5 ms·
Reader beware, this book can eat smart people. I've known multiple PhDs who, after reading Ulysses, could never get through a party without talking about it.
by iandanforth 8y ago
Reader beware, this book can eat smart people. I've known multiple PhDs who, after reading Ulysses, could never get through a party without talking about it.
- scott_s 8y agoA friend once ended a party at his place by reading Finnegan's Wake out loud to get people to leave.
- hguant 8y ago'Joke' from my mother (an English Lit. professor): If someone tells you they enjoyed Ulysses, they're either pretentious or mad. If someone tells you they enjoyed Finnegan's Wake, they're a liar -- because no-one has made it through that book.
- oska 8y agoThis is a silly joke. A good number (I won't say plenty) of people have read Finnegans Wake and enjoyed it. At the risk of being branded a liar I can say that I've read the whole thing (out loud) and found it a very worthwhile experience. Some of the language play is very enjoyable.
- marxfits 8y agon.b. reading _Finnegans Wake_ out loud is fundamental to the purpose of the book and it's enjoyment as a reader. I find myself laughing regularly and not knowing exactly why; maybe just because of the surrealist nature of the language. James Joyce actually advised people to read it out loud and there is a nice recording of the man himself reading an exert (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8kFqiv8Vww https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8kFqiv8Vww). It also helps to read it in an Irish or Scottish accent! side note: patiently waiting for all lorem ipsum to be replaced with random bits of finnegans wake :)