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Summary: The book to read
Review: This is a project, and nobody reads this in a week. Take a year (or 10 years :-)), only this is a must for anyone who reads.The finest example of literature we have.
Rating: 
Summary: A Wonder--of Convention
Review: To understand something of "Ulysses," one must firstlook at its publication in a historical perspective. Brought out inprint in a time when the banning of books was common practice in the war against "obscenity," Mr. Joyce's work was championed by all liberals everywhere--not so much on its artistic merits, but, rather, due to what it symbolized for them: The struggle of the artist against the State. As for the book itself,the writing was almost secondary. In fact, it was not just derided by philistines; many noteworthy authors--among whom number Virginia Woolf and Gertrude Stein--questioned its originality and its effectiveness. (For certainly, most of its now-thought "original techniques" had been used before by other writers to far better effect!) That is to say, "Ulysses" became more important for what it was SUPPOSED to represent than for what it actually was. As time passed and young people of a more liberal turn acceded to positions of social authority, "Ulysses" began to be, almost defiantly, hyped as a modernist masterpiece. This, of course, to tweek the nose of the older generation more than to herald a legitimate work of Art. As a result, whole generations of subsequent Americans have had imposed on them the the ready-made opinion that "Ulysses" holds an unassaible position in the Letters of the World; for, certainly, they fear to have attached to themselves the tag "Vulgarian" if they dare to express their own thoughts on this grossly over-rated book. No, truly, "Ulysses" is a triumph of propoganda that, when taken out of its historical context and judged squarely, falls flat, resuming its true proportions on an artistic level given it by great writers of the time: A dry, pedantic and boring farrago.
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Summary: Wow, this book is weird.
Review: This book is so bizarre it made my eyes itch. (But then I picked up Finnegan's Wake and it was so weird that my head fell off my shoulders and rolled into the waistpaper basket). It's worth reading though, because you'll never look at regular novels again the same way.
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Summary: Music to my eyes!
Review: I not only read this book, I was taught it. It was the subject of my thesis at Berkeley. However, I would not presume to know a great deal about it. I think I will learn even more the next time I read it. Is it the greatest novel ever? Big question. I haven't read every novel, so I can't say. It's the best novel I have ever read. The novel is much deeper than most people believe. I would think to read it on the surface level only would be pretty boring, except for the lyrical style. But the real brilliance lies in his intertwining several allegorical levels with the action (if it can be called that). Too complicated to go into. Suffice it to say this book is about Everything! and Everyone! The universe contained in one ordinary man in one ordinary city on one ordinary day. We are all warriors and adventurers while at the same time stepped on by cowards and beat up by triviality. We are Leopold Bloom. Didn't you know? Apart from the mind bending, headache inducing allegory, what sets Joyce apart from other twentieth century novelists is the way he makes the English language into music. Joyce truly exhibits the shear beauty of words, creating nothing less than a symphony filled with harmony, dissonance, rythym and syncopation, noise, peace, passion, hopelessness, beauty, and terror that you can hear if you listen and if you let your mind let the words pierce that well disguised wall of cynicism. It's a romantic adventure about the best and the worst in all of us. Helps if you read it with the New Bloomsday Book. Hard to make it through it without it.
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Summary: A waste of space
Review: Ulysses is an experiment in style - not in content, not in entertainment, not in anything but style. As a student, you have to read it(like Shakespeare of course - but he's slightly better). And every book that you HAVE to read is already suspicious. Why is it a 'must'? Because if you would not be forced, you wouldn't read it? So true because this is a waste of space. How wonderful such space can be used, other longer books like 'The Lord of the Rings', 'Dune' or 'Catch-22' prove. They aim for entertainment, for fun, for joy in reading and all the same, they deliver perfect writing and characterisation. Now what is wrong with entertainment? Nothing! Even the bible wants to entertain - but Joyce is of course above such unnoble things like 'fun' or 'entertainment'. He's into style. And that's what he delivers: Dry, boring and self-satisfied style. He might be a good writer but he should have used 'Ulysses' as a starting point, as a construct in which he could fill a story. There are passages where his style is fantastic - short, journalistic style, the one I always use, the one I like. But these are LINES in a book of hundreds of pages... now if that is not a waste, I don't know what is.
Rating:
Summary: A must read.
Review: This is a great book. Reading it takes more effort than most novels require, but every ounce of effort (snd sweat) is well worth it. If you ar e avoiding this book because of its difficulty, don't. It's attainable. If you are having problems I highly recommend buying a copy of the audio version and reading along with it. This is probably the only book for which I would recommend the audio edition, Ulysses was meant to be read aloud. Other usefull books to have handy are Gilbert's book and Gifford's book. Gilbert is the standard, basic interpretation of Ulysses, and Gifford's Annotated lets you in on all of the obscure references in the novel. Gifford elucidates references to other literature and the more obscure references to Irish "current events" and such. Finally, I would stay away from the Gabler edition of Ulysses. The general consensus is that for every 4 errors Gabler fixed, he introduced 6 more. The 1961 edition (published by Vintage) is more standard.
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Summary: Beyond a Novel
Review: It is a mistake to try to read this book along side the Gilbert "skeleton key." It would be like simultaneously looking at a painting and reading a book on the details of the painting and why we should like the painting. It is not the easiest book to get through. It is not Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel or any of the Lord of the Rings books. This is heavy stuff because this book pushes the written word to where it becomes art. The uncreated conscience of someone's race, perhaps. I have read it a few times. I have read certain favorite chapters (like Lestrygonians) at least a dozen. I pick it up from time to time and it is a joy. Aeolus read aloud by someone who knows what they're doing is quite funny. Read the first chapter. Read the Burgess book. Relax. This isn't a book to be consumed like a can of Busch. It is meant to be sipped and appreciated. I can't think of what other book could top the century's greatest works. Some other people prefer Busch. Nothing against Busch, but this book is like none other.
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Summary: Hi, I'm James!
Review: "He came nearer and heard a crunching of gilded oats, the gently champing teeth. Their full buck eyes regarded him as he went by, amid the sweet oaten reek of horse-piss. Their Eldorado. Poor jugginses! Damn all they know or care about anything with their long noses stuck in nosebags. Too full for words. Still they get their feed all right and their doss. Gelded too:a stump of black guttapercha wagging limp between their haunches. Might be happy all the same that way. Good poor brutes they look. Still their neigh can be very irritating." Deadly!
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Summary: I really dont get it
Review: I know I am only 13 years old and I do not wish to offend anybig Ulysses fans, but I had no idea what this book was on about? I will reread it perhaps in 30 years and appreciate it more. However, for the time being, those who proclaim it the greatest book of the century only have to read any of The Lord of the Rings, Catch-22, 1984 or To Kill a Mockingbird to see they are sadly mistaken END
Rating:
Summary: Hmm...
Review: I reviewed this book about a week ago. Since, I have finished. My opinion has changed. I've learned my lesson on reviewing prematurely. Anyway, the writing in this book is BEAUTIFUL, but there is no plot to keep you interested. Still, outstanding. Easy to put down thanks to lack of twists, but worth a read (in small sittings). Not the greatest book ever, despite common belief.
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