Today marks the 116th birthday of the Irish novelist. Writer’s Almanac has a long biographical essay.
I am, as those who know me can attest, an enthusiast. Many make Joyce out to be more obscure and distant than he really was. My suggestion, if you ever desire to read Ulysses, is to 1. Get a reasonable guide book like Stuart Gilbert’s James Joyce’s Ulysses, or Henry Blaimires The New Bloomsday Book. 2. Keep in mind that most of the book are the thoughts of the character, and like all our thoughts, can be broken, and move quickly from one subject to another; and 3. Read it aloud. Joyce had problems with his eyesight most of his life and wrote very much for the ear. Readings and re-readings of his work are greatly rewarding.
Pitch n Putt With Joyce and Beckett (NSFW!)
2 comments:
Okay, Seattle D, you know how I feel about Joyce.
But, I'll down a pint of Guinness in his honor, just the same. (I won't, however, put the bottles on the hearth to pop the caps off, on accounta not having a bottle opener, ala "Ivy Day in the Committee Room.")
Hey, at least I remember one Dubliners reference.
Thanks for writing this.
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