Why should you read James Joyce's Ulysses? - Sam Slote
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Date: 2020-08-22
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Comments and reviews: 10
M.
It is sad how people are trying to feed us this book as the ultimate masterpiece. May be it is just an excellent linguistics exercise? If you read something and do not feel any sparkle it means it's not a masterpiece for you. We don't read a thousand pages scientific paper for obvious reasons but we cannot deny its value. It's jargon. Not everyone needs to get it. For me it is not about sheer volume. I started War and peace with the same skepticism and finished it in two days. For those forcing us to seek beauty in this overboring soup of fancy words and educating us, please read Leo Tolstoi's views on education, schooling, popular culture and sacred books in school hierarchy.
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It is sad how people are trying to feed us this book as the ultimate masterpiece. May be it is just an excellent linguistics exercise? If you read something and do not feel any sparkle it means it's not a masterpiece for you. We don't read a thousand pages scientific paper for obvious reasons but we cannot deny its value. It's jargon. Not everyone needs to get it. For me it is not about sheer volume. I started War and peace with the same skepticism and finished it in two days. For those forcing us to seek beauty in this overboring soup of fancy words and educating us, please read Leo Tolstoi's views on education, schooling, popular culture and sacred books in school hierarchy.
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Micah
One hallmark of Ulysses this piece neglected to highlight is the boringness of Joyces iconic work. While some writers manage to entertain and enthrall readers, James was able to leave myriad readers frustrated and disappointed. Hes the Jackson Pollock of literature in that his work is uninspired and a bore but because he was another outspoken, pretentious alcoholic and sheep are never in short supply, he managed to convince our more feeble minded peers his work has merit. The qualitative measure by which we assess whether a work of literature is any good can be summed up by that old saying about jokes: if you have to explain it it isnt any good.
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One hallmark of Ulysses this piece neglected to highlight is the boringness of Joyces iconic work. While some writers manage to entertain and enthrall readers, James was able to leave myriad readers frustrated and disappointed. Hes the Jackson Pollock of literature in that his work is uninspired and a bore but because he was another outspoken, pretentious alcoholic and sheep are never in short supply, he managed to convince our more feeble minded peers his work has merit. The qualitative measure by which we assess whether a work of literature is any good can be summed up by that old saying about jokes: if you have to explain it it isnt any good.
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Hilipinapixili
My dearly now deceased aunt bought me this book as a present when I was like 15 years old. Bless her heart, but I don't know what she was smoking that day.
Almost 20 years later I still haven't managed to read through it. And I feel I have to, because it's a present she gave to me. I feel morally compelled to defeat it once and for all in her memory, but as of now there was no such luck.
Still, I've recently gone through what I considered to be the Final Boss of my book collection after reading the integral uncensored version of Tales of the Arabian Nights. Maybe now is the time to give the optional superboss a try again.
reply
My dearly now deceased aunt bought me this book as a present when I was like 15 years old. Bless her heart, but I don't know what she was smoking that day.
Almost 20 years later I still haven't managed to read through it. And I feel I have to, because it's a present she gave to me. I feel morally compelled to defeat it once and for all in her memory, but as of now there was no such luck.
Still, I've recently gone through what I considered to be the Final Boss of my book collection after reading the integral uncensored version of Tales of the Arabian Nights. Maybe now is the time to give the optional superboss a try again.
reply
Gisa
If you're locked up because of the pandemic and have nothing better to do then NOW is certainly the time to read Ulysses but please do read The Odyssey first. You won't regret that one, it is one of the most imaginative and beautiful of all books, then go on to Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past (6 volumes, Lawrence Durrell's The Alexandria Quartet (all 4 volumes) and then if your soul is still thirsting for fine literature, read James Joyce. By that time either you will have decided to write your own masterpiece or the pandemic will have run its course and you will be free to venture outside. Good Luck!
reply
If you're locked up because of the pandemic and have nothing better to do then NOW is certainly the time to read Ulysses but please do read The Odyssey first. You won't regret that one, it is one of the most imaginative and beautiful of all books, then go on to Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past (6 volumes, Lawrence Durrell's The Alexandria Quartet (all 4 volumes) and then if your soul is still thirsting for fine literature, read James Joyce. By that time either you will have decided to write your own masterpiece or the pandemic will have run its course and you will be free to venture outside. Good Luck!
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Helen
What put me off applying to university was the thought of the interview, after a friend of mine at age 17 was asked about 'Ulysses'. Luckily she had heard of it because her Dad taught English and she was able to mention Joyce's 'stream of consciousness' style of writing, but if that had happened to me I would have wished the ground to open up so I could sink beneath.
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What put me off applying to university was the thought of the interview, after a friend of mine at age 17 was asked about 'Ulysses'. Luckily she had heard of it because her Dad taught English and she was able to mention Joyce's 'stream of consciousness' style of writing, but if that had happened to me I would have wished the ground to open up so I could sink beneath.
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LadyCypher54
I've read it twice. The first time I read it light heartedly, not worryimg too much about what I didn't understsnd. Just enjoyed the gallop. Second time, 10 years later, I read it more slowly and more carefully. I still didn't, by any means, follow up every clue or track down every reference. But got a great deal more out if it than the first time.
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I've read it twice. The first time I read it light heartedly, not worryimg too much about what I didn't understsnd. Just enjoyed the gallop. Second time, 10 years later, I read it more slowly and more carefully. I still didn't, by any means, follow up every clue or track down every reference. But got a great deal more out if it than the first time.
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Marina
Okay yall. Ted talk always makes me want to read books, and this was not an exception. And let me teeelllll youuu! I tried reading this book 3 times and it was difficult! Its still on my list lol. But ugh, I am so excited for the day I can finally read it.
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Okay yall. Ted talk always makes me want to read books, and this was not an exception. And let me teeelllll youuu! I tried reading this book 3 times and it was difficult! Its still on my list lol. But ugh, I am so excited for the day I can finally read it.
reply
RedRebel8
Start Ulysses - after a few chapters maybe you'll think you should try something else by Joyce to get you started.
Start Finnegan's Wake - halfway through the first page, you go back to Ulysses.
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Start Ulysses - after a few chapters maybe you'll think you should try something else by Joyce to get you started.
Start Finnegan's Wake - halfway through the first page, you go back to Ulysses.
reply
TeaParty1776
POP QUIZ!
Joyce's stream of consciousness is good.
Trump's stream of consciousness is bad.
Discuss in 1000 words. You have ten minutes.
Good streaming, class!
reply
POP QUIZ!
Joyce's stream of consciousness is good.
Trump's stream of consciousness is bad.
Discuss in 1000 words. You have ten minutes.
Good streaming, class!
reply
josh
'Ulysses' is perfect for when you don't have a rock to beat your brains in with. I recommend the hard cover. Or if Perhaps, you think Victor Hugo's sentences are too pesky and short.
reply
'Ulysses' is perfect for when you don't have a rock to beat your brains in with. I recommend the hard cover. Or if Perhaps, you think Victor Hugo's sentences are too pesky and short.
reply
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