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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
I guess I can kind of appreciate why people think this is experimental and cool. Just don’t have the time or energy to read something this long on a boring white man’s singular day when there’s so much better literature out there.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
the girls that get it, get it. and the girls that dont, dont
challenging
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
good god
I lack the credentials necessary to review this book. Even the term book—used to describe both this and the other books I have reviewed—sells Ulysses short. It is unlike anything I have ever read.
There is a lot more I could say. Anything else I could say would not fit in this review box.
Five stars.
There is a lot more I could say. Anything else I could say would not fit in this review box.
Five stars.
Choosing to not star rate this to avoid that age old problem of how to justify it for a classic - it's just easier.
I thought Ulysses was interesting and actually felt 'new' to read, hard enough for classic literature where often subsequent works improve on it. I still don't think I'd be one of those people who regularly re-reads it looking for each literary reference and minute interwoven details, as skilful as they might be.
I don't really know where I stand on this, a complex, convoluted novel of varying chapter/episode styles and POV characters and language that reads like the a checklist for a thesaurus. Meticulously crafted language and chronology and the importance of place, with a seemingly trivial plot more like a soap opera. The stream of consciousness technique, at first hard to follow, became fairly natural, the flow of reading much like that of thoughts. On the other hand, the documenting of minutiae of everyday life made the reading pace itself drag. The satirical 'odyssey' of an everyday, ordinary man and the caricatures of the people of Dublin he interacts with, the glimmers of humour where the author invites you to laugh at these absurd characters. And yet, a novel that does take itself seriously in themes: on fathers, and Shakespeare, the Catholic Church, vision, the preoccupation of being locked out of a place you thought you belonged, the poetic musings of Stephen, the discourse about an Ireland free from English rule, anti-semitism under the guise of patriotism.
Bloom's bizarre (alcohol-induced? stress-induced?) fever dream of the night, Bloom having to break into his own house, Bloom reminiscing about the death of his son and his father, Bloom being both man and woman in his nature.
For all that, we end on Molly's POV, Bloom having unusually for him, asked for breakfast in bed for once. Her feelings are laid out for the reader but still obscure - sometimes its not immediately clear just which man the 'he' refers to. No closure, but perhaps something has changed - Joyce doesn't write straightforward characters for the reader.
I think, all in all, I would recommend it. With the caveat of seek something to help explain and break it down if (and likely when) you find yourself struggling with it.
I thought Ulysses was interesting and actually felt 'new' to read, hard enough for classic literature where often subsequent works improve on it. I still don't think I'd be one of those people who regularly re-reads it looking for each literary reference and minute interwoven details, as skilful as they might be.
I don't really know where I stand on this, a complex, convoluted novel of varying chapter/episode styles and POV characters and language that reads like the a checklist for a thesaurus. Meticulously crafted language and chronology and the importance of place, with a seemingly trivial plot more like a soap opera. The stream of consciousness technique, at first hard to follow, became fairly natural, the flow of reading much like that of thoughts. On the other hand, the documenting of minutiae of everyday life made the reading pace itself drag. The satirical 'odyssey' of an everyday, ordinary man and the caricatures of the people of Dublin he interacts with, the glimmers of humour where the author invites you to laugh at these absurd characters. And yet, a novel that does take itself seriously in themes: on fathers, and Shakespeare, the Catholic Church, vision, the preoccupation of being locked out of a place you thought you belonged, the poetic musings of Stephen, the discourse about an Ireland free from English rule, anti-semitism under the guise of patriotism.
Bloom's bizarre (alcohol-induced? stress-induced?) fever dream of the night, Bloom having to break into his own house, Bloom reminiscing about the death of his son and his father, Bloom being both man and woman in his nature.
For all that, we end on Molly's POV, Bloom having unusually for him, asked for breakfast in bed for once. Her feelings are laid out for the reader but still obscure - sometimes its not immediately clear just which man the 'he' refers to. No closure, but perhaps something has changed - Joyce doesn't write straightforward characters for the reader.
I think, all in all, I would recommend it. With the caveat of seek something to help explain and break it down if (and likely when) you find yourself struggling with it.
challenging
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes