Reviews - Ulysses: Annotated Edition

1.89k reviews for:

Ulysses: Annotated Edition

Sam Slote, Marc A. Mamigonian, James Joyce, James Joyce

3.64 AVERAGE

cami19's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 20%

I hated it.

mrlonniesmith's review against another edition

5.0

challenging slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

13 years ago I tried to borrow a technical book from a professor to read while traveling to Ireland for spring break. He refused to lend me anything and told me to pickup any book by any Irish great, and read it while I’m there.
The first full day in Dublin I bought a copy of James Joyce’s Ulysses (lol).
I gave up after reading two chapters.

I complained about the difficulty of the book to one of my best friends (an English major) who reprimanded me for being another person who ditches a book that challenges them.

I asked him what was I supposed to do when I felt so frustrated. He said, “you get over it.” Don’t try to understand everything. Don’t take it so seriously, and just let the language carry you.

I eventually slogged through the book 3 years later. I understood maybe 20% of it, and walked away hating it.

Now, 10 years later, I think understood maybe 60% of it, but loved it. So much.

I don’t have much to add that you couldn’t find in other reviews and discussions of the book. It’s very, very difficult to get through. Maybe the most difficult book I’ve ever read. There are times when I had to read the same page 4x to even figure out who was speaking. There are a lot of references and allusions. I didn’t read an annotated edition or use a guide. Those may help. Idk.

But also I laughed so much. Cried a little. Some days I performed my reading for the day as though I was reading a play, doing different voices for different characters. Some days I read everything as though everyone was angry. I just played with the words. And it was fun. A lot of fun.

I can’t in good conscience say who should or shouldn’t read this. I will say, if you choose to try, push through the discomfort.

Anyway. My old friend isn’t around anymore. I wish I could tell him I’ve seen the light and that we could talk about the Circe chapter, or argue over if the ending is sweet and happy, or very, very sad. Miss you, dude.