Page 1 of 1

Little John's Odyssey - or - Ulysses Unbound

Posted: October 3rd, 2019, 3:33 pm
by Little John
I am making yet another attempt to read "The Book". The book that strikes fear in every pretentious reader's heart. James Joyce's infamous Ulysses.

Why oh why? I hear you cry. Because it's there I feign reply. It's hardtoread becausehe keepsstringing phrasestogether. Like that.

But I lied when I claim to have read a third of the book three times. Of course, a third of the book three times should have been the equivalent of the whole of the book once. But I hadn't read a third. I am well past the bit where I gave up all those times before and my kindle assures me I have now only read 25%. Then a journey of a weighty tome commences with the reading of a single word. And Im reading every word presented to me on the screen. I don't understand them but I am reading them.

Re: Little John's Odyssey - or - Ulysses Unbound

Posted: October 3rd, 2019, 4:49 pm
by marymary
Sounds like someone who was before his time. On Twitter people string phrases together. I have never read it but my parents did when they did Higher English at night school. If you want something hard to read, read Feersum Endjinn by Iain Banks. Mind you I found it quite easy because I see children’s writing all the time.

Re: Little John's Odyssey - or - Ulysses Unbound

Posted: October 3rd, 2019, 4:58 pm
by Little John
Not one to evade a challenge......But you're right about before his time. I think because a lot of people have taken stuff from him and put it with their own. I did recognise a few phrases from other more modern books.

I also got confused by silly things like the use of the word "Ads". I tried googling and reasoning based on the time I know it was written before it dawned on me that "Ads" means exactly what we might assume it to mean. An abbreviation for adverts. Bloom apparently sells them for a living.

Re: Little John's Odyssey - or - Ulysses Unbound

Posted: October 3rd, 2019, 9:44 pm
by salem
I suppose that's one way to get around twitters character limit as spaces count as well . :D

Re: Little John's Odyssey - or - Ulysses Unbound

Posted: October 4th, 2019, 8:42 am
by Little John
:D

Re: Little John's Odyssey - or - Ulysses Unbound

Posted: October 4th, 2019, 2:07 pm
by Little John
I am now actually and officially one third through.

Re: Little John's Odyssey - or - Ulysses Unbound

Posted: October 4th, 2019, 4:23 pm
by marymary
👏🏻

Re: Little John's Odyssey - or - Ulysses Unbound

Posted: October 11th, 2019, 7:52 am
by Little John
Having gone past a reasonably easy bit about three women who I assume to be Homer's "Sirens", it's now getting weirder. I think we may have entered a Beowulf or Chaucer stage.

Re: Little John's Odyssey - or - Ulysses Unbound

Posted: October 11th, 2019, 2:54 pm
by Little John
Here is a passage from this bit. Looking at it now, perhaps it's more Old Testament.

About that present time young Stephen filled all cups that stood empty so as there remained but little mo if the prudenter had not shadowed their approach from him that still plied it very busily who, praying for the intentions of the sovereign pontiff, he gave them for a pledge the vicar of Christ which also as he said is vicar of Bray. Now drink we, quod he, of this mazer and quaff ye this mead which is not indeed parcel of my body but my soul's bodiment.

Re: Little John's Odyssey - or - Ulysses Unbound

Posted: October 11th, 2019, 3:25 pm
by marymary
Doesn’t look as difficult as I thought it would.

Re: Little John's Odyssey - or - Ulysses Unbound

Posted: October 20th, 2019, 1:19 pm
by Little John
87%. There are no reliable page numbers on a kindle. It depends on the size of the text.

Bloom and Stephen have left the all night cafe and gone to Blooms house.