Group Read: Ulysses, Chapters 1 - 3

Here is the thread for discussing the first three chapters. I'll put links to any subsequent threads in this first post.

Group Read: Ulysses (Introductory thread)
https://www.librarything.com/topic/280860

Group Read: Ulysses, Part II #1
https://www.librarything.com/topic/291114

Group Read: Ulysses, Part III
https://www.librarything.com/topic/291688

Thanks Pam. I plan to pick this up mid month and see how far I get.

A few months ago I enrolled in a course, Introduction to Ulysses, which was, unfortunately, cancelled for lack of interest. In preparation I read up to chapter seven, but I've started again from the beginning and have just read the first three again. The central character is Stephen Daedalus from A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, who represents Telemachus, the son of Ulysses. I am finding The Bloomsday Book very useful, because as a Ulysses beginner it helps me to read another opinion. I have found Ulysses Annotated less useful because there is so much detail, so many classical allusions, that reading it kills my interest in Ulysses. I think it would be of more interest to academics than to a neophyte.

Initially I was very confused, particularly by the third chapter, Proteus, but realised that the confusion was inside Stephen's head, and is, in fact, the stream of consciousness for which this book is celebrated.

Has anyone else started?

Hi Caroline, let's get to the end!

I will start this weekend. I plan to listen to the podcasts as well so it may take a long time, but I am determined to finish at some point this year.

>5 Yells: How did you go on the weekend? Are the podcasts helping?

The podcasts are really detailed so I would recommend them to anyone who wants to dissect each word in depth and would like a lot of background. If, however, you are okay not knowing why Joyce uses a period instead of a comma in whatever sentence, then you might want to skip them. They are really, really detailed - but also really interesting!

Well, I have tried, but I can't get myself through this now. Throwing in the proverbial towel on Stephen and Co., but will try again some other time. I keep picking up the book, reading 20 lines and then turning on the telly - not the correct way to read a book. Sorry, peeps. I have been able to read quite a lot of Ulysses Annotated, but that wasn't quite the purpose of this exercise... :(

>8 -Eva-: I can persevere because I'm retired and have plenty of spare time. I can't imagine reading Ulysses after a day at work!

https://www.bl.uk/20th-century-literature/articles/an-introduction-to-ulysses

Joyce helped to forge its reputation, mischievously claiming 'I've put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant, and that's the only way of insuring one's immortality'.Even Virginia Woolf, reading shortly after publication, found Ulysses a struggle, dismissing it as 'diffuse', 'brackish' and 'pretentious'.

I've been struggling along, often bewildered, sometimes annoyed, wondering how a modern reader without Joyce's genius or classical education can make any sense of Ulysses. But perhaps there's no need to try and follow every word, every reference. Stephen Dedalus truly is callow, pompous and pretentious, so my irritation with him is a genuine response to the character.

>7 Yells: Are you still going?

I am slowly plugging away (very slowly!) I did take a short break to read a book recommended by a fellow book lover (re enabler). But, I will be back tonight. I love the podcasts but they are really detailed.

So I have listened to the first 35 podcasts and we are just finishing the breakfast scene! On the one hand, I love the detail that Delaney picks out of the novel (and his love for the book is definitely infectious), but on the other hand, it's taking forever to progress. I do like this way of reading/listening so I will keep it up.

Any one else still plugging away?

>10 pamelad: From the podcasts, I learned that Joyce chose every word with care so each word, phrase, sentence is designed to invoke a specific feeling. If your overall feeling is irritation with Dedalus, you are definitely getting the jist of it :)

>14 Yells: I admire your dedication and close attention. I was determined to finish, but had not your patience, so I slogged away with the help of The Bloomsday Book as a guide, reading some every day, and finished it a couple of weeks ago. You are getting much more out of it than I did. I'm hoping that the course I planned to do, An Introduction to Ulysses, which was cancelled due to lack of numbers, will run again. Now that I've finished I can contemplate going back to look at some significant chapters in depth.

There is no way I would get any of it without the podcasts. I have resigned myself to the fact that I will be reading this forever :)

I am finished chapter 1 and can honestly say that while not much has happened so far, all kinds of things have happened. If I was just reading this, my eyes would have glazed over a long time ago but the podcasts really bring the prose to life. This will be a long process but I am actually enjoying it so far!

Glad you're enjoying Ulysses and getting so much from it.