Questions About Ulysses

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I have tried reading this book twice but could not get past 30-40 pages. I even read Iliad and Odyssey before starting this book as the book is supposed to draw some parallel with Odyssey. Is it readable?

Rene Quezada You can and should read the Shmoop Summaries of each episode after reading the episode. Understand, and accept that you will not understand everything…moreYou can and should read the Shmoop Summaries of each episode after reading the episode. Understand, and accept that you will not understand everything, most, or maybe even half of the text on your first reading. The Shmoop summaries are fantastic, concise, and simplify everything into the normal linear narrative style that Joyce worked so hard to avoid and reject. They're written as bullet points. Also read each episode individually, and if you can take a break in between, each episode is written in slightly or even vastly different style which makes the novel more freeform jazz than it does verse-chorus-verse pop song.

Here you go... Start Here:

http://www.shmoop.com/ulysses-joyce/e...(less)

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Is joyce a true genius? Is he arrogant?? does he know it is difficult to follow sometimes ? i am really enjoying it so exciting so different

J I think he was a genius, but I don't really know what he was trying to say in this book. That the ordinary, everyday life of an ordinary man can be tr…moreI think he was a genius, but I don't really know what he was trying to say in this book. That the ordinary, everyday life of an ordinary man can be treated with the same eloquence and attention to detail as an epic journey spanning decades? That each person has a universe behind his/her eyes? Yes, and a lot more I suppose, but Joyce also purposely wrote this novel, and even more so Finnegan's Wake, in a complex way; thus, many don't get much of anything from it.(less)

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Are The Life is too short to read Ulysses ??

Kathy Yes, life is definitely too short to bother with this horrible rubblish. I wasted one weekend and this novel almost destroyed me. It is boring, tediou…moreYes, life is definitely too short to bother with this horrible rubblish. I wasted one weekend and this novel almost destroyed me. It is boring, tedious, far too long and complete drivel.(less)

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5th attempt on reading this. God be with me this time.

Mrs Jennifer Ann Shoesmith Life is too short. William Morris said that our homes should only contain things which are either beautiful or useful. I feel the same about my mind -…moreLife is too short. William Morris said that our homes should only contain things which are either beautiful or useful. I feel the same about my mind - this book is neither and therefore not worthy of further effort on my behalf. I suggest that you treat it with similiar contempt. I contend that it is appreciated by no-one and lauded only by pseudo intellectuals too low in intelligence to appreciate the self-aggrandising arrogance of Joyce.(less)

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To those who know ULYSSES well (I've read it 3 times but many years ago), is it true, as the blurb above states, that Buck Mulligan was a "friend" of Leopold Bloom? My recollection is that Buck was Stephen Daedalus's roommate and may never have even MET Mr. Bloom.

Emma Bloom and Mulligan are not friends. Bloom doesn’t think highly of Mulligan. They are in the same space a few times in the book. Bloom advises Stephen …moreBloom and Mulligan are not friends. Bloom doesn’t think highly of Mulligan. They are in the same space a few times in the book. Bloom advises Stephen not to be friends with Mulligan.(less)

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