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This is inarguably the most difficult (and formally radical) book ever written and most people can’t make heads or tails of it but if you just start reading and don’t stop and let the words wash over you, its strange poetry starts to speak to you. Joyce invented a new language of neologisms and portmanteau words that were puns in multiple languages at once. He went as far with the English language as anyone can go and he attains heights of poetry, subtlety, and complexity that have never been surpassed. I’ve been reading it for 40 years and have only just scratched its surface but it has been an immensely rewarding experience.
Aug 31, 2021
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Oh this is great, your description of how to read this book really resonates with me, and I'd not been able to put this in words. Any fiction by Robert Anton Wilson is best read like this - I get far more than the sum of the words.
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🍀While its reputation as impenetrable holds up, keep in mind that James Joyce said there isn't a single serious line in this book -- that's the best way to experience the book, both an ode to and exhaustive examination of unseriousness.
The books about Ulysses (especially Ulysses and Us: A Guide to Everyday Living) are also great.
Feb 13, 2024
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Just finishing up, it’s remarkably dense, but I don’t think I’ve found a work of theory as of late that is both incredibly graspable and topical, there’s some interesting thoughts about prose poetry and the role of literature in the 21st century I keep thinking about. it wears its Jameson influence on its sleeve but it’s worth picking up
Feb 28, 2024
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📖I’m reading this book on my kindle so had no idea i was embarking on a 500 page odyssey when I started reading. It’s crazy - I still don’t fully know what Surprises await me. it’s full of taboo stuff that keeps me turning pages
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Aug 31, 2021