I have taught this work in my courses on The Novel as a pertinent example of the transition between nineteenth- and twentieth-century writing, and it's often hit-or-miss with students. Some students truly identify with Stephen Dedalus's struggle for meaning and beauty in a world that imposes religious, social, and artistic restrictions; while others just think it's too weird (which, being Joyce, of course it is).
It's a book that still holds up, not just as a story about Ireland, but as a story about the search for a young man's place in the world. And even if Stephen's search is a bit misguided, it is one we all undertake. At less than 200 pages, it's a much easier read than the behemoth Ulysses, so if you want to give Joyce a try in the new year, this short and important novel is a good place to start.