James Joyce and Ulysses

Spanaway Vin · #1 11-21-2007, 07:20 PM

I am in the second section with the dude going to buy sausage and totally checking out the chick's ass, etc. I am finding this section to be more readable so far. Can't say I've picked up on any literary allusions. I'm just happy to understand THE WORDS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF HIS MOUTH.

mrcoughman · #2 11-21-2007, 08:11 PM

Considering they teach entire university courses specifically oriented at unpacking this book it is no surprise that it is difficult to get most of the allusions in it. I personally have quite a bit of trouble with most modernist literature.

Zutroy · #3 11-21-2007, 08:18 PM

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I am in the second section with the dude going to buy sausage and totally checking out the chick's ass, etc. I am finding this section to be more readable so far. Can't say I've picked up on any literary allusions. I'm just happy to understand THE WORDS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF HIS MOUTH.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know exactly what you mean. I'm just a little past there and I find that Bloom is much easier to understand than Stephen Dedalus.

Stumpy · #4 11-21-2007, 11:04 PM

I've been meaning to ask this same question for a long time. I've not found anyone I know personally who had any lasting impression of the book, or could tell me why it's widely considered the greatest american novel of the 20th century.

I made it through about 150 pages before giving up. I can't say I enjoyed any of it, and have no idea what was going on. Can someone who appreciates the book point me to a small section in there that they think is particularly amazing, and maybe why?

Zutroy · #5 11-22-2007, 12:25 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I've been meaning to ask this same question for a long time. I've not found anyone I know personally who had any lasting impression of the book, or could tell me why it's widely considered the greatest american novel of the 20th century.

I made it through about 150 pages before giving up. I can't say I enjoyed any of it, and have no idea what was going on. Can someone who appreciates the book point me to a small section in there that they think is particularly amazing, and maybe why?

[/ QUOTE ]

"Then he slit open his letter, glancing down the page over and over. Thanks: new team: Mr Coghlan: lough Owel picnic: young student: Blazes Boylan's seaside girls."

I just randomly opened to a page I had read and took that passage. When I first read it, it made little sense to me. However, if you keep reading, you see he is briefly skimming his daughter's letter and, when he reads the letter in length later on, you get one of those "Oh [censored]!" moments, where everything clicks.
That is why I am enjoying this so far. There are plenty of little details that are left in and, while I know they are important, I can't for the life of me figure out what Joyce is getting at (like the man in the macintosh at the funeral). But then I do occasionally stumble upon some hidden piece of meaning or some previous passage becomes more coherent and it is rewarding.

nath · #6 11-22-2007, 01:01 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I've been meaning to ask this same question for a long time. I've not found anyone I know personally who had any lasting impression of the book, or could tell me why it's widely considered the greatest american novel of the 20th century.

I made it through about 150 pages before giving up. I can't say I enjoyed any of it, and have no idea what was going on. Can someone who appreciates the book point me to a small section in there that they think is particularly amazing, and maybe why?

[/ QUOTE ]
The final chapter.

Ghazban · #7 11-22-2007, 03:06 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I've been meaning to ask this same question for a long time. I've not found anyone I know personally who had any lasting impression of the book, or could tell me why it's widely considered the greatest american novel of the 20th century.

I made it through about 150 pages before giving up. I can't say I enjoyed any of it, and have no idea what was going on. Can someone who appreciates the book point me to a small section in there that they think is particularly amazing, and maybe why?

[/ QUOTE ]
The final chapter.

[/ QUOTE ]

The final chapter was great; I also enjoyed the catechism chapter quite a bit. Most of it went over my head but I was reading it for enjoyment not to necessarily get everything possible out of it so I didn't take a lot of time on the sections that gave me trouble.

Dan87 · #8 11-22-2007, 04:34 AM

I'm taking a British Lit (1900-1945) course right now and am writing my final paper on Ulysses. Wish me luck.

I am on page 350 out of about 900 in my edition and have found my mind wandering as a read, but every so often something catches my attention and I just think "holy crap this is awesome". You can open the book to any page and find something interesting.

I have to read the final chapter ahead of time for my class, and so far it is the most enjoyable one, followed closely by the third chapter where Stephen is sitting on the beach contemplating.

I don't know why but I think I would be proud to finish reading this book. My prof told me that Ulysses was voted the best novel of the 20th century, but it was also found to be the novel with the highest % of people who attempted ot read it to not finish it.

WhoIam · #9 11-22-2007, 11:13 AM

Am I the only one who likes all of Joyce except Dubliners?

nath · #10 11-22-2007, 12:44 PM

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I'm taking a British Lit (1900-1945) course right now and am writing my final paper on Ulysses. Wish me luck.

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Yeah, this is where I first actually read the book. (Not that I finished it- we only read four chapters or so.)

My university occasionally offered a class that was solely dedicated to Ulysses, and if I ever go back, I might take it if they offered it.