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> but what do you, the reader, get out of it? Some deeper understanding of the human condition? Please. Certainly there are some chapters/styles where he's pla

> but what do you, the reader, get out of it? Some deeper understanding of the human condition? Please. Certainly there are some chapters/styles where he's playing for the critics. But I thought it did a brilliant job of creating a modernist hero (e.g Bloom snuggling his wife's butt and her farting in his face). For me, the most impactful part was showing Bloom from so many different perspectives. Seeing him in less heroic settings (like what he does on the beach) or from his wife's perspective gives him depth you rarely see in literature. It's ultimately a story about nothing, so if you're not into a hyper-stylized prose based exploration of Bloom, then it won't be for you. I think the challenging aspects can work to force a reader to think more critically about some parts (just so they can make it through and understand what they're reading) and connect with things in a way most books won't ever engage a reader. Lots of readers do find some deeper understanding of the human condition, but it won't be for everyone, especially someone who cares more for a plot than an experiment in narrative structure exploring a flawed modernist hero.

AlbertCory 3y ago
OK, good answer, thanks. For me, I don't think characters have to be "likable" or even "hate-able" but I do like to find them interesting. I found I wasn't interested in any of the three main characters.
- viscanti 3y ago
  Yeah, it sounds like you prefer plot or character development. I don't know that Bloom is supposed to be super interesting (not much interesting happens because it's a relatively mundane regular day). My take was that it was more of a philosophical exploration of an everyman and what makes him tick, with a lot of experimental prose styles. Some of the novelty has faded over the years as it's pretty common to see flawed characters (we had a whole modernist and then post-modernist movement after - and arguably highly influenced by - Ulysses). The things that would have shocked readers when the book came out would no longer shock readers today, but for some, the psychological exploration of Bloom and his relationships still holds up.
  - AlbertCory 3y ago
    > it sounds like you prefer plot or character development hmm. I don't know if I'd call Anna a plot or character novel, but certainly the characters do exemplify moral and/or religious themes, against the backdrop of Russian society. And there certainly IS a plot :) A writer I particularly admire is Dickens, who could give you two pages on some minor character and make him or her absolutely unforgettable. Although I can't name one, but maybe not so unforgettable /s

AlbertCory 3y ago

OK, good answer, thanks. For me, I don't think characters have to be "likable" or even "hate-able" but I do like to find them interesting. I found I wasn't interested in any of the three main characters.

viscanti 3y ago
Yeah, it sounds like you prefer plot or character development. I don't know that Bloom is supposed to be super interesting (not much interesting happens because it's a relatively mundane regular day). My take was that it was more of a philosophical exploration of an everyman and what makes him tick, with a lot of experimental prose styles. Some of the novelty has faded over the years as it's pretty common to see flawed characters (we had a whole modernist and then post-modernist movement after - and arguably highly influenced by - Ulysses). The things that would have shocked readers when the book came out would no longer shock readers today, but for some, the psychological exploration of Bloom and his relationships still holds up.
- AlbertCory 3y ago
  > it sounds like you prefer plot or character development hmm. I don't know if I'd call Anna a plot or character novel, but certainly the characters do exemplify moral and/or religious themes, against the backdrop of Russian society. And there certainly IS a plot :) A writer I particularly admire is Dickens, who could give you two pages on some minor character and make him or her absolutely unforgettable. Although I can't name one, but maybe not so unforgettable /s