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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
I read every word but didn’t really read this in the true sense, i.e. didn’t bother to scrupulously or thoughtfully engage with the text but read through it perfunctorily without going back or thinking about it too much. Nor did I bother reading The Odyssey, Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man or The Dubliners. Let’s just call it a “provisional” reading. Still, even at first glance much of the genius is evident, and e.g. the musical chapter (particularly the first half) sings unlike anything else I’ve read. Favorite takeaway: snotgreen as an adjective.
I tried to read Ulysses four different times beginning when I was twenty years young. Each time I plowed into it like a ram sinking in thickening quicksand. Each time I got a wee bit further. Then, when I was serving a 45-day jail sentence, I immersed myself in the book and devoured all 768 pages and understood the entire work. I read it a second time a few years ago and found it even more delicious a second time around. I wrote an extensive article on my experience and the discoveries made along the way as I got to know this book as an old friend... http://www.stephenkastner.com/ulysses-bloomsday-june-16-james-joyce/
challenging
slow-paced
One of the hardest, most confounding books I've read. Brilliant in places, maddening and silly and boring in others. Like good medicine that tastes bad; I see why it's great literature, but there are very large chunks of it that I can't say I like very much at all. I can't really say I liked it, but I recognize its worth.
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Joyce’s magnum opus, what hasn’t been said about this monstrously longwinded yet witty book. It’s one of a kind and should remain so, because I doubt anyone has matched the interplay between two worlds: the modern and the postmodern. Nor should they. Because my fucking god is this book more dense than an overloaded Snickers fecund with nuts.
A great dare and challenge but not for the casual reader.
A great dare and challenge but not for the casual reader.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh thank heavens I’ve finally finished this slog. My thoughts:
1. I heard a book described as a collection of random words - I couldn’t believe they weren’t talking about this book.
2. I also heard avant-garde described as a book you could start from any page and it would make the same amount of sense. Clearly that person had read this book.
3. I learned something new. Apparently it’s swallowing semen that gives me that mustache I fight. (This may be the only thing I remember long term from this work)
4. I’d never recommend this book to any general reader.
5. So glad glad to cross this off my 100 books poster list. If not for that motivation, this serial book finisher would have happily walked away from this book.
1. I heard a book described as a collection of random words - I couldn’t believe they weren’t talking about this book.
2. I also heard avant-garde described as a book you could start from any page and it would make the same amount of sense. Clearly that person had read this book.
3. I learned something new. Apparently it’s swallowing semen that gives me that mustache I fight. (This may be the only thing I remember long term from this work)
4. I’d never recommend this book to any general reader.
5. So glad glad to cross this off my 100 books poster list. If not for that motivation, this serial book finisher would have happily walked away from this book.