He didn't want to give us any keys to his work... Which make it feel at times like listening on a conversation by two people you don't know who speaks in a foreign language about things you don't understand. I guess that's a way to put it
Nice take, Chen. Speaking of history, you might be interested in some things I wrote about Ulysses and Judaism long long ago: https://www.pisgahsite.com/p/ulysses
A wonderful literary classic making us think about the nightmare of history, haunting all of us always, but also a lesson to learn to choose and live. thank you Chan
A good essay one of my favorite novels. Thank you for sharing these insights with us. Stephen never does 'escape' but he does learn to turn its tropes into the material with which he will forge his art. Finnegan's Wake, a book which I've much more suffered through than enjoyed in reading, shows us history as an endless and inescapable Recursion, but one's opportunity as an artist is to be an 'everwaker' in this endless 'riverrun'.
It's been close to 60 years since I read Joyce's Ulysses. I do have a Shakespeare And Company,1924 edition of Ulysses on my shelf.
His Cat and the Devil I read around 10 years ago. A Japanese friend had often read the translated to Japanese edition to her son as a bedtime story. She told me that years later, her and her son visiting France found THE BRIDGE in Beaugency and were ever so excited! So! Of course I had to get a copy, in English and read. ;-)
& why yes, I am reading Finnegans Wake w/o Campbell's Skeleton Key of course. Been reading it for maybe 15 years now and am all the way up to page 79! Grin.
You made me actually understand what Joyce was doing- he didn't do a good job of it himself.
He didn't want to give us any keys to his work... Which make it feel at times like listening on a conversation by two people you don't know who speaks in a foreign language about things you don't understand. I guess that's a way to put it
Most novelists write so their feelings can be understood by an audience...Joyce wrote to bewilder and confuse instead.
Nice take, Chen. Speaking of history, you might be interested in some things I wrote about Ulysses and Judaism long long ago: https://www.pisgahsite.com/p/ulysses
תודה אהוד. אקרא בעניין.
A wonderful literary classic making us think about the nightmare of history, haunting all of us always, but also a lesson to learn to choose and live. thank you Chan
You've summed it up perfectly. Thanks Roberta
Terrific
Thanks friend
A good essay one of my favorite novels. Thank you for sharing these insights with us. Stephen never does 'escape' but he does learn to turn its tropes into the material with which he will forge his art. Finnegan's Wake, a book which I've much more suffered through than enjoyed in reading, shows us history as an endless and inescapable Recursion, but one's opportunity as an artist is to be an 'everwaker' in this endless 'riverrun'.
everwaker! What a magical word
I'm publishing a Joycean book this year so I've been heaving these kinds of words bouncing around in my head lately hahaha
Good write, Chen!
It's been close to 60 years since I read Joyce's Ulysses. I do have a Shakespeare And Company,1924 edition of Ulysses on my shelf.
His Cat and the Devil I read around 10 years ago. A Japanese friend had often read the translated to Japanese edition to her son as a bedtime story. She told me that years later, her and her son visiting France found THE BRIDGE in Beaugency and were ever so excited! So! Of course I had to get a copy, in English and read. ;-)
& why yes, I am reading Finnegans Wake w/o Campbell's Skeleton Key of course. Been reading it for maybe 15 years now and am all the way up to page 79! Grin.
Finnegans Wake is a book I only listen to. It cracks me up everything and I can't tell you why
Actually I'm pretty sure that's what Joyce meant it to do.
great essay, Chen
I was probably too young when I read "Ulysses". I think it's time for me to re-read it.
When did you read him? I got to him at 30
20
You should!
https://open.substack.com/pub/johnnogowski/p/eveline-a-life-thats-frozen?r=7pf7u&utm_medium=ios
oh yes I read it.
Now need to read "Dubliners"
A great work to be sure. Joyce didn't like creating plots, more like moments or flashes of understanding