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Studs Lonigan #3
Judgement Day
The third volume of the Studs Lonigan trilogy begins with the thirty year old Studs returning from the wake of one of his childhood friends, and wondering about his own mortality.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1935
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About the author
James T. Farrell
269 books89 followersJames Thomas Farrell was an American novelist. One of his most famous works was the Studs Lonigan trilogy, which was made into a film in 1960 and into a television miniseries in 1979. The trilogy was voted number 29 on the Modern Library's list of the 100 best novels of the 20th century.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 29, 2017
Mrs. Lonigan remembered the day that her oldest son was born. She recalled him as a youngster in a sailor suit. And the day she had enrolled him at St. Patrick’s school. The pride she had felt … And then the night he had graduated … The dream and the hope she had had that night of her boy going into the priesthood.
Yes, the title of the last of the Studs Lonigan trilogy has an ominous sound to it.
In my reread of this classic (finally completed a couple months ago), the passage of near half a century had wiped out almost all explicit memories of the narrative. For the most part, it was for me a read of a new novel … except for the emotional punch in the gut that I did recall. That memory, flowing through the years, that this fiction read so long ago was the most dispiriting, most heart-breaking read of my life.
That’s not because we find that the protagonist has found an end utterly undeserved, unwarranted, out of line with the arc of his life. Not a tragedy in that sense, not a fatal flaw (though alcohol would probably fit the bill, if we needed it). Rather, it’s that arc itself which is such a downer.
I’m leaving this short review for now. It may never grow any longer. But I will be posting a review of the entire trilogy.
See https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Yes, the title of the last of the Studs Lonigan trilogy has an ominous sound to it.
In my reread of this classic (finally completed a couple months ago), the passage of near half a century had wiped out almost all explicit memories of the narrative. For the most part, it was for me a read of a new novel … except for the emotional punch in the gut that I did recall. That memory, flowing through the years, that this fiction read so long ago was the most dispiriting, most heart-breaking read of my life.
That’s not because we find that the protagonist has found an end utterly undeserved, unwarranted, out of line with the arc of his life. Not a tragedy in that sense, not a fatal flaw (though alcohol would probably fit the bill, if we needed it). Rather, it’s that arc itself which is such a downer.
I’m leaving this short review for now. It may never grow any longer. But I will be posting a review of the entire trilogy.
See https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 22, 2012
This is the third installment in the Studs Lonigan trilogy. It was perhaps the most interesting of the books because it took place at least partially during the depression. When I imagine the depression I always imagine Okies and migrant farmers and dust bowls. It was interesting to view the affects on people living in the city. Lonigan's character was also the most mature in this book. That meant less fun stories of partying but more serious thoughts about adulthood. The most interesting part however was the author's note at the end where Farrell admitted that the trilogy was intended to be just one short book focusing on how the character died young. When thinking about the character, Farrell admitted that the most interesting (damn, I need to use a different words sometime, but not now) thing about him was his untimely death. He intended it to start when Lonigan was a child and follow him to the grave, but when he got to writing there was so much that happened in between that it because two books and then a trilogy. Overall this trilogy did not really stand the test of time. Still I'm glad to have it under my belt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2022
My review applies to the full trilogy... not just this, the final book in the trilogy.
As an Irish-American Catholic, myself (as Studs Lonigan is), growing up in Boston, I was motivated to read The Studs Lonigan trilogy primarily for three reasons.
First, because I wanted some sense what it is was like for an Irish-American to grow up in a major American city back in the day when the Irish were not quite welcome in America. My grandmother and grandfather, children of Irish immigrants, grew up in the 1900 to 1920 time period in Boston so I wondered if this trilogy would give me some insight as to what life was like for them. Also I came of age in the late 60’s early 70’s, a time when Boston was rife with racism. There were segregated neighborhoods in Boston for the Italians, Irish, and Blacks. Forced Busing amplified the issues. South Boston was known to be a very tough place primarily populated by poor Irish-Americans. The racism, bigotry, and woman degradation that was prevalent in this book was offensive to me but not shocking due to the environment I grew up in. I found Studs Longan’s life in the 20’s and 30’s in South Chicago to be somewhat similiar to my experiences as an Irish-American kid in Boston in the 60’s and 70’s, aside from Irish prejudice and the depression (but perhaps you could compare/offset the 1930’s depression to the recession and inflation issues in the 70’s).
Next, I was also motivated to read the book because its listed in Modern Libraries Top 100 Novels book list and the New York Public Library’s “20 Books Every Irish-American Should Read” book list.
Lastly I was motivated because I want to learn about my Irish-Catholic heritage. As an Irish-American I lived most of my life (I’m 65 now) without thinking much nor celebrating my Irish heritage. In my generation my Irish ethnicity had become irrelevant, I was just another American white kid. It was only later in life, when I visited Ireland on a whim and fell in love with the place, did I take an interest in my Irish heritage.
I was hoping for some insight as to how his neighborhood tough persona, apathetic attitude towards school, and contradictory catholic behaviors, formed but did not find any. His mother doted on him and his siblings. His father worked hard and they lived a blue collar lifestyle. They sent their kids to Catholic School and did what they thought was the right to do. But never the less Studs’ decided that being a tough guy, drinking, hooliganism, and whoring was a cool lifestyle he wanted to live.
I found the writer to be relentless and penetrating in describing Studs life and daily experiences as an apathetic self-destructive tough city kid. The first two books were tough reads, I grew tired and bored of all the repetitive drinking and hooliganism tales… it just went on and on. I wondered how this trilogy could possibly be on Modern Libraries 100 Best Novel list. But I liked this, the third, book though, but I don’t think you can appreciate it unless you’ve read the first two books of the trilogy. In it Studs begins to realize the wrong choices he made, but continues on his path of self destruction, but not quite full-speed ahead as in the previous two books. Again the racism, bigotry, and woman degradation is shocking by today’s standards. But you have to keep in mind the book was written during the depression in the 1930’s and that was the reality of the day.
Without revealing any spoilers, I think the trilogy did, in-deed, give me a good perspective of a tough Irish-American Catholic kid’s life in an American city in the 20’s and 30’s, and I got a feel of some some of the desperation that some people felt during the depression years. Again it was hard to read, but I’m glad I read it.
As an Irish-American Catholic, myself (as Studs Lonigan is), growing up in Boston, I was motivated to read The Studs Lonigan trilogy primarily for three reasons.
First, because I wanted some sense what it is was like for an Irish-American to grow up in a major American city back in the day when the Irish were not quite welcome in America. My grandmother and grandfather, children of Irish immigrants, grew up in the 1900 to 1920 time period in Boston so I wondered if this trilogy would give me some insight as to what life was like for them. Also I came of age in the late 60’s early 70’s, a time when Boston was rife with racism. There were segregated neighborhoods in Boston for the Italians, Irish, and Blacks. Forced Busing amplified the issues. South Boston was known to be a very tough place primarily populated by poor Irish-Americans. The racism, bigotry, and woman degradation that was prevalent in this book was offensive to me but not shocking due to the environment I grew up in. I found Studs Longan’s life in the 20’s and 30’s in South Chicago to be somewhat similiar to my experiences as an Irish-American kid in Boston in the 60’s and 70’s, aside from Irish prejudice and the depression (but perhaps you could compare/offset the 1930’s depression to the recession and inflation issues in the 70’s).
Next, I was also motivated to read the book because its listed in Modern Libraries Top 100 Novels book list and the New York Public Library’s “20 Books Every Irish-American Should Read” book list.
Lastly I was motivated because I want to learn about my Irish-Catholic heritage. As an Irish-American I lived most of my life (I’m 65 now) without thinking much nor celebrating my Irish heritage. In my generation my Irish ethnicity had become irrelevant, I was just another American white kid. It was only later in life, when I visited Ireland on a whim and fell in love with the place, did I take an interest in my Irish heritage.
I was hoping for some insight as to how his neighborhood tough persona, apathetic attitude towards school, and contradictory catholic behaviors, formed but did not find any. His mother doted on him and his siblings. His father worked hard and they lived a blue collar lifestyle. They sent their kids to Catholic School and did what they thought was the right to do. But never the less Studs’ decided that being a tough guy, drinking, hooliganism, and whoring was a cool lifestyle he wanted to live.
I found the writer to be relentless and penetrating in describing Studs life and daily experiences as an apathetic self-destructive tough city kid. The first two books were tough reads, I grew tired and bored of all the repetitive drinking and hooliganism tales… it just went on and on. I wondered how this trilogy could possibly be on Modern Libraries 100 Best Novel list. But I liked this, the third, book though, but I don’t think you can appreciate it unless you’ve read the first two books of the trilogy. In it Studs begins to realize the wrong choices he made, but continues on his path of self destruction, but not quite full-speed ahead as in the previous two books. Again the racism, bigotry, and woman degradation is shocking by today’s standards. But you have to keep in mind the book was written during the depression in the 1930’s and that was the reality of the day.
Without revealing any spoilers, I think the trilogy did, in-deed, give me a good perspective of a tough Irish-American Catholic kid’s life in an American city in the 20’s and 30’s, and I got a feel of some some of the desperation that some people felt during the depression years. Again it was hard to read, but I’m glad I read it.
April 19, 2019
I thought this last book in the trilogy really rallied after a bit of a downturn in the 2nd book. Maybe its easier to write about angst of being young and figuring things out in the first book and then coming back and looking retrospectively on your life in the third. Although there was a lot of story being driven forward in the third with shots of retrospection. Although the looking back is coming from someone who is only 30 at the time A bit tougher to make a middle section of being in between these stages I suppose. I really liked this final part. The continued struggle he has within himself, the fond feelings of his youth and specific scenes that just replay in his head all the time, trying to figure out what to do with his life. Feeling like he wasted away a lot of opportunity for himself by being a "dumb kid" and all of this with the backdrop of the Great Depression. Most characters treat women like crap, hate every other ethnic group (going as far as hating other white people that aren't from your home country), and having a love/hate relationship with your Catholic faith. You wave your "catholic pride" flag but don't live your life following those tenets or are just as corrupt as everyone else. I could see how this book was banned or not openly accepted. Lots of drinking and sex, questioning the catholic church, etc. It's not a "happy" book or trilogy.. things don't turn out ok in any part. The third book things really go badly in pretty much every way. I mean Studs is someone you kind of get attached to but he's such and idiot and does such cruel ugly things you never really like him.. maybe thats what makes him a believable character. It was a compelling finish to the trilogy watching things spiral out of control. I liked the ending where different characters took over a section looking back at their life briefly and their relationship with Studs. Overall I liked the trilogy, book 1 was the best, then 3 and the 2nd book was the weakest.
October 29, 2024
I read this because it was listed on the Book of the Month Club's list of what would be in a Well-Stocked Bookcase and Modern Library's list of the 100 best novels of the 20th century. (the Studs Lonigan trilogy is listed, and this is the third book of the trilogy.)
The book was, for my taste, longer than it needed to be, and then my copy even had a "bonus" chapter that was somewhat of a rehash of the last chapter of the original publication. The people in this book are mostly depressed and pretty much all whiny and trying to blame their problems on someone/something else ("why me?" is a common phrase). And, while the main characters are mostly Catholic, they don't seem to derive any comfort from their faith at all.
However, this book was written and set during the Great Depression. That's a really hard time for Gen Xers like myself to conceive. I can't imagine what it would be like not to trust in banks, not to be able to get any sort of job... yikes, terrifying. I appreciate the vivid glimpse into this completely different world.
The book was, for my taste, longer than it needed to be, and then my copy even had a "bonus" chapter that was somewhat of a rehash of the last chapter of the original publication. The people in this book are mostly depressed and pretty much all whiny and trying to blame their problems on someone/something else ("why me?" is a common phrase). And, while the main characters are mostly Catholic, they don't seem to derive any comfort from their faith at all.
However, this book was written and set during the Great Depression. That's a really hard time for Gen Xers like myself to conceive. I can't imagine what it would be like not to trust in banks, not to be able to get any sort of job... yikes, terrifying. I appreciate the vivid glimpse into this completely different world.
August 6, 2023
3.5 stars. Wordy - nice perspective on Depression from Irish worker's view - deep character insight of a loser with good heart but highly flawed reasonings - blames the Jew bankers and commies for all the troubles
March 30, 2009
By Judgment Day the "Studs Lonigan Trilogy" almost literally beats its anti-hero into the ground. Over and over and over again poor, pathetic Studs makes the wrong decisions, neglects his health, avoids serious self-reflection and in general remains his own worst enemy until death comes coldly a-callin'. The landscape of the Depression and the social mores of the time move from background to foreground in this novel, it seems, to the point where the entire trilogy ends not so much with the flickering consciousness of Studs but with the progressive and radical Left marching by similarly poor, pathetic father Patrick Lonigan as if he were being forgotten by time. Completed during the depths of the Depression, it's clear what Farrell's program was in inspiring a wake up call for a working class stunted by drink, superstition, racism, sexual repression, and political ignorance, but it's also merciless to a degree that's repetitive and didactic. I mentioned in my review of The Young Manhood of Studs Lonigan that Farrell's writing here works best as a sort of naturalistic, proletariat Ulysses, but Judgment Day begins to make one even tire of that.
April 14, 2013
I have complicated feelings about this book. I think he could have Hused an excellent editor at times. However, I also see why it was written the way it was. The stream of consciousness, the repetitiveness of Studs (and other's ) thinkings shows how trapped Studs is, largely in circumstances, in this book, not entirely of his making. His buying into the popular male myth stops him from pursuing his education - although he doesn't appear bright enough to make it.
So much of this is timely for today - it really ought to be read more. The way race is used to manipulate the lower classes is especially telling. And while we don't listen to racist priests on the radio, we have Limbaugh. And dance marathons were the reality shows of toda.
So much of this is timely for today - it really ought to be read more. The way race is used to manipulate the lower classes is especially telling. And while we don't listen to racist priests on the radio, we have Limbaugh. And dance marathons were the reality shows of toda.
December 24, 2012
A long, slow slide to the end of Studs Lonigan. While this novel continued the ashcan social realism and frankness of the prior volumes, the writing I found ham- handed (awkward, halting, lacking verve) and the plot meandering and forced. I formed the impression that JT was struggling to get the volume finished just so he could close the book on Studs. A disappointment overall.
December 26, 2012
This was my favorite of the three. Poor Studs. My last of the Modern Library 100!!!
February 5, 2016
I have the 1935 Hardback
June 22, 2016
The trilogy peaked with the 2nd book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews