Jerusalem by Alan Moore - year long Group Read

___

Jerusalem is a novel by British author Alan Moore, wholly set in and around the author's home town of Northampton, England. Combining elements of historical and supernatural fiction and drawing on a range of writing styles, the author describes it as a work of "genetic mythology". Published in 2016, Jerusalem took a decade to write. The novel is divided into three Books, "The Boroughs", "Mansoul", and "Vernall's Inquest".

Alan Moore (born 18 November 1953) is an English writer known primarily for his work in comic books including Watchmen. He fundamentally transformed mainstream comic literature in the 1980s, and many of Moore’s other titles — V for Vendetta, Batman: The Killing Joke, From Hell, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen — have become cultural landmarks. Moore detests the corporate franchising of his work, however, and after finishing his occult series Promethea in 2005, he largely moved away from illustrated storytelling, spending the subsequent decade crafting Jerusalem, a massive prose narrative (“longer than the Bible,” Moore quips) divided into three volumes, which was released in 2016 by Liverlight Publishing.
Because the novel is set almost entirely in Moore’s neighborhood in Northampton, United Kingdom, and since the narrative contains a multitude of innovative stylistic experiments, many reviewers have compared Jerusalem to Ulysses and Finnegans Wake. These comparisons are fair enough — Moore is certainly offering his version of a modernist epic — yet it’s even more appropriate to describe Jerusalem as Moore’s own Lord of the Rings: it’s a sweeping three-volume epic centering on a vast struggle between light and darkness that includes a quest to destroy a cursed Ring of Power that threatens to doom the world.

https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/a-glorious-mythology-of-loss-alan-moores-jer...

A few links to interviews, reviews etc -

2016: Alan Moore talks to Stewart Lee – books podcast
https://www.theguardian.com/books/audio/2016/dec/02/alan-moore-talks-to-stewart-...

2014: Alan Moore finishes million-word novel Jerusalem - https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/10/alan-moore-finishes-million-word-n...

2016: Simon Vance on narrating the 60 hour book -
https://workingactorsjourney.com/podcast/vance-moore-jerusalem/

will add more as I come across them

I'll be reading the e-book, though already am eyeing up buying a decent hard copy edition.

from wikipedia:
Editions
The UK and US editions differ: the Knockabout edition is 1,180 pages long and is set in a small point size, whereas the Liveright edition is set in a larger point size and consequently is 1,266 pages long, and features a different author photo on the jacket. Alongside the one-volume hardcover first edition, Jerusalem was simultaneously released in a 3-volume slipcased paperback edition, and as an unabridged audio book narrated by Simon Vance, published by Recorded Books, Inc. The front cover (or, respectively, the slipcover for the 3-volume paperback edition) depicts several key scenes and characters from the novel in the form of a diorama. Each of the three Books begins with an epigram and photographic illustration (comprising cover illustrations for the slipcased volumes).

I'll be knocking about with a hardcopy edition I picked up at Powell's (Portland, OR; USA.) Though it's a first edition, it's a remainder copy with a scratched up dust jacket-- so no issue with using it as my reading copy!
I'll probably start with the Prelude, "Work in Progress" over the remaining holiday ;-)

Seeing Northamptonshire library systems have one copy, I've reserved it and will join in. >:-)

I received this as a birthday gift a year and a half ago. I tried to do it as a solo year-long read in 2019, but kept getting distracted. What I did read though was baffling but gorgeously written, and I'm really looking forward to getting into it again. As I mentioned on the planning thread, I was born in Northampton, and most of my relatives still live in Northamptonshire, so I'm looking forward to seeing what I make of the dialect bits.

I am now sourcing a copy of Jerusalem and am looking forward to delving into it. My links to Northamptonshire are many generations back but I would like to know more.

So interesting. Makes me what to read this. Such a nice job of setting this up >1 avatiakh:

>8 Familyhistorian: My own ties are also in the past. My greatx3 grandfather and his family came out from Maidford in Northamptonshire to New Zealand in 1842, which is early for New Zealand settlers. One of his sons-in-law came from Northampton and I'm currently researching this part of my family. Northampton was well known for bootmaking and tanning. The son-in-law was one of the first fellmongers in Christchurch here in NZ.

>9 Kristelh: Thanks.

I haven't given much thought as to how we want to pace ourselves or anything. I must confess that my current focus is on finishing And the land lay still before the end of the year and it looks like I have a 50 50 chance of that. I also need to set up my category thread.
Any suggestions on 'how to read' the book will be welcome. No spoilers is a given.

>10 avatiakh: Have you been able to visit Northamptonshire? I was able to do some in-person research which included visiting my 5x great grandfather's nonconformist church in Kilsby. So cool. He studied with Dodderidge in Northampton and it looks like that well known nonconformist comes up in Jerusalem. I can't wait to read that part.

>11 Familyhistorian: Not yet. There's a slight chance that I visit the UK this coming year for research but anyway I'm going to insist that my London-based daughter goes for a visit.

>10 avatiakh: The bootmaking/tanning thing lives on in the nickname for Northampton Town FC - 'the Cobblers'. Which, given their usually woeful form, is a pretty good monicker.

In terms of organising my reading, I'm just dividing page numbers by 366 and working out at the end of each month which page I need to have reached. So as long as by 31st Jan I'm at p99 or beyond then I'll know I'm on track. (I have the Knockabout hardback, which has 1174 pages)

>12 avatiakh: It actually isn't that far from London. I am always pleasantly surprised at how close everything is over there but then everything is so spread out here that we measure distances travelled in time rather than distance.

I picked up the paperback today and it is 1262 pages if I disregard the acknowledgements. That is just over 105 pages a month.

Ok, I started earlier this week and aim to finish the Prelude this weekend before beginning The Boroughs section next week.
My copy arrived a few days ago, it's a slipcase with 3 paperback volumes, so I'm switching over from e-reading.

I did order this book. Still not sure I will have any time to actually read it.

I read, “Work in Progress” last weekend and hope to read at least the first chapter of “The Boroughs” before Monday!

>15 avatiakh: >17 Tanya-dogearedcopy: I think I'm at a similar point to you both - I've finished the prologue, and am midway through the first chapter of The Boroughs. This is about the point that I stopped reading last year (not because I didn't like it, just that I was distracted!), so it's good to have the virtual company! I'm not really sure I understand all that much of what's going on, but I'm enjoying the reading experience!

I wanted to ask everyone here if they know what "Porthimoth di Norhan" means?
I'm gathering that it's something obscured by the regional dialect, but as what it might really be, I haven't a clue!

Honestly, that foxed me too! I assume Norhan is Northampton, but Porthimoth defeated me, I'm afraid!

I've just googled it, and found this:

“Porthimoth di Norhan” is the name of an obscure early Northampton court. A Northampton history website states “In one early 13th century deed the court in which the plea of land had been held is called the porthimoth’ de Norhant‘. No other instance of the use of this term at Northampton has been found; at Leicester and Ipswich the court at which transfers of land took place was called the portmannmot.”

>21 Jackie_K: LOL, Now we now what the words mean! But what the heck does it all mean?! :-D

>22 Tanya-dogearedcopy: I think it will take me more than a quick google to figure that out! :D

I better start this and get caught up with you all. >15 avatiakh: I like the idea of having it in 3 paperback volumes. It looks like it will be hard to read the one big volume for long.

I went quickly again through the Prelude and the first chapter, so I could remember more accurately what they are about. I remember being captivated by Alma's dream in the prelude. The first chapter was really something also. The moment where the angel's head in the frescoe turns and he starts to speak was really incredible.

This is going much more slowly for me than I thought it would. Not the book's fault just that I'm reading and committing myself to too many other books. I've just managed to make a reasonable start on The Boroughs and according to my kindle I'm now at 4%. The detailed descriptions are wonderful but make for a slow rewarding read.

Yes - it's taking me longer too, for exactly the same reason! When I actually sit down to read Jerusalem, I always enjoy it, the writing is wonderful (even though I still can't hand on heart say I understand exactly what's going on!).

The writing is wonderful but so dense that it takes a while to get through it. I am into the Boroughs now but it is slow going. It doesn't help that I am reading Wolf Hall for a group read at the same time. I'm behind on that one as well.

I really need to get back to this read but I am distracted lately and haven't been buckling down to read some of my challenges.

I've come to a bit of a halt as well. I think I've taken on so many of the CATs this year that I don't have much time left for Jerusalem. I'm hoping the next month or two I'll calm down a bit with wanting to read so much and carve out a bit more time and space to read it.

I'm also finding it hard to make progress. I'm not much in the mood for reading at present which doesn't help.

Well, at least we've given ourselves plenty of time to get back to it. Maybe reading will get better when things seem a bit more normal.

I've just finished Bk 1 and started on Bk 2. I switched to the audio version and backing up with the printed book from time to time. It's really good, though I'm just not reading or listening as much these past few months.

>33 avatiakh: At least you are making some progress. My book has sat unopened for months now. I should try to get back to it. Do you think you will finish by December?

>33 avatiakh: >34 Familyhistorian: Me too - what I wrote in >30 Jackie_K: still stands, I've taken on too many challenges this year I think! I have at least got further into the book before grinding to a halt than I did last time. It's very frustrating - I actually think it's really good, and when I read it I enjoy it, but I need to find a routine that works for me with it, and I've not found it yet. I'm planning on setting aside a week at the end of this month and seeing if I can get a chunk of it read then.

>35 Jackie_K: Good luck with that, Jackie. I really should get back to it. I am particularly interested in the references to Dodderidge because of my family connection and I was hoping that would make it a more compelling read for me because of that but the size is daunting.

>34 Familyhistorian: Well, I went from e-book to hard copy to audio in my attempts to at least finish the first volume. I think all the Covid related lockdowns etc have changed my reading habits and I've been relying on lighter reads.
I'm aiming on finishing the second volume by year's end, I'd like to finish the whole book but can't expect that at my current reading progress.

>35 Jackie_K: I found it easy to pick up again as the individuals in the stories are so memorable. Plus I listened to a large chunk that I'd already read and that helped. With spring arriving I'll be heading out for more walks, only 43 hours left on audio!

>37 avatiakh: Only 43 hours - that sounds like a big chunk of time! Should we make this a year and a half challenge or maybe a two year challenge?

I'm still chugging slowly along. I'm hoping to finish by the end of the year though that means some effort.

Tonight I found a couple of threads on a Reddit forum where there was a read-along a year or so ago.
some images from google maps of significant buildings:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ReadersofJerusalem/comments/eg5z54/personal_project/
some links to discussion of book 1
https://www.reddit.com/r/ReadersofJerusalem/comments/68x03i/discussions_of_each_...

>38 Familyhistorian: Honestly, I feel like this book needs to be read twice - once is just not enough to take in all the detail.

I've come to a bit of a halt with this book, but I do really like it - I've just taken on too much this year. I'm still going to carry on with it, but it will probably be the end of 2021 before I finish at this rate!

I haven't gotten very far with the book. Too many library holds are getting in the way. I do want to get back to it though so the end of 2021 looks like a possibility here too.

I've now finished the second volume. I won't make any comments on the plot as I don't want to spoil anything. I'm listening to the audiobook and sometimes reading along with it if I'm home. I find that I check the book quite often and reread passages that I've listened to as it's quite a complex story. I have 22 hours left in the audio having just started volume 3.

>43 avatiakh: Congratulations on getting to the end of the second volume!

Struggling with the third chapter, 'Round the Bend' in the third volume. It's about Lucia Anna Joyce, daughter of James Joyce. It's full of word play and phonetic tricks - I'm listening to it but will also have to read it through.

'This chapter’s almost-cryptically dense style is inspired by that which James Joyce used in Finnegans Wake. The majority of words have been reshaped to create multiple layers of puns and allusions. This density will require special treatment to annotate.'
https://alanmoorejerusalem.wordpress.com/alan-moore-annotations-index/j3-03-roun...

I found a partial transcription with footnotes that is helpful and adding the link here for others when they arrive to this chapter.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-TC_xHcLM7LFW4WsNzC6dfuyBXQG-NX38Ok8qDdDvOU/...

I've moved on from this chapter but just read this in an interview with Alan Moore -
'Another chapter, described from the point of view of James Joyce’s mad daughter Lucia who was institutionalised for 30 years in a Northampton mental hospital, is written in a mangled, pun-filled gibber-English as a homage to Joyce’s Finnegans Wake. It was so laborious to compose that Moore took a year’s break after finishing it.'

I suspect I'll need to take a year's break once I finish that bit too!!

That doesn't bode well for getting through the book quickly!

Only a year and a bit late, I'm starting this now. Reading with a friend, so hopefully we'll keep each other on track. Aiming for the first 100 pages by next weekend. It's got big pages and tinsy tiny type, so this might be a challenge!

How's everyone else got on with it?

>49 Helenliz: I started this book last year and didn't get very far, but have recently picked it up again and will hopefully finish it by the end of this year! I basically have NO IDEA what is going on, but that doesn't matter because the writing is so extraordinary. And of course he has nailed the Northants accent.

I put this down sometime last year but still remember much of what I read as it stayed with me. I'm at about page 70. Maybe I can read to page 100 by next weekend and keep the momentum going.

>49 Helenliz: Can't believe that I never posted here after finishing the book in November. Overall I loved it to bits and have even bought a book of John Clare's poetry (he features in one of the later chapters). I feel like I should read it again, this time with much more understanding of what's going on....though just reading many of the articles and essays about the book have helped.

>52 avatiakh: Congratulations for finishing such a long read. Good to know that it is worth the effort.

>52 avatiakh: Good to know that it is worth the effort.

Finished the Prologue, chapters 1 & 2 this week. Prologue has me thinking mystical vision of some sort, be interesting to see what that results in. Chapter 1 the imagery of the painting coming to life was amazing. Poor Ginger. Chapter 2, I found myself both feeling sorry for and repelled by Marla and her world.

>54 Helenliz: Although it's been a while since I picked up the book, the story of Ginger stayed with me. I found the chapter about Marla quite depressing. I read a page in the next chapter which isn't full of sunshine either.