Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site security.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!security!tfl
From: tfl@security.UUCP (Tom Litant)
Newsgroups: net.books
Subject: re:Joyce
Message-ID: <330@security.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 17-Jun-83 12:38:42 EDT
Article-I.D.: security.330
Posted: Fri Jun 17 12:38:42 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 17-Jun-83 17:06:29 EDT
Organization: MITRE Corp., Bedford MA
Lines: 25

I find it difficult to compare Joyce with anyone else.  However, I can give
you some info that will either scare you off Joyce, or make reading him a more
enjoyable experience.
Joyce was a very "technique oriented" writer.  What I mean by this is that his
books have a very definite structure and content based on literary, mythic,
and religious allusions.  If I were to rank his writings in terms of
difficulty, it would go this way:

   Portrait of the Artist
   Dubliners
   Ulysses
   Finigan's Wake

For each of the above, however, I suggest that you buy a book of lit crit, and
read it in conjunction with the corresponding Joyce book.  We simply do not
have the requisite classical education these days to be able to catch all of
the allegory.  In addition, it helps to get a copy of the record of Joyce
reading Finigan's Wake, since this book is written in dialect (Irish).
Allegory and lit crit bullsh*t asside, Joyce has a terrific command of the
english language and dialect, paints glorious pictures of Ireland (have to go
there sometime), and is well worth the effort to read.


		    "Mulligan stew for Bloom..."
	     (grace slick from AFTER BATHING AT BAXTERS's)