> Ulysses is perhaps the ultimate example of a book almost nobody _actually_ enjoys reading, but that many people _convince themselves_ that they appreciate du

> Ulysses is perhaps the ultimate example of a book almost nobody _actually_ enjoys reading, but that many people _convince themselves_ that they appreciate due to certain prestigious literary associations I've never actually read it, and don't care to, but isn't it basically a very difficult puzzle (i.e. the satisfaction comes from figuring it out, e.g. the references, allusions, and wordplay packed to an insane density into some bit)? So it can be enjoyable, but most people aren't up to the task (but may still pretend, like you describe). Edit: I might actually be thinking more of Finnegans Wake than Ulysses.