March Madness, aka Ulysses

There is a group on Librarything that has decided March is best spent twisting one's brain up into knots with Ulysses, and I've been invited to partake in the insanity. On top of studying for my Japanese class more (read: studying for Japanese, period) and keeping up with my reading in other classes, finishing this 700 page behemoth is going to be a challenge indeed.

I'll be updating with reading notes daily if I actually manage to adhere to the schedule I've set for myself.

And without further ado, I will now read out loud, onto digital paper.

It feels like I'm climbing in hard mode. I'm zooming through my last semester in college and reading constantly for school, and yet somehow I think I can make some time to read Ulysses. I was never very good at knowing my limits.

I think I'll hold out on reading critically for the second time around and spend this one in blissful, leisurely ignorance.

Anyhoo, it's been interesting to see the things that have stuck for other people as they read, so I'm planning on doing something similar.

I don't have many expectations in terms of the content of this book. In fact, the most concrete facts I have now are from the court decision included at the front of my edition, in which is stated, "In respect of the recurrent emergence of the theme of sex in the minds of his characters, it must always be remembered that his locale was Celtic and his seasons Spring."

OK, Celtic, Spring, Sex. I guess I should start reading (and writing) in true stream of consciousness fashion.

... stumped on the second paragraph? Really? "I will go to the alter of God." Ok, after a quick flip through the pages it doesn't look too bad. Some Latin here and there, some French, some... I don't know what that is, but I'll deal with it when I get to it.

I think I should have picked up the 'Annotations to Ulysses' in the library. I've had too look up a term or phrase four times within the first page!

"The scrotumtightening sea." Hmm, I think I will enjoy this book.

"epi oinopa ponton" Wait... maybe not.

Someone who had the book before me has left little graphite signposts along the margins, but they're all illegible. Very depressing.

I don't remember enough of Portrait to recall Dedalus' mother dying, or his reason for refusing to pray for her. I'll have to look all that up later.

P. 12 "Liliata rutilantium te confessorum turma circumdet: iubilantium te virginum chorus excipiat." "May the crowd of joyful confessors encompass thee; may the choir of blessed virgins go before thee." Phrase spoken during the Recommendation of a Soul Departing. I can see where firm knowledge of the Latin mass would come in handy here.

"In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti." I know that one! Jesus be praised!

"Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam." "And I believe in One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church"

p. 22 "The void awaits surely all them that weave the wind." I like this quite a bit. Malachi really is sounding more and more like the devil.

p. 24 Seems that Malachi is very witty but Sephen doesn't think him very wise. I guess even back in the early 20th century people who wanted to sound fancy quoted Nietzsche!

Stephen leaves thinking of the last rites again, but I don't know why.

And then the scene abruptly changes at the next page, so I think I'll take my rest here.

Seems like easy going so far, save the boulders of Latin and Catholicism strewn about my path, but I assume I'm moving quickly because I am at the base of the mountain.

The Bloomsday Book is making more solid the few suspicions I have about themes and roles and so on and so forth. It's a very nice, concise guide. I'm very glad I picked it up.