Have you read James Joyce's classic book Ulysses? Let me confess I have not.
Although I was born and raised in Dublin, the very city in which this epic tale is set, I have not delved into its intelligently humorous pages.

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Have You Read Ulysses by James Joyce?
I do own a copy. I stare at the cover on many an occasion, and wonder if this is the day I take the plunge and read the most famous Irish book ever written.
But as of writing this blog post, I have not waded through this world renowned novel, not even the first chapter.

But fear not, help is here. We can all now watch this book on film. Yeah!
Here's what the folks at Odyssey Pictures are saying about their new film, 'Bloom' ....

Bloom - A Film Adaptation of Joyce's Ulysses
‘Bloom’ is an award-winning Irish film adaptation of James Joyce’s Ulysses, starring Academy Award® Winner Stephen Rea, Angeline Ball, Hugh O’Conor and Patrick Bergin.
‘Bloom’ has been launched on VOD (Video On Demand), making it available, for the first time, on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon Instant Video.

‘Bloom’ has been hailed as ....
- “Quite Brilliant” by the Sunday Independent,
- “Bawdy, Irreverent, Lyrical” by The Sunday Tribune and
- “Vigorous, Musical and Modern” by The Sunday Times.

Angeline Ball as Molly Bloom
Angeline Ball, in particular, earned wide acclaim, winning a Best Actress IFTA for her remarkable portrayal of Molly Bloom, probably the most controversial and complex female character in modern literature.
So, if you’re one of the millions who are curious about Ulysses but never got around to reading the book, ‘Bloom’ is a great place to start unlocking the drama, the humor, and the humanity inside James Joyce’s masterpiece.
Find out more on their website appropriately called Ulysses.

And so I ask myself, why have I not read James Joyce's Ulysses????
Perhaps I'm intimidated by my lack of classical knowledge, or maybe I fear I might not understand Joyce's intense humor as he takes the epic heroes of The Odyssey, and turns them into poignant and heartbreaking Dubliners.
Perhaps I'm disheartened knowing I will need to focus fully to understand and appreciate Joyce's wit and pathos, the novel's twists and turns, its subtle puns, and varying episodic writing styles and rhythms.
What if I, a Dublin girl, do not understand this book at all, at all? It could well be all over my head .....
Ah well! Thanks to Odyssey Pictures and the talented cast of 'Bloom', I am no longer unnerved by the very title "Ulysses."

Imagine going back in time to meet James Joyce. I wonder how he would react if you told him ...
"Actually, Mr. Joyce, I preferred the film."
Now that's something Mr. Joyce will never have to worry about. His book is proof of his masterful writing skill.
Congratulations to the producers and director of this film, for not being intimidated by their daunting task of transforming Ulysses into a screen play, and for creating such a critically acclaimed film.
I for one will watch this film very, very soon.
I'd love to hear from you in the comments section, to learn if I you have or have not read Ulysses. Please feel free to add to our discussion of Joyce.

Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and blessings)
Mairéad -Irish American Mom
Pronunciation - slawn ah-gus ban-ock-th
Mairéad - rhymes with parade
P.S. Images and stills from the movie 'Bloom' were provided by Odyssey Pictures and reproduced on this site with their permission.
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Maura
I too have to confess I have not read this great Irish classic. I feel guilty every time I find it nominated in the top ten greatest books of all times - sometimes it even tops the list as the greatest book ever. As an Irish American I believe I should have made it obligatory reading, but for now Ulysses still languishes on my 'to be read' list. Thanks so much for letting us know about this film. I laughed imagining James Joyce being told you preferred the film - what NOT to say to a writer.
Irish American Mom
Hi Maura - I dare say Joyce's jaw would drop if he ever heard the film was preferred over his book. But in this modern age you've got to love a good movie or film based on a classic book. If Joyce was alive today he might even be directing films himself. Thanks for stopping by,
Mairéad
T.M.Johnson
Mairead, as I sit here typing this comment, I can look to my left and see three volumes of Joyce's works on my bookshelf, Ulysses being the heftiest of the three. I have pulled it from the shelf two or three times and while considering this heavy tome as a nice medium for pressing four-leaf clovers, put it back almost immediately (my son-in-law has read the novel). A former colleague of mine once told me if Dublin, due to an apocalyptic event, was razed entirely, the entire city could be rebuilt...streets, structures, houses...from Joyce's novel.
My copy of The Reader's Encyclopedia states: "...this novel is now generally recognized to be the greatest 20th century novel written in English." TRE further states: "...in order to fully understand Ulysses, one must, at the very least, be familiar with the Catholic Church, the history of heresy, Irish legend, European history, mythology, astronomy, Hebrew, Latin, Gaelic, and Gypsy slang." You, IAM, should better than I, qualify in at least three of these categories. I have my own favorite "novels written in English," but have yet to read Joyce's masterpiece so must disqualify myself on its ranking as the "best novel in English."
Re: the film "Bloom." As a former educator, a spurious "teacher of English," I must share an exchange with a former student who was not doing the assigned reading during class time: (to student) "You''ve been given a reading assignment and class time to complete it. Why aren't you reading?" Response: "Nahhh, I'll just watch the video." Even though the exchange happened years ago, his apathetic answer still rankles me. Read the novel first, Mairead, then see the film: the two art forms should complement each other and lead to a fuller understanding of "the English Language's best novel ever written" and its author. If you are up to the challenge and read the novel, so will I. TMJ
Irish American Mom
Hi T.M. - I bet your copy of Ulysses produces the most amazing dried flowers, shamrocks and four-leaf clovers. This book's Dublin setting really does pique my interest, or more often, it stokes my Irish guilt for not having tackled its pages.
I fully understand how rankled you felt when your less-than-diligent student told you he would watch the book on video. I have the full box set of "The Chronicles Of Narnia" which I gave to my son to read. He looked at me and said ... "I've seen the movie." His response was not appreciated by his mother.
I like your tip of reading a book first, before watching it as a movie. That way the movie won't influence your own visualization process. But I think for this film and book, many will choose to skip the written word and watch the action. Which is probably a good thing - Joyce's work will be introduced to a far greater audience through this medium.
I think I'll have to tackle 'Ulysses' a page at a time. If I read a page a day I'll finish the book in just under 2 years. Perhaps today is the day to get started ....
Take care,
Mairéad
Brighid O'Sullivan
Love your teacher dialogue. Thanks for the humor but its so true isn't it? I struggle with my grand daughter to read more on a daily basis. What is is with the young? Too much at their fingertips I think.
Irish American Mom
Brighid - I struggle to get all of my kids to read more. I remember reading Endi Blyton's Famous Five and Secret Seven books at their age, and I couldn't put them down. I definitely think all their gadgets and electronics provide too much instantaneous satisfaction for them to focus on the written word. My new rule is no gadgets until you've read for 20 minutes, and no gadgets on school nights once school returns. I really am sounding like a teacher - a mean old school mistress at that.
Take care,
Mairéad
Kay G.
I confess, I have not read it either. But then, I really prefer non fiction, as you know.
Hope you are having a good summer! How do you find time to blog with your little ones? You are one amazing woman, even THINKING about reading a long book!
Irish American Mom
Hi Kay - I hope you're having a lovely summer too. We had a very rainy July in Kentucky, but plenty of heat so far in August. Summer blogging is pretty hard, especially when the kids are home from school. During the school year it's easier, since they go to bed a little earlier, and I can work for a little while during the school day. Happy blogging to you too - I always enjoy your posts.
Mairéad
T.M.Johnson
A retrospect on your last post, IAM. Instead of reading Joyce's 700 page novel, you could read Tennyson's "Ulysses. It's not quite the same thing, I know, but It would only take fifteen minutes...and leave you lots of time to see "Bloom." TMJ
Irish American Mom
Great suggestion, T.M.. I might just do that.
IAM
Mariana
I bought Ulysses 4 years ago, but still haven't dared to read it. But I won't watch the movie until I've read the book.
Irish American Mom
Hi Mariana - Slowly but surely we will get there, even if only a page at a time. Happy reading!
Mairéad
Brighid O'Sullivan
I have not read it and I'm intimidated by it too. They say it is so hard to understand that there are notes to go along with the book. I do like Joyce though and his other works. I also read somewhere that he deliberately made the book difficult to understand but I don't remember his reasoning. Im thrilled to know about the Irish film. Would this be free to watch?I'm kind of a newbie for anything except cable and Netflix.
Irish American Mom
Hi Brighid - It's good to learn I'm not the only one intimidated by this massive volume of literary genius. The film might definitely be a good starting point, but I'm afraid it's not free. It can be rented or bought through the different channels (iTunes, Amazon, and GooglePlay) on the Ulysses website.
Best wishes, and have a lovely weekend,
Mairéad
Maureen N.
Hi Mairead,
Me too. I have not read this book either although I started it many times. I am afraid that the stream of consciousness format and vulgarity was a bit too much for me. I seem to remember that his works were banned in Ireland when I was younger and he had to have them published abroad, especially Ulysses.
Anyhow, I do enjoy some of his other works, and have several passages marked for their sheer beauty and turn of phrase. To each his own, I'm sure. Probably will watch the movie/video and then decide.
Hope you are having a wonderful summer!
Cheers, Maureen
Irish American Mom
Hi Maureen - Joyce's works were banned in Ireland. He spent most of his life living on the European continent, but Dublin haunted his writings. I read The Dubliners and enjoyed this collection of stories, but try as I might I cannot get beyond the first few pages of Ulysses. I hope you too are having a wonderful summer. My kids are lamenting how quickly it has flown by.
All the best,
Mairéad
Cheryl Barker
I haven't read Ulysses either, Mairéad. One of my goals has been to read more of the classics, but boy, some of them have proven a chore to get through. I'll have to add this to my list to try to tackle someday 🙂
Irish American Mom
Hi Cheryl - I couldn't agree more that some of the classics are an absolute chore to wade through. Someday, someday I may be able to say - "I tackled Ulysses and lived to tell the tale." 🙂
All the best,
Mairéad
Toby London Literary Salon
I read this thread with interest as I have spent the last 10 years devoted to getting readers through the intimidation on to the real joy (and humour-- it is a really funny book!) of Ulysses. I run twenty week studies on the book in London-- and often take a group to Dublin for Bloomsday. You DO NOT need to be knowledgable in Irish history, Catholic tradition, mythology, history of heresy, etc. to enjoy the read-- you do have to be willing to get through parts that you do not understand and forgive yourself (and Joyce) for those....there are some really helpful reader's concordances-- Harold Blamires work, 'The Bloomsday Book' is my top recommendation. You can get through the read with just that-- or you can go crazy and get others to consult. And it is worth it-- ultimately Joyce is talking about love, food, intimate relationships, the struggle between our interior and exterior worlds, our dreams and best selves versus the encounters with the sharp edges of experience. If you--or any of your readers are serious about tackling it on your own-- I am glad to share the opening notes I offer to get readers started-- including recommended resources. The best advice: find a group of readers & do it together-- this is for support as well as understanding. But do read it.
Irish American Mom
Hi Toby - Thank you for stopping by to share your knowledge of the novel Ulysses, and for providing such encouragement to us all to delve into this Irish classic. I Really appreciate your insights.
Best wishes,
Mairéad