Back once one more dear readers to give you a little look-see around the interwebs regarding what the talk is on our favourite subject.
Blogger Laura Valerie mentions in her ‘to read’ list my current and my last ‘most difficult book to read’ right above one another. I’ll just say that Focault’s Pendulum though weighty in its own right is a cinch next to this beast! And speaking of Umberto Eco he manages to give Joyce more than a name check in this Spiegel interview that has been publicised all over this month. November has been quite a month of Joyce for blogger Veronica Frydel too. She tackles the novel and posts once, twice and thrice on her blog. Good luck with the journalism Veronica.
I learn from The Mail (if learn is the right word considering its reputation in my house) that Jeffery Archer, once convicted for perverting the course of justice, never so much as arrested for perverting the course of writing, has failed to read Ulysses on three occasions. Naturally my first thought is that he is lying, but stranger things have happened.
The Irish Times reports on the James Joyce’s Café Bar – makes a change from a theme pub I suppose! Does anyone have their own favourite hostelry either in Dublin or by some theme linked to things Joyce around the world?
It appears that Joyce had something to say about everything via Ulysses up to and including dog breeds! This report suggests the Irish Wolfhound did not escape his critical eye!
I’m not sure I’m convinced that Ulysses is rubbish because there are no really awesome dinosaurs or spaceships … or cowboys in it but it takes all sorts. I’m waiting for the spoof though. Think about it. Leopold Bloom fighting the Skeleton Warriors around Dublin bay! If you don’t do it – someone will.
Ulysses “Seen” – this very site – got a mention the other day. We reckon it must be positive but none of us is fluent in the old Franglais so help us out – mercie! Let us know what French blog Bodoi has to say won’t you?
If you want a report on Dublin, the experience of studying abroad and a few thoughs on Irish and American culture you could do worse than read the experiences of Katherine Bakke – who writes ‘a letter from abroad’.
Digging a little deeper into the past I came across this portrait of Stephen Dedalus by Bobby Campbell – not the usual approach I would have thought to the work of Joyce but you know that’s precisely what makes it interesting!
Another dip into the blog archives comes up with a post from Kenneth Griggs which helps compare Woolf (Mrs Dalloway) with Joyce (Ulysses) among others. You read it (because you’re smarter than me) and then tell me whether there’s anything to be gleaned from reading it.
More next week!
