Have you read Ulysses?

[ValentineGreen]

Or War & Peace?
I read Ulysses a few years ago but since then I've read a lot about it & now feel like I would like to reread it..

Just wondering if many others have read it?

I read Ulysses, while studying a module on James Joyce at University. Some sections are easier to read than others. Knowing/Looking up Homer's Odyssey may help to an extent.

It also may help to let go of ideas about what a novel is e.g. conventional ideas re plot, characterisation, consistency of style.

There is definitely a satisfaction in reading 'big' and/or 'difficult' novels. Perhaps there should be a Mumsnet Ulysses-a-thon, taking it section by section....

I would love ❤️ that @LaGiaconda 😍

Yes, both.

Yes W&P.

No to Ulysses. What’s it about?

(Yes I can Google but I can’t be bothered. Doesn’t bode well for reading the book 😅).

No, but I used to live in the part of Dublin where Bloomsday was celebrated in June and each year I lived there I promised myself I'd read it by the following year and still haven't read it. 🙄

Yes to W&P, although I couldn’t now tell you what it’s about and I never did work out all the characters and who was the same as who 😂

Tried Ulysses several times but it’s also now on my “life’s too short” pile.

I powered through Ulysses a couple of years ago but didn't enjoy it. Much preferred Dubliners.

W&P I've attempted a couple of times and given up.

I love Ulysses. It's one of my favourite books and much more accessible than it seems. I read it with a group and discussed as we went. We read it twice (plus Portrait and Dubliners) and we're now tackling Finnegans Wake (now that's impenetrable!!)

@Submariner are you doing this though a bookclub or university? I'm interested in finding a group like this!

No, despite my user name, I haven't read it or "War and Peace". I don't fancy reading them either.

Well, I've read the first 15 pages of Ulysses 😆
War and Peace I found easy by comparison. It's basically a soap opera set against the background of war.

Remembrance of Things Past by Proust anyone?? Not difficult so much as veeeeerrry long, I'd say. I've read 2 out of the 6 volumes pre DC, and don't think I'll be tackling the rest until a long, leisurely, solitary French holiday in retirement.

I found some people on Facebook during lockdown. We've now become firm friends. I'd recommend looking up Ulysses related groups on Facebook or Goodreads. I think the National Library of Ireland and the Rosenbach in Philadelphia also do more formal courses or reading groups.

I have tried twice to read Ulysses, and failed. I read Dubliners when I was at university, and I have read W and P, although I preferred Anna Karenina. I don’t think I am clever enough for Joyce.

Apologies @ValentineGreen I meant to quote your question in this.

Studied it for English Lit degree but didn't make it all the way through - I read the first quarter I think, then just read the important bits around quotes and themes I needed to study. Quite liked Portrait though.

Haven't read War and Peace, I tried once but it just didn't interest me. I love long books but just not those ones, I can't be bothered with ploughing through something I'm not enjoying.

Joyce is at least 70% toilet jokes. The rest is window dressing!

The Ulysses cartoon was enough to kill any urge to pick up the book.

Catchy tune though...

Ulysseee-eeee-es, no-one else can do the things you do. Ulyssee-eeee-ees, like a bolt of thunder from the blue.

I love Ulysses. I love the language and the rhythm and the stream of consciousness. I love the strange juxtaposition of words and ideas. It's such an absorbing book. Also, funny. I can see where Lenihan and Mathews got some of the Father Ted ideas. (Though I think they owe much to Flann O'Brien!).
War and Peace less so, although like pp I enjoyed Anna Karenina.

Thanks v much @Submariner ! I will have a look.
Earlier this year I visited the Joyce Centre in Dublin & did a 'walking in Bloom's footsteps' walking tour which focused on chapter 8 / Lesteygonisns. It was led by a Joyce Scholar from TCD & was an utterly fascinating 2 hours.

I saw (too late) that the centre offers a 'reading group' facilitated by a different academic which I would love but it waw full by the time I came across it

I fully intend to sign up for next year's group & to have reread it by myself by then.

I'll have a look for any Facebook groups - hadn't thought of that! Thanks

For anyone else considering a trip to Dublin I highly recommend the walking tour!

I can see Ulysses from where I am currently sitting. It is from my ex- husband's books that arrived when we got married. I haven't read it ; neither has he. I might email him to see if he wants it. I have read War and Peace. It was a very long series on the TV, and we were away four 4 weeks in the middle, so I got the paperback. which I read on a French beach.

That sounds absolutely amazing, @ValentineGreen , I'd love to do that walking tour. Thanks for that!

I tried to read it and got nowhere. But they did it on R4, unfortunately I didn't hear all of it.

Read both. Hated Ulysses - my Goodreads review reads "self-indulgent twaddle'. War and Peace is great!

Well, wouldn't the world be a dull place if all opinions were the same.

I think Ulysses is one of those books that really needs context. An understanding of the historical & political landscape of Ireland in 1904. Knowledge of the modernist movement. Knowledge of Greek mythology & much more.

The first time I read it I.was in my 20s & had little of that broader knowledge but now I'm 50. I've read a vast amount in those intervening years & in recent years I've revisited Portrait & Dubliners & finally feel its a good time to reread Ulysses!