Customer Reviews

James Joyce's Ulysses: A Reference Guide

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Bernard McKenna's guide to ULYSSES is written in an easy-to-understand style that facilitates an understanding of the novel. I read ULYSSES, or was assigned to read it, as part of a course here at university. I couldn't get past the third chapter, until I discovered Bernard McKenna's guide. He takes you through the book, step by step and helps you understand what's going on. He also introduces the critical dialgue surrounding the book, which is a great help. The book is like having your own private teacher there to help you.

Having to read Ulysses for my senior research paper seemed a daunting task. I was about to go searching for the Cliff's Note's. Mr. McKenna really made sense of the book, the history, and even the life and times. I really appreciate it!

I wouldnt have understood 3 words of Ulysses if it werent for this book! I wish they made these guides for more difficult books.. Thanks

In particular I suggest Prof. Hugh Kenner's very insightful and lively commentary entitled simply Ulysses. Please do a search of the amazon with the parameters ulysses joyce and you will find shelves full of now inexpensive volumes. I say begin with Kenner, although each one I read appears to me at that moment the essential one. FOr instance, Rickard's book on memory in Ulysses appears at this moment the best I have seen (if a bit repetitive, not good repetitive like in Ulysses, but same-thing repetitive), at least until Joyce's REvenge comes soon in the mail.

For beginners I suggest SChwartz's Reading Ulysses. Above all do go ahead and get Donal Donnelly's COMPLETE UNABRIDGED (not like Jim Norton's) 40 disk audio recording now available. I play it constantly day and night and begin with the aid of Prof. Kenner to get a glimpse of the treasure which lies here within Joyce's bejewelled puzzle.

But you must enter into it on your own, as you would a silent still lake-filled cavern, or Alice's mirror. This is definitely not a book to read as part of a one semester general course. It is a book to inhabit the rest of your life, intimately and deeply personally. As a friend of Gabriel Garcia Marquez told him early and urgently in his life: this is the Other Bible. Enter.

Permission to amend and revise my comments now many months later:

Reading Joyce's Ulysses by Daniel Schwartz remains for me the most profound and excellent general commentary available, carefully examining each episode and each line and tying the whole together very concisely and clearly. You might well begin and end with this one commentary by Schwartz and never miss the rest of the more specialized works. Or am I simply jealous I cannot yet afford McKenna's work? No. I don't know. Read Reading Joyce's Ulysses and you will find good meat enough.

Dr. Bernard McKenna is an absolute genius. He makes even the hardest, most indecipherable text in this novel understandable. Not to mention the insight of James Joyce's life! I would recommend this to any student, or teacher to use as reference. Tis a must have to any James Joyce fan!