Sunday, August 10, 2025

Review of A Painful Case by James Joyce

This book review was written by Eugene Kernes   

Book can be found in: 
Genre = Novel
Intriguing Connections = 1) Get To Know The Peoples Of The World (Ireland), 


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Review

Is This An Overview?

James Duffy preference isolation, and has a personality to match.  Rarely making public appearances.  At a show, that lacks guests, met Sinico.  Sinico and Duffy became friends who appreciated and enjoyed their conversations.  Sinico was already married, therefore the friendship between Duffy and Sinico was acceptable.  Sinico’s husband thought Duffy was trying to woe the daughter.  During a conversation, with Duffy sharing the idea of the prominence of isolation of individuals.  Sinico responded in a way that made Duffy believe more is wanted of their friendship.  Duffy breaks off the friendship.  Returning to the isolation that Duffy is well acquainted with.  After four years, learns that Sinico has died.  Why has Sinico died?  What does Sinico’s death mean for Duffy? 


Questions to Consider while Reading the Book

•What is the raison d’etre of the book?  For what purpose did the author write the book?  Why do people read this book?
•What are some limitations of the book?
•To whom would you suggest this book?
•Who is James Duffy?
•Who is Sinico?
•How did Duffy change with the presence of Sinico?
•What caused a rift between Duffy and Sinico?
•What happened to Sinico?
•Who was responsible for the train accident? 

Book Details
Publisher:               Bantam Dell [Random House]
Edition ISBN:         9780553213805
Pages to read:          209
Publication:             2005
1st Edition:              1914
Format:                    Paperback

Ratings out of 5:
Readability    2
Content          2
Overall          2