|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hello All, I started reading Ulysses about 2 weeks ago and have enjoyed it thus far. I am currently reading Lestrygonians and progressing at a reasonable rate. Do you have any tips or suggestions as to how I should approach the novel in general? I have trouble following the 'streams of life' that Joyce creates, and I often lose sight of what is happening in real life and in Bloom's (or whoever's) mind. My copy is not annotated, but I have read a few commentaries on some of the chapters. Michael Dunn Australia
Hello Michael I have asked this question myself a million times, and others perhaps equal number of times. (Therefore I want to pass on what I have 'learnt' reading Ulysses.) I had also asked Robert Nicholson, the curator of the Joyce Tower in Sandycove the very same question. And his answer was: "Try reading another 'guide' kind of a book to be able to keep track of what is happening to the 'plot'". At that time I was at chapter 14, Oxen of the Sun. I have followed Nicholson's advice, and life with Ulysses (or Joyce) has been more pleasant - really enjoyable - since then. To read and like Ulysses I had to unlearn all my reading habits, expectations as a reader. There is simply no other book like this in this big, wide world. In my own case, attempting on my own to make sense of the book was not very successful. I needed help from others, on the list and outside. My final line is that it helps to find a good book to accompany Ulysses. I myself have dipped into so many other books that I cannot pin down on one book. Others on this list will say more about it. It also helps to re-read the chapters. When I finally finish reading Ulysses in a week's time, hopefully, I would have read it not once but twice, perhaps even thrice - all at the same time! Enjoy reading Chandra Welcome, Michael. In my opinion you need an open and relaxed mind to get the most from Ulysses. It isn't a book that you can say that you have read if you have only read it once. Joyce designed his later works to be read repeatedly. Stick with it. All will be revealed. Bob Williams
You could do much worse than consult the following website which contains chapter summaries by a member of this group - Bob Williams. I have told him that I think that these are the best chapter summaries (and analysis) anywhere online or in book form - mostly because he takes us through the chapter in an easily understandable way (I am sure he won't mind me passing this link on because he has recently announced it in 2 other James Joyce groups) and it is located at: http://www.jamesjoycestudies.com:137/joyce/docs.html there are some other very very useful resources out there such as: Robert Adams summary at: http://home.adelphia.net/~hbjames/Intro_to_Ulysses.htm which is one of the best essays on a chapter by chapter analysis basis I have found. Another site with chapter analysis and summaries which is a bit shorter than those above, but always worth reading (one needs different perspectives don't you think?) is found at: http://ksumail.kennesaw.edu/~mglosup/ulysses/ And THE best resource to find anything at all online about James Joyce is Jorn Barger's website at: http://www.robotwisdom.com/jaj/portal.html I use all of these resources (plus many other online sites) on a constant basis but the first 3 may be worthwhile actually printing. I'm on the final leg of my third read and found it a fascinating enterprise to do the first read with no help at all - just by jumping in the deep end which it sounds you like you have done - there is so much in this book that it's almost better not to be too 'weighted' down by all of the intricacies - the book MUST be read more than once in any event. Good luck and I hope you enjoy it!! Paul-----------------Sydney Australia (also!) Hello- My first time through Ulysses I used these to books with great success: "James Joyces Ulysses A Study by Stuart Gilbert" And "The New Bloomsday Book" by Harry Blamires. The problem with guides is that they often ruin parts of the plot by makingyou aware of certian plot points. I would also sugjest "Ulysses Annotated" By Don Gifford. It will help you with words and phrases. Mike
Am glad to read Bob's, Paul's and Mike's responses. Mike raises a very important point. That Mike Quest wrote: "The problem with guides is that they often ruin parts of the plot by making you aware of certian plot points." I was also thinking of it last night. I must admit I did not always read the guides completely. They helped me to start off a chapter, but then I was on my own. For more than half the book, I did not use any guide (except for Gifford's annotations). That part of reading was quite a bit of a struggle, quite a bit puzzling. Later even having a guide on the shelf helped a lot! Psychological?! Don't know. All said and done, one has to discover Ulysses all by oneself. Others can only make the path a bit easy to go. Chandra
"All will be revealed." All? All? Surely, you jest. Joel HOME! |