Ulysses, by James Joyce

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

So I'm almost done with this set of lectures about Joyce's Ulysses, and Iv'e decided. I don't ever need to read Joyce's Ulysses. Possibly the same goes for Finnegan's Wake and Portrait.... While this prof is clearly enthusiastic and knows a lot about the little secret bits, there doesn't seem to be anything productive coming out of it. No ultimate point than showing off his l33t novel-writing skills. I dont' feel like I'd get anything out of the effort.

So, feels good to have something off my list of goals, even if I didn't actually accomplish it.

[stacer]

From reading a personal essay or a short story a few years ago (can't remember which), I decided the same thing. I figured, if I couldn't understand the short piece, the long piece wasn't for me.

Of course, I'm not much of a judge. I won't read Thoreau, either. They're both pretty boring, and Thoreau's mother did his laundry for him. Though I suppose he's got some good points I might agree with, but I don't feel like taking the time to search for them.

[EUOL]

I've been forced to read DUBLINERS and ARTIST by my lit programs.  I came to pretty much the same conclusion--Joyce wrote with the express intention of creating books that people would study when he was dead.  

He really does have some impressive skills--they're just not remarkably useful skills for a person who wants people to enjoy their stories.  

[Mistress of Darkness]

I never made it through Artist, though I did read Dubliners. I can't remember much of what happens in either. I do remember bird-girl, but not her significance.

I prefer James Henry.