Like Odysseus I have undertaken an epic journey, fraught with challenges and dangers, not to mention a hell of a lot of confusion.
With the big 3-0 looming (literally, it’s casting a shadow over the sun it’s so close) I have decided that 2012 will be the year I take on Ulysses head on. I purchased the behemoth of a novel back in 2004 after finishing my degree. My reasoning was it would be a way of continuing my literary education beyond the walls of university. In reality, it’s been used as a bookend for the past eight years. During that time it’s become a bit of a running joke that I’ll never actually tackle it, but as well as that it’s become something of an albatross around my neck. Every time I search the shelves for reading matter, it’s there, mocking me, undermining my intelligence with its sheer bulk.
So, this is the year it’s getting read. I will conquer this epic beast, even if it takes me the whole goddamn year (which is quite likely).
Armed with Cliff’s Notes on the book I’ve battled through the first seven chapters and…actually quite enjoyed them. I’ve read Joyce before and I’ve always struggled with his ‘stream of consciousness’ writing, but I’ve just decided to enjoy the writing and not worry too much about understanding all the details (after all, unless you can read French or have studied Greek literature you stand little chance). Reading the study guide alongside it has helped to fill in the gaps, pointed out the themes and illuminated the references to Homer’s The Odyssey. That’s certainly helped, although when cross referencing it regularly feels like the Editor (Cliff?) and I have been reading completely different novels.
If nothing else it feels good to be facing a challenge I’ve been putting off for the past eight years. I hope this proactive attitude spreads into other areas of my life this year – fingers crossed. And fingers crossed that by the end of the year I can report that I’ve actually finished the bloody thing.
angiecranfield
