Here we are, already three days into July. I was tidying up my books read list yesterday and I have managed to read 24 books for the first half of the year. Not too bad for having to fit in my reading between work and school. The really funny thing is though, six of those 24 books were read in June after school was done. It’s like the dam holding back the flood broke.
I’m also halfway through a three-day weekend. Have been doing some gardening and walking around the lake. This afternoon Bookman and I made some vegan ice cream. Oh, is it ever yummy. Chocolate. Our first venture into flavor. Last year when we made vegan ice cream for the first time we stuck with standard vanilla. Granted, chocolate isn’t that adventurous, but it is for the homemade kind. I am sure as we improve our vegan ice cream making skills there will be attempts at increasing the variety of flavors. I bet Ben & Jerry are quaking in their boots.
I am happy to report that I have gotten through episode one of Ulysses without mishap or swearing and there was even enjoyment. My reading is slow and careful and I have worked out that I will only refer to the companion book of annotations when Latin or another non-English language pops up, when there is a slang word I don’t know, or when the characters make a reference to something I am not familiar with like a song or a pub or how many shillings are in a quid or something like that. So I am feeling pretty good about Joyce and Ulysses at the moment. I’ve still got a lot of reading ahead of me, episode one is only about 24 pages or so. But I am feeling more confident than I did when I began reading. Now if only I can manage to sustain that through the whole book.
And can I add how wonderful just the sound of the language is sometimes? I love the first sentence:
Stately, plump, Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed.
And then later, a paragraph with an abundance of “w’s” that ends:
Wavewhite wedded words shimmering on the dim tide.
Isn’t that marvelous?
I am still very much at the beginning of the book in case anyone is feeling tempted to read it over the summer. Company and support. Just saying.
But apart from an occasional nice line, do you think Mr Joyce really cared about his reader?
It sounds like you have a good strategy for Ulysses. I also was mesmerized by the language and alliteration, at first. He lost me a bit further on, but I think I should have read it slower. Good luck!
You are a strong, strong woman. Not that I ever doubt!
Stefanie, I think your slow and careful reading strategy for Ulysses is a good tactic for any worthwhile reading in general. At the very least I’ve been thinking a lot tonight about trying to slow down my reading in general this month after kind of overcommitting to stuff (all great stuff I want to read) last month and into this month. I guess it’s hard to put a deliberate reading pace into practice on a sustained basis, though, because there’s always so much stuff out there calling your name to be read at any point in time. Anyway, hope you enjoy the rest of your July reading!
Just as it should, the Telemachus episode eases you in perfectly for that long, but wonderful journey reading Ulysses. I must have reread Episode 1 six times now, more in awe each time.
Well, if the language is all like that, even I might have a go. I’ve just finished Ishiguro’s ‘When We Were Orphans’ and been reminded again of the sheer ecstasy of reading the work of a writer who puts the power of language above all else.
I’ve always thought that when the time for Ulysses comes, I should listen to it as an audio book rather than read it. You know I would follow you almost anywhere, but I have two huge biographies, one on Rilke and one on Cather, to read when I can fit them in, and am tempted to start the 1,000 page beast of a book. Belle du Seigneur by Albert Cohen, so I am all booked up (ha! you see what I did there?) for this summer. If you’re still reading it in the winter, then we’ll talk.
Ulysses? You are braver than I! OOH – Vegan Ice Cream? I’m listening
Good luck with Ulysses! Slow reading will definitely keep you in thrall of the language as well as keep up comprehension- I definitely need to brush up on the Odyssey before I start Ulysses (and I think I’ve gotten in my Big Book quota this summer), but hope the rest of the reading goes well!
I am pretty tempted to re-read Ulysses with you. What sort of timetable are you thinking about? I’ve been thinking for a while that it would be good to do a very slow read-through and post about each episode as I finish them, now that I’ve read it once & listened to it once & have a general sense of how the parts fit together. I do have all these French books I just bought that are calling my name, but…I am thinking about it.
I actually enjoyed the three chapters I read. I think I will give it another go the day I will have finished my studies and can spare an hour a day reading it.
Ken, I think Joyce expected a lot from his readers. Did he expect too much? I don’t think so. his text is not impenetrable. Lots of work, but not impenetrable.
Shelley, thanks! I don’t expect that even with the annotations at my side I will “get” everything, but I do hope to enjoy the process.
Tara, you crack me up. With school done I need a new challenge so why not Ulysses?
Richard, you know I think often about trying to slow down my reading but I can’t say that I have ever actually been successful at it. I manage for a little while and then get caught up in the story and next thing I know I’ve rushed to the end. Ulysses is easy to read slowly though, the text demands it. Maybe we just need to read more books that demand slow reading?
Anthony, what? So it gets harder? I’ve been bamboozled into thinking that it won’t be so hard after all? I should have known Joyce was up to something!
tif, I can’t say the language is all like that since I have only read 25 pages, but it is off to a good start! I read Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go and loved it. I really must read his other stuff too.
Liltove, yeah, yeah, excuses, excuses
Sheila, brave? Nah, just wildly optimistic about my reading abilities
And yeah, homemade vegan ice cream is awesome.
Danielle, no need to really review the Odyssey before embarking on Ulysses as long as you have the annotations to Joyce and are familiar with the Odyssey I think you’d be fine. Maybe it will be your next summer’s big book
Emily, oh, you’re tempted? My reading schedule is quite leninet. I am aiming for one episode a week minimum and hoping for more, but I figure as long as I get one a week I can feel like I am making progress. So a low pace that leaves plenty of room to also read all those French novels
Em, something to look forward to when you are done with your studies. Believe me, I know how that goes!
Ah sure, only another 2 more years to go after having been at it for nearly 9 years!
I’ve read Ulysses once…and that was enough for me! All I can say is…good luck!
I would like to comment on the vegan ice cream… I have found that chilled coconut milk makes a VERY good ice cream. I made strawberry last year, and then (since I actually have the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream book) the Coffee Heath Bar Crunch (with coconut milk) and it was heavenly. I strongly recommend it!!
If you branched out to strawberry vegan ice cream you could have a neapolitan sundae! How fancy is that! I’m still undecided on Ulysses. I have so many books piled up needing attention but I’ve not ruled Joyce out entirely. I hope you keep sharing your reading experience!
Softdrink, thanks, I think
Daphne, oh yes, our vegan ice cream is made with coconut milk. Our recipe is from Veganomicon. It is delicious and very easy.
Danielle, we thought about attempting strawberry ice cream since we have lots of strawberries from our garden, but we were both craving chocolate. Neapolitan would be super fancy. If we succeeded we’d have to open a vegan ice cream shop or something. I will keep sharing my Joycean odyssey and you feel free to jump in at anytime
I’m not up to Ulysses this summer, but I”ll enjoy following your adventure. Glad to hear the beginning wasn’t too painful
Rebecca, apparently the book gets harder, but for now I am lulled into believing it isn’t so bad