#Best audio book ulysses series#

A very obscure aria from an opera by Claudio Monteverdi was performed at his funeral. His taste in classical music is fairly sophisticated, based largely in vocal music I would suspect because he was a fair singer. He loves classical and popular Irish music from his time in Ireland. Joyce loves to list ad nauseam and he loves a very fragment-based prose, though he can write beautifully in flashes and in the opening chapter he loves obscure references, he loves quoting from Italian and Latin languages. The overall narrative takes place on generally warm day in June (21) when assorted activities are described in many forms of novelistic techniques, some of which are near incoherent, eg The Oxen in the Sun chapter and much of the very over-long Night-town. Ulysses is the most over-rated 'great' book that I have ever read. Great, just ask an enthusiast, but strenuous

All in all I'd have to say that this isn't a version that I would recommend. Surely a female reader could have been found. Finally and worst of all, Molly Blooms soliloquy was read by a male. Joyce went to a great deal of trouble to be as accurate as possible in the details of the book and I think it lazy that a few minutes on the web could have avoided this. Most noticeably Dedalus( one of the main characters) and Howth, to name a few.

Secondly, there was a lot of mispronouncing of names. This was a major problem to me as I was reading along with it and caused some confusion.

Firstly, I found that on a large number of occasions the text was misread showing that the reader didn't fully understand what he was reading. That said and this being one of the most iconic works of literature in modern times, I do have reservations about this edition. To begin with I must acknowledge the immense effort needed to record this book. When trying to tackle Ulysses, the audio book might be the best route to follow, as it is less difficult to get lost in the massive amounts of detail provided on a page to page read. Not only is his English accent a delight to listen to but it greatly contributes to the overall theme and setting of the novel itself. Phillipe Duquenoy, the narrator of the audio book, has a delightful accent that embraces the reader, and helps with the difficultly of the text. Ulysses not only shows the interconnectedness of humanity, but it also shows the interconnectedness of English literature.

Though at times, it can be dense and difficult to work through because of the many allusions woven through the text, once you get through it, you feel a sense of accomplishment. When discussing Irish and British literature, Ulysses is a work of literature that should always be included on the discussion. This modern heroic quest shows readers know how connected people’s lives can be, even if they are not acquaintances. Ulysses follows the story of two men, Leopold Bloom and Stephen Dedalus, taking the reader through an hour-by-hour account of each of their lives. James Joyce is known for his intricate attention to detail within his works, and Ulysses is definitely no exception. Ulysses was written to mimic The Odyssey by Homer in a modern day retelling of the poem and has many parallels between the characters and plot events making the novel an epic adventure through two very ordinary lives. Bloom feels like an outsider amongst acquaintances and reminisces on a time when things between he and his wife were good and happy.ĭedalus and Bloom continue to be in the same place at the same time throughout the novel as the story continues into themes of xenophobia, the quest for paternity, heroism in compassion, and many other of life's questions. Bloom, at the same time, is discovering his wife's affair (although he is having one of his own under a pseudonym), and pursuing an unsuccessful attempt at getting an advertisement ran for a client. He spends the morning avoiding mocking friends, listening to a mundane lecture from his superior on life, and walking alone while reflecting on his younger self.

#Best audio book ulysses series#

These men cross paths in a series of coincidental events and listeners learn how interconnected they are even though they are not friends.ĭedalus, a teacher, is dissatisfied with life. Ulysses takes us on the journey of two men, Leopold Bloom and Stephen Dedalus, through an hour-by-hour account of their lives for one day.