I bought James Joyce's Ulysses a number of years ago and have tried to read it several times. It's just too boring.

I really want to read it, because it is said to be the best book of the 20th century... I just don't get it. I mean, sure its written well as in good sentence construction and narrative, but the subject so far is so tedious! It's like evesdropping on the most boring group of friends ever!

Please tell me ITT if I should persevere or give up. Is it really worth it? Or is it just some more of that typical "its good because everyone hates it" elitist bullshit?

5/22/2010 10:36:25 PM

Don't be a quiter.

5/22/2010 10:41:13 PM

yes

never quite.

but really, i've never read Joyce. but all I've ever heard is that he is the definition of tedious.

[Edited on May 22, 2010 at 10:59 PM. Reason : adsfds]

5/22/2010 10:58:46 PM

Read Finnegan's Wake and join the C.R.A.F.T. club

5/22/2010 10:59:32 PM

ib4vinylbandit

I'm not a Ulysses fan, but I've read and enjoyed some of Joyce's other works. I do think a large amount of the praise he gets is because he meets the classic literary canon's parameters for greatness, which is a very, very elitist thing.

Obviously it's hyped enough to make people who may otherwise have no real interest in literature go out and try to read it, and they fail.

So really, if you have to ask whether it's elitist bullshit or not, and if you're complaining about it being tedious, why are you reading it? Do you think you're going to accomplish something through it? Are you reading this book because you suspect you may enjoy it, or because you want to say you read Ulysses and enjoyed it, as so many people are driven to do so for?

5/22/2010 11:48:25 PM

I'll echo what was already said. If you don't like it, why continue?

Ulysses does have some really amazing scenes, though I'd probably argue that the language and style of the book are more interesting than the plot. I like Ulysses a lot (especially the parts with Molly), but I don't personally feel it's as amazing as the Pynchon novels I love.

But first and foremost, if you don't like it and it doesn't move you, don't bother.

5/23/2010 12:20:51 AM

^Wow, everything you say makes me want to wed you, goddamnit.

Pynchon is one of my top three, and Joyce can't put a dent in his shining awesomeness.


EDIT: I like Mrs. Dalloway more than Ulysses.

[Edited on May 23, 2010 at 12:25 AM. Reason : d]

5/23/2010 12:24:33 AM

Hemingway punched Joyce right in the throat.

[Edited on May 23, 2010 at 12:34 AM. Reason : .]

5/23/2010 12:33:16 AM

Hemingway is a meathead compared with Joyce

so naturally

5/23/2010 12:36:38 AM

He's a meathead compared with the rest of the literary world...

5/23/2010 12:45:26 AM

I've read, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and his short stories book, The Dubliners But never Ulysses. I wish to some time, but I feel like it will be an academic effort, and while I'm not opposed to that, I just don't have the energy these days.

And while we're on other classics, I'm a huge fan of Melville, Conrad, and of-course my favorite, Mr. Mark Twain

I've always wanted to pick up some Pynchon.

[Edited on May 23, 2010 at 1:33 AM. Reason : .]

5/23/2010 1:33:18 AM

I'm not one of those guys that gets intimidated by pseudo-elitists into "liking" some stupid bullshit so don't worry about that.

Quote :

"Are you reading this book because you suspect you may enjoy it"

I initially bought it because I thought it would be intellectually enriching. Some books aren't the biggest page-turners but I still get a lot out of them. This one, though... I don't know. I was hoping some people would say - "stick with it, it grows on you after the first few chapters" or something.

Doesn't sound like it.

5/23/2010 8:54:48 AM