words - Samanta will be moderating the buddy read and is very attentive.

Do you really have 8 cats? Wow.

Oh my - that must be something. You must be an animal lover.