A review by michelle4949
Ulysses by James Joyce

5.0

I have a long and complicated relationship with the works of James Joyce. I read Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man at 18 and did not like it; I found it pretentious and tedious. A year later I read "The Dead" and saw the film; it was moving, but I didn't feel any deep need to read more of his works.

So, 30-plus years passed. Two years ago, I traveled to Dublin...one of my ancestral homes (my father was Irish). I loved Ireland and felt at home there. So, I decided to give Joyce another try.

So, Ulysses.

My impression of the novel? It's a concept car; it's not meant to be mass produced, but its innovations drive improvements and progress. Not all modern novels are meant to be that esoteric or experimental, but most modern writers, from Don DeLillo to Stephen King, use narrative strategies pioneered by Joyce.

The real brilliance of Ulysses is that the concept carries the sharp characterizations, the you-are-there setting, and the intricate plot while dazzling the reader with its innovation.

I know that I need to read this novel again...the first reading is the one week tour of European capitals. You are there, you see the marquee highlights, but it will take a lifetime of visits and re-visits to get those citiies' true essences.

Love is not the word (for me) for the Ulysses experience. Appreciation is. I am haunted by this novel, and will be, until I pick it up again.