Alison Barber answers “I have tried reading this book twice but...”

Deepak Pitaliya asked this question about Ulysses:

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?

Alison Barber Yes! (I am reading and enjoying it at the moment), but I think you need to be in the mood and committed and have a plan. Like you, I have had a go bef…moreYes! (I am reading and enjoying it at the moment), but I think you need to be in the mood and committed and have a plan. Like you, I have had a go before and only made it about a third of the way. This time, I made it a project, googled "How to read Ulysses" (seriously:-) ) and took some of the advice, chiefly 1/. to commit to a few pages a night and 2/. to arm myself with a guide, in my case Harry Blamires New Bloomsday. Usually read Blamires intro to each chapter to see how it sits against Iliad and get an idea of the style to expect and then read until I feel I need to dip into Blamires to clarify something - (in Scylla and Charybdis several times a page!). Without the Blamires, I am pretty sure I would have to read it half a dozen times to pick up some of the detail and allusions. Some chapters more challenging than others, but am finding it far funnier and entertaining than did at first pass and am roughly half way and enjoying picking it up each night, so pretty sure will see it to the end this time.
Have also dipped into the Shmoop Summaries and found them useful. A whole community out there of people discussing Ulysses. Join them and dive in!(less)

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