randomly merry, dissolute, colorful life

Question asked, the easiest one: why I love At-Swim-Two-Birds?

Short Answer: Many.

Nature of explanation offered, the first part: very good opportunity to review some course content for Major Contemporary Novel

Extract from Lecture Slide “Recurring Patterns & Features”, Point One: technical/formal/frequent self-reflexivity. illustrating example in ASTB: numerous passages devoted to the reflection on the nature of novel-crafting, such as setting the plot, introducing characters, etc. Also included from time to time are merciful synopsis of what has gone before (for the benefit of new readers), and other cute little “notes to reader before proceeding further”, etc.

Extract from Lecture Slide “Recurring Patterns & Features”, Point Two: high degrees of intertextual play/multiple allusions to other texts. Apparently, the author of ASTB ungrudgingly files his support for such features, as evidenced by statements as such: “The modern novel should be largely a work of reference. Most authors spend their time saying what has been said before - usually said much better. A wealth of references to existing works would acquaint the reader instantaneously with the nature of each character, would obviate tiresome explanations, and would effectively preclude mountebanks, upstarts, thimbleriggers and persons of inferior education from an understanding of contemporary literature.”

Extract from Lecture Slide “Recurring Patterns & Features”, Point Three: confusion regarding time. Echoing sentiments in ASTB: “Labyrinthine are the injuries inflictable on the soul. The tense of the body is the present indicative; but the soul has a memory and a present and a future. I have conceived some extremely recondite pains for Mr. Tellis. I will pierce him with a pluperfect.”

Extract from Lecture Slide “Recurring Patterns & Features”, Point Eight: Resistance to Rationality as a means of Locating Truth. In this case, Shanahan, our dear friend, banters with another dear friend, Reason, in a comically absurd way of course, as such:

“Give me an agony within reason, Says Reason, and I will take it, analyse it, and cause the issue of vocal admission that it has been duly received; I can deal with it and do my other work as well. Is that clear?

Very well put, Sir, said Shanahan.

But go beyond the agreed statutory limit, says Reason and I won’t be there at all. I’ll put out the light and pull down the blinds. I will close the shop. I will come back later when I think I will be offered something I can deal with. Follow?

And back he’ll come too. When the fun is over, back he’ll come.” Conclusion of the foregoing.

Nature of ambiance in the aforementioned lecture: some sort of warm intellectual glow.

Nature of explanation offered, the second part: very good opportunity to learn erudite-sounding names for “figure of speech” (especially helpful for a non-literary major), such as Litotes (or Meiosis), Synecdoche (or Autonomasia), Anadipolsis (or Epanastrophe), Anaphora (or Epibole), etc.

Other pleasant aspects of the novel, descriptive: drinking reveries (“a pint of plain is your only man”, says Jem Casey the poet of the people), minutiae of various musical instruments, songs and poems, quasi-humorous incursion into ancient mythologies, excessive card plays, the dissolute, colorful, enviable life featuring lots of time spent in bed, uninterrupted rest in darkness, spare-time literary activities, randomly merry conversations with diverse friends of casual character, repetitive use of the following words/phrases: “class”, “grand”, “that savors of contempt”.Conclusion of the foregoing.

Didactic aspects of the novel: bad novel-writing should be carefully avoided, because otherwise your character would revolt, revenge, wound you!