Comments on: Bloomsday Honors Book No One Reads

By: Brett

Brett — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:56:40 +0000

My dad told me that Ulysses is much easier to get through if you listen to it on tape, rather than trying to struggle through the abominable prose.

As for the Bible, I've basically read almost all of the New Testament, and I got into Leviticus in the Old Testament before I just gave up on it.

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:17:18 +0000

More an affinity for words and etymologies than for languages per se. Pynchon is my favorite author and I had no trouble with Gravity's Rainbow from the start. There are just so many intersections between my life and those of Pynchon's characters that it feels as though I'm talking with close friends, if not myself. I have no use for doorstops like Jane Austen or Henry James, however. But William James? Well, that's a whole 'nother story...

By: another matt

another matt — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:17:18 +0000

I had to read the first page of Gravity's Rainbow about 5 times because I kept losing the thread. That being said, after being lost for about 500 pages, I finally figured out the author's style and the final half of the book was a much easier read. It still has one of the coolest names for a book that I have come across (ultimately, that's what caught my eye in the first place).

By: Benedict

Benedict — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:49:00 +0000

While I am loath to send traffic to the New York Times, my Binging around to see if I could find support for the anecdote I related about the Hawkings book I found this story, which is from 2 years ago and covers the exact same ground: Remembrance of Things Unread

By: Benedict

Benedict — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:41:53 +0000

I seem to recall an experiment from a few years back where coupons for $20 (this was pre-Amazon, and all you had to do was take the coupon back to the bookstore and you got $20 on the spot) were placed inside Stephen Hawkings A Brief History of Time. Almost none were redeemed, even though the book was a significant best-seller. So you can add that to the bought / not read list.

By: jimT

jimT — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:26:28 +0000

I found Ulysses to be utterly unreadable. Ii is difficult for me to believe that anyone not versed in early 1900's Irish slang can follow any of it. And those that are are dying off daily. It floors me that it continues to be listed as the 'Greatest English Language Novel'. I can't wait for the day when it is finally supplanted by a much more universal epic, namely 'The Hithchiker's Guide to the Galaxy'

By: jimT

jimT — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:21:38 +0000

I found Ulysses to be utterly unreadable. It is difficult for me to believe that anyone not familiar with early 1900's Irish slang can follow any of it. And those that do are dying off daily. It floors me that it continues to be listed as the 'Greatest English Language Novel'. I can't wait for the day when it is finally supplanted by a much more universal epic, namely 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'...

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:33:39 +0000

Really, the Bible? C'mon, James, was that necessary?

Heh. It's gotta be the most purchased and least read book in history. I'm guessing the vast percentage of churchgoers have never read it cover-to-cover, having just memorized a few passages. (I've read quite a bit of both Testaments but never made it to the end of either one without skipping ahead.)

By: Matthew Stinson

Matthew Stinson — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:08:10 +0000

I read Democracy in America a couple times along with other "great works" plus The Bible but found Ulysses to drag and drag -- I know it's an experience to read Joyce but it's not an altogether pleasurable one.

By: PD Shaw

PD Shaw — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:05:46 +0000

The Sound and the Fury was a book that I found more difficult to read than Ulysses. I gave up on Faulkner about half way through it and thought I'd try again some day when I had time to read larger chunks at time. And time passes . . .

By: Well. I’ve Read Ulysses. | Little Miss Attila

Well. I’ve Read Ulysses. | Little Miss Attila — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:01:02 +0000

[...] course, it should be remembered that I’m a freak. So there’s [...]

By: Houston

Houston — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:44:46 +0000

The Bible, perhaps?

Really, the Bible? C'mon, James, was that necessary?

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:38:36 +0000

I have read--and continue to re-read--Ulysses and Finnegan's Wake.

But you've got an especial affinity for picking up foreign languages most don't.

By: Furhead

Furhead — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:09:10 +0000

I've read Atlas Shrugged, but how many times can you say the same thing? I can see why some people would bail on it. I think that last speech is something like 30 or 40 pages, IIRC.

I tried reading Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses years ago but couldn't handle the writing style.

By: Eric Florack

Eric Florack — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:53:02 +0000

I've read de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America, Cervantes, and Rand, myself. (Come to think, I have Atlas in my Palm Pilot's library.) I've been through the Bible several times, as well. I suspect the NPR bit was about making fun once more of the supposedly illiterate masses that don't listen to NPR. That's red meat to their rather limited audiences.