Reading the Chunksters discussion

WEEK 3 - Ulysses BY James Joyce


February 7 – February 13: around 173 pages
o Episode 9: Scylla and Carybdis
o Episode 10: The Wandering Rocks
o Episode 11: The Sirens
o Episode 12: The Cyclops

So far I am only through episodes 9 and 10, but these sections were quite time consuming.

Episode 9 was a lot to think about with Dedalus's intense discussions on Hamlet and Shakespeare. (Though I got quite the chuckle in Episode 10 when Haines remarks "Shakespeare is the happy huntingground of all minds that have lost their balance")

Episode 10 was also a bit difficult in the lack of real focus. There is no main character or plot point - just a wandering of the city of Dublin through the eyes of many and varied characters. It took quite a bit of concentration in order to follow.

I'm quite behind schedule but I'm going to try to get into this section this week. :)

I'm a little bit behind too but I think I might be able to push it this week. I've started this section.

Kaycie wrote: "So far I am only through episodes 9 and 10, but these sections were quite time consuming.

Episode 9 was a lot to think about with Dedalus's intense discussions on Hamlet and Shakespeare. (Though I..."

Actually enjoyed the discourse in 9. But I wish that I knew Shakespeare better.

Was listening to episode 12 in the car this morning. The narrator reading dramatically complete with broad Irish accent. As if anything else was needed to make this book more unintelligible.

Yeah, I enjoyed the Shakespeare-speak in Episode 9 as well. Did anyone feel that the guys were trying to one-up each other with their comments?

Episode 10 was difficult because I kept falling asleep or perhaps I kept falling asleep because it was difficult. :P

Going to listen to Episode 11 on my was to work today. Unless it makes me fall asleep... In which case I'll be listening to the radio so I can drive!

Lisa wrote: "Was listening to episode 12 in the car this morning. The narrator reading dramatically complete with broad Irish accent. As if anything else was needed to make this book more unintelligible."

HAHAHA...yes. :-)

Lisa - I also enjoyed the discussion about Shakespeare, but it was dense, so took quite a bit of time to get through. It also made me wish I knew more about the topic instead of relying on SparkNotes for a cursory overview.

Renee - I definitely felt like they were trying to one up each other in the Shakespeare section...it seemed like a real battle of wits.

I found 11 and 12 both very difficult to follow. The narration seemed much jumpier and I missed a LOT apparently, because when I read SparkNotes afterwards I kept thinking "that never happened!", then went back to the text and it did happen, but I could definitely see why I was missing things.

Section 12 with the random bits of text in weird formats, like old english or irish folktale were VERY strange. I ended up reading SparkNotes before this section because I was so confused I had no clue what was supposed to be happening.

The experimental way of writing is really not agreeing with me. I know this isn't supposed to be followed like a traditional narrative story of "he walked here and talked to this person", but I definitely prefer a straightforward narrative to the experimental...craziness that is this book so far.

I am continuing to read, but have a busy week and weekend, so I'll be delayed on getting to section 4.

So here's a question.
This book is infamously difficult. Obviously, given the technique employed, Joyce was incredibly intelligent and a gifted writer.
But is it a good book? If you were dying and could read one book- would this be it?

Kaycie, should we go gate crash the Shakespeare group?

Lisa wrote: "But is it a good book? If you were dying and could read one book- would this be it? "

YES YES YES!!! Thank you for bringing this up because its really been bugging me and I've been trying to wrap my thoughts around it. I can truly see the brilliance that is Joyce's knowledge and writing, but I DON'T LIKE IT! And trust me, this would NOT be the book I'd pick up if I were dying.

Good is very subjective though. Someone that picks up a book and wants entertained will probably think this is a very bad book. But someone who picks this up and wants something to study and dive into and savor for years, this would be a good book. For me, I tend to prefer a straightforward narrative to the experimental, like I was saying before, so its really NOT a good book for me. I just don't care about it enough to spend the time it would take to really appreciate it, and even if I was able to "appreciate" it, for me that still isn't "good."

But, weirdly, that's not the same as saying that its not an important book, or a groundbreaking one. I do think I am getting something from this read, but it isn't entertainment and it isn't as much as I should (because I won't spend a one hundredth of the time on it I need to!). I have found this, actually, with many of the books on Boxall's 1001 list or the Guardian's list. I wouldn't pick up probably half of those books for sheer entertainment, but they are still important, groundbreaking books and one can learn quite a bit from them.

So...in conclusion...I have no idea. :-)

Lisa wrote: "Kaycie, should we go gate crash the Shakespeare group?"

I assume you mean a Goodreads Shakespeare group (because I could not compete with Dedalus!), and is there a good one? I've never read a Shakespeare out of school, there are so many I haven't read and it'd be super interesting to at least try!

I am just getting through this section...I am a bit behind, but plan to catch up this week.

Finally through this section. Fell asleep. A. Lot.
Ends with random farting. Again I say, no women of the time could have written about her menstual clots and been left safe on the streets.

Renee, a woman writing about menstrual clots NOW would still come under fire... Loved the comparison

Lisa wrote: "Renee, a woman writing about menstrual clots NOW would still come under fire... Loved the comparison"

I love/hate both of these comments! So sad but still so true.

Renee, I fell asleep a lot, too...I'm beginning to think its part of the experience.

Next time I see a patient complaining of insomnia, I will recommend this book...