Has anyone actually read Ulysses (the Joyce one)?

[Inextremis]

I've been meaning to read it for years, and I've started - but my lawd, it's hard going! I think I've had to look up at least five words in the dictionary so far, and the Latin is beyond me. Is it worth persevering? I'm finding it difficult to work out exactly what's going on - so far they've left the 'tower' and seen a dead dog at the forty foot - tell me it gets better?

No one has actually read Ulysses!

I once was chatting with several actual scholars of Joyce, and I asked if any of them had read Ulysses cover to cover, and they replied that no, its not that type of book.

I've read Dubliners but only because I had to.

Yes I have (and I'm not in academia). Twice actually (first time at 14 in my native language - not English, so doesn't really count).
The reading process is enjoyable OP!

Yes I have, for uni. Dubliners was great. Ulysses was painful.

It's time of your life you won't get back. Not an enjoyable experience.

I have read all of the words in Ulysses in order and tried to comprehend the meaning. This was for my English literature degree when I was very good at reading complicated texts. I can't say I enjoyed the experience or got anything out if it.

I wouldn't read it now as an adult for fun.

I have read all of the bible more recently. That's a much better read, just skip leveticus and numbers.

I have - more than once. You can read it on all sorts of levels. Just let it wash over you. You don't need to understand every single word. Or work from a synopsis and engage with the episodes that interest you.

Yes, but not in one go - sections as and when. Don't recall any spoilers but it's quite possible they went over my head.
The last section is a must, even if nothing else.

I’ve read it twice and love it very much. Greatest novel ever written.
Any academic saying that it’s not the sort of book to be read cover to cover, or haven’t read it, are academics whom I would give a strong side eye to. Really shameful.

I read Ulysses for Eng Lit and it was indeed very painful.

That's literally all I remember about it.

Yes I have! It was about 35 years ago in my mid twenties and I had an hour's train commute each way to work, so read it on the journey. I did feel a sense of achievement when I'd finished. I can't remember a thing about it apart from I think near the end, when there were pages and pages of a huge stream of consciousness from Molly Bloom, but even that might be a false memory or confused with another book.
I never read any more Joyce, but did then read a very interesting biography of his wife called"Nora". I certainly would not have wanted to be married to him for one second.

I agree - though I never actually got through the novel in its entirety....... let alone more than once.

I did read Molly's monologue several times...

Some images documenting the people who signed the petition against restricting full publication on obscenity grounds, in case of interest - included in the back of my almost 100 yr old edition.

I'm in awe of those of you who have read it - especially more than once! Its reputation as 'the greatest novel ever written' made me want to attempt to get through it - I shall persevere - but slowly!

I listened to about 60% of the audiobook over the course of many months. Each night I would put it on to go for 30 minutes and I would usually be asleep by 20 minutes or so. But I may not have been listening very attentively.

Yes, more than once. It’s brilliant. If you’re finding it tricky I’d really recommend the audio version read by Jim Norton (aka Bishop Brennan). It’s a really superb reading, he brings out the cadences of the language perfectly and helps you get through the trickier bits.

Yes, many years ago as a student. I was on my year abroad and took most of the year to read it.

Yes in uni about 25 years ago. I was the only one on the course to read it all the way through.

Don’t be despondent if you give up again, OP. Like some of the PP, I read it for Eng Lit at uni. But we had about five contact hours a week and reading huge novels was the only “work” I had to do. There’s NO WAY I’d ever have finished it (or even picked it up) in normal life. Hats off to everyone who has. Odd moments of beauty, clarity and humour swam up out of the befuddlement for me every now and again but mostly it was just impenetrable sentences on a page. Self-indulgent, IMHO.

I've tried (more than once) and given up. I feel that it's definitely "Emperor's New Clothes".

How can it be 'the greatest novel ever written' if 95% of people think it's unreadable?

I may not have been listening very attentively.

😂

I must try this...

(1) No novel ever written is the greatest novel ever written. Not even Pride and Prejudice.
(2) Have you read Molly's monologue (at the end of the novel)...? Everyone should read Molly's monologue at least once - it is utterly brilliant!!

I do remember a section that was very reminiscent of Beowulf (I have also used the audiobook of Maria Dahvana Headley"s translation to fall asleep to, but have gone through the whole thing several times so have definitely heard all of it) which I thought was very clever. I expect if I knew more about different styles of literature there might be different sections in other recognisable styles?

Have you read the Homeric Odyssey? The Emily Wilson translation is good. I'd just read that instead tbh.

Britannica describes Ulysses as "exhilarating". I don't think I've ever met anyone who described it that way.

I’m reading it at the moment, but with a group of friends. We’re about half way through.
I love parts and find others tedious. I love the main character of Bloom though.

I listened to this audio version two years ago. It's very good. It made more sense to me than reading the book especially since I hadn't much of a clue starting out.

Saying that, I definitely didn't understand all of it. I was often baffled. I think a study guide would have been useful.

I enjoyed some of it. It's vivid and colourful and evocative of its time. Molly Bloom's entry at the end is amazing.

I thought I might read it properly at some stage now that I have half a notion of what it is about but it's a big commitment.