Reviews

Nora: A Love Story of Nora and James Joyce by Nuala O'Connor

mginn01's review

informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

numbat's review

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It was interesting to think about the family of James Joyce in terms of the way he was supported by them. Ir was also interesting to see how the circumstances of their lives and the 2 world wars shaped the progress of his work.

claire_reads_1594's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

wordsofclover's review

emotional funny hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness and Alcoholism

Minor: Forced institutionalization and War

_philly_'s review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

krobart's review

4.0

See my review here:

https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2023/07/11/review-2203-nora/

youreabiggirlnow's review

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

deailbhe's review

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

While the writing is easy to read and mostly enjoyable, I don’t feel like I now know more about Nora Joyce. The narrative constantly refers to her an independent woman and the real power within her relationship with James, but fails to ever actually show this to the reader. All I know her as is Joyce’s wife who put up with him despite his many faults, while she is the almost stereotypical “tortured Irish woman”. I think this is possibly because of how long the book spans (and how it tries to note everything within those years) and that it might have benefited from maybe focusing on specific points in Nora’s life with time skips in between.

6ykmapk's review

3.0

3.5*

jonastranchet's review against another edition

emotional funny relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0