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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
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
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
A book you must sit in a quiet room to read but really interesting if you can stay focused.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After failing twice to get through the Ulysses ebook, I switched to the audiobook and finally made it through. Hearing Joyce’s words read out loud definitely helped me appreciate his masterful use of the English language and understand why Ulysses is such an important work of literature.
That being said, on a personal level, I found it a drag and felt constantly taken out of the story by the constant sexist and antisemitic remarks (not to mention the fact thata grown man literally masturbates while spying on a 17-year-old girl )
That being said, on a personal level, I found it a drag and felt constantly taken out of the story by the constant sexist and antisemitic remarks (not to mention the fact that
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Misogyny, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Colonisation, War
Minor: Ableism, Cancer, Suicide, Excrement, Abortion
Book takes place during the final years of British colonialism in Ireland. There is some political discussion around Home Rule.
One of the characters is half-Jewish and experiences vocal prejudice.
Several uses of the n-word and stereotyping about Black people.
Explicit details of extramarital affairs.
Sexist remarks against women throughout (including a long scene about Anne Hathaway, William Shakespeare’s wife).
One character is bullied by his roommate and colleagues.
One character is haunted by a ghost of their dead parent.
Brief mention of a character’s parent dying of cancer.
Brief mention of a character’s parent dying by suicide.
A character loses a child before the book begins and grieves at several points throughout the book.
Several mentions of the Boer War.
One character gives birth in a hospital.
Brief discussion on abortion.
Brief scene of a character using the toilet.
Some scenes in a pub, with drinking.
A man in his late 30s spies on a 17-year-old girl. When she catches him looking at her, she shows him her underwear and he begins to masturbate.
One character has a physical disability in her leg. It is suggested that this is the reason she lost her boyfriend.
There is a long scene in a brothel, where one of the characters has a hallucination where he is a woman being sexually assaulted by the madam (who becomes a man in the hallucination). The character also has a hallucination that he is murdered by an angry mob.
A character destroys property during a hallucination and is later almost attacked by an Orangeman for insulting the King.
Very...listy... lists all over this novel. Interesting craft move.