I’ve never read Ulysses. I’ve wanted to. There it is on my to-be-read shelf. But the time has just never been right.
However, there’s nothing like a passionate Irish voice to spur me forward. In this case, that of Frank Delaney. He loves this book.
ReJOYCE! To mark Bloomsday, in other words, to commemorate James Joyce’s mighty novel, Ulysses, we’re launching a podcast. Every week, here on the website, you’ll find a five-minute mini-essay from me designed to take you through the novel that’s on every list of the greatest books ever written. And as Ulysses runs to some 375,000 words, and I mean to go through it sentence by sentence if I have to, in order to convey the full brilliance of this novel – and the enjoyment to be had from it…
This morning, in 5 minutes and 30 seconds, episode 1. And just like that, I’ve read the first paragraph.
Happy Bloomsday!
I’ve never read this book either, but this sounds like an interesting way to try it. Thanks for sharing.
Linda, so glad to know I’m not the only one!
Ha! I’m doing that myself, Cynthia. It’s an excellent way to get through a book I didn’t think I’d ever read.
Lauren, So glad we’re in this together. We can compare notes as we move along. Loved the first episode.
I am so excited by this post. The memoir I am co-writing is about Deirdre Gogarty. Supposedly, she is related to Oliver Gogarty (Buck Mulligan) and Deirdre grew up hearing stories of the famous poet and his friendship with Yeats. I’ve come to know Martello towers in Sandycove and the landscape of Dublin in writing her memoir. Therefore, Ulysses has been on my TBR list as well.
Once again, thank you, Cynthia. Frank Delaney’s voice is a joy. I especially enjoyed today’s lesson of “multitasking in prose.” Lovely.
Darrelyn, that is so cool. I knew I’d heard the name Gogarty before. You must have had a stroke listening to all those familiar names and places in relation to Joyce’s first paragraph. The “multitasking in prose” is what stood out to me the first time. I just listened to those five minutes again. Now I wonder why yellow is the color of memory.
I haven’t read it either although I’ve read other Joyce. 375K words! My YA novel was 55K and my adult novel 94K. Good luck!
Thanks, Sarah. I’m going to read–word by word : )
I’ve never read Ulysses, either. But will, someday.
PS: I have a thing for Irish (and Scottish and English) accents. Accents of any kind, really. They intrigue me to no end.
Terresa, since you like accents, you should take a minute and listen to Frank Delaney’s voice. You’ll love it.