I liked more of these stories than not. Interesting cultural musings, a snapshot of the time period.. and not the most flattering, but probably the most candid. Some of these stories are filled with cynical, abusive alcoholics and characters plagued by paralysis. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the women's stories and political debate in "Ivy Day in the Committee Room" and the final musings on grief in the final story, "The Dead." Joyce's prose is very beautiful and reflective. Still — this book moved slowly for me at times. Some stories took a lot of building exposition before really getting to the main tensions.