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A review by cantonlittle
Ulysses by James Joyce
5.0
“Yes I said yes I will yes.”
After two years of attempts, I have finally surmounted this dastardly book. From the first attempt (where I threw my book across the room in frustration) to my other attempts to read it. Heck, I had Mitchell Keith try and read with me, but that failed.
I told myself this year would be the year. I’ve finally done it.
Why is this impressive or challenging?
It’s because James Joyce is what happens when you make a linguist a novelist. Although Ulysses is 3 Parts (18 chapters), each chapter is written in a different style. One chapter is written like newspaper headlines, another has musical numbers, the next one has the evolution of the English language, and one has eight paragraphs of no punctuation!
Not to mention, this book takes place over the course of a day. A single day.
This is by no means Joyce’s most difficult work. Finnegans Wake takes that title. (The Book club I’m in will be reading that next year, so we’ll see how I fare there).
What did I think of this book?
It’s a masterpiece plan and simple. It plays with language in a way I rarely see. Is it my favorite book? No. It would rank in my top 15. This book has companion guides that point out all the references and details Joyce left for the reader.
I may tackle a reread someday, but for now I will revel in my victory.
I finally finished my Odyssey of reading Ulysses.
After two years of attempts, I have finally surmounted this dastardly book. From the first attempt (where I threw my book across the room in frustration) to my other attempts to read it. Heck, I had Mitchell Keith try and read with me, but that failed.
I told myself this year would be the year. I’ve finally done it.
Why is this impressive or challenging?
It’s because James Joyce is what happens when you make a linguist a novelist. Although Ulysses is 3 Parts (18 chapters), each chapter is written in a different style. One chapter is written like newspaper headlines, another has musical numbers, the next one has the evolution of the English language, and one has eight paragraphs of no punctuation!
Not to mention, this book takes place over the course of a day. A single day.
This is by no means Joyce’s most difficult work. Finnegans Wake takes that title. (The Book club I’m in will be reading that next year, so we’ll see how I fare there).
What did I think of this book?
It’s a masterpiece plan and simple. It plays with language in a way I rarely see. Is it my favorite book? No. It would rank in my top 15. This book has companion guides that point out all the references and details Joyce left for the reader.
I may tackle a reread someday, but for now I will revel in my victory.
I finally finished my Odyssey of reading Ulysses.