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Ulysses
I won't review the book in detail, other than to say that I did enjoy it very much, and there were places where I laughed out loud (particularly when Leopold Bloom wonders whether or not Gods and Goddesses have anuses, then decides to resolve the matter by closely inspecting a statue at the National Museum).Also, to first time readers: just ignore episode 3. Many people enjoy Episodes 1-2 just fine, then get to episode 3 and stop dead in their tracks. Just skim through it or even skip it altogether. Ulysses is a book to be re-read, not just read once, so don't concern yourself with Episode 3 the first time through. It will make more sense if/when you reread the novel later. (And you should reread it, because you will be amazed at how easy it becomes once you're familiar with the basic plot).The main reason I'm posting this is to let readers, especially first time readers, know about an essay, "Art and Life, Nature and Culture" by Cheryl Herr, published in "James Joyce's Ulysses: A Casebook." Most articles about Ulysses assume that you agree with the author that Ulysses is a great book, without taking the time to explain WHY it is a great book. Herr's essay explains a few (though definitely not all) of the themes of the novel and why its point is ultimately elusive. Some people get frustrated (I did) thinking that Ulysses is just one big puzzle that can be easily solved if you have the right "key," making it seem mechanical, systematic, and just not fun. This essay challenges that assumption, explaining the mysteries of the novel that can never be fully explained, leaving it open to multiple, even infinite, readings.Also, although it's necessary to read "A Portrait..." before you read Ulysses, if you don't like "A Portrait," don't worry. I didn't like that novel very much at all (maybe because I'm not Catholic and couldn't appreciate all the passages about sin and hell, but it just didn't get to me) but I loved Ulysses. So don't let a bad experience with that novel dissuade you, either.
Ulysses
I have read Ulysses a number times and purchased this edition for portability. While the product description indicates the edition is based on the 1984 Gabler edition, the Kindle edition includes a number of errors not present in that text. The company appears to have done a poor job copy editing the final Kindle text. There are a number of typographical errors. Also, in many cases numbers are rendered as letters and visa versa, particularly in the final episode. As Joyce often did not use conventional punctuation, it will be difficult for you to identify them unless you have previously read the book.If you are reading Ulysses for the first time or for school or study, you should avoid this edition. Its low price makes this edition is useful for casual re-reading.
Ulysses
Before I begin, I would just like to say that this is a simple review without any deep analysis of the book or its hidden meaning.Mehehehe. Right, then. What this book is about is.... ahm... eh.... hmmm... one guy's (i.e. Leo Bloom's) journey through the day of June 16th in Dublin, Ireland, accompanied by memorable characters like Stephen Deudalus and Buck Mulligan."Stately plump Buck Mulligan..." and so it begins. I won't pretend to understand this book fully. I won't pretend that I caught all the nounces and themes. The fact is that quite a few chapters were incomprehensible to me, although that had not lessened my enjoyment of the book. I would have to say that the most difficult chapter was "Circe", which I struggled through like a sapper going through a mine field. Most enjoyable chapters, not to mention hilarious ones were "Hades" and "Cyclops". For these two chapters alone, this book is worth reading. Hey, I would read anything that would put me back in Dublin. Joyce's mastery of English language is unparalleled and I think he was an absolute genius with words ( a lot of them indecipherable, as it were, but that's okay).In conclusion, I liked the book quite a lot, and would read it again in ten years or so. However, I do feel that this book is not for everyone, especially people who enjoy a quick, easy read. I would recommend at least giving it a try, though. You might get to like it.
Ulysses
It puts the beauty of Joyce's language in our ears and animates the stream-of-consciousness narrative.
Ulysses
Stubborn persistence was necessary to get me through this book. That's unusual for me because I love reading (the only major book I never finished was Miss MacIntosh, My Darling). My effort paid off, however; it allowed me to enjoy the hilarity of 'Ulysses for Dummies' on the web. For me, Ulysses was 5% brilliantly clever, 50% incomprehensible, and 20% boring. That doesn't add up since I skimmed some of it with glazed eyes. Yes, that 5% made the effort worthwhile, and 'Ulysses for Dummies' was a delicious dessert.
Ulysses
This is a project, and nobody reads this in a week. Take a year (or 10 years :-)), only this is a must for anyone who reads.The finest example of literature we have.