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Ulysses

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Ulysses

By: James Joyce
Narrated by: John Lee
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About this listen

Joyce’s experimental masterpiece set a new standard for modernist fiction, pushing the English language past all previous thresholds in its quest to capture a day in the life of an Everyman in turn-of-the-century Dublin. Obliquely borrowing characters and situations from Homer’s Odyssey, Joyce takes us on an internal odyssey along the current of thoughts, impressions, and experiences that make up the adventure of living an average day.

As his characters stroll, eat, ruminate, and argue through the streets of Dublin, Joyce’s stream-of-consciousness narrative artfully weaves events, emotions, and memories in a free flow of imagery and associations.

Full of literary references, parody, and uncensored vulgarity, Ulysses has been considered controversial and challenging, but always brilliant and rewarding.

Public Domain (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Classics Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Fiction

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Critic reviews

“Comes nearer to being the perfect revelation of a personality than any book in existence." ( New York Times)
"To my mind one of the most significant and beautiful books of our time." (Gilbert Seldes, The Nation)
“Joyce soars to such rhapsodies of beauty as have probably never been equaled in English prose fiction." (Edmund Wilson, The New Republic)
All stars
Most relevant  

What did you like most about Ulysses?

The author's turn of phrase. The language is beautiful and is made to be read (or heard) out-loud. Ideal for an audio book. The Molly Bloom final chapter could (should?) be a book or play in itself.

What did you like best about this story?

Er, there's not really much of a story. The character rolls around Dublin carving a route in the shape of a huge question mark. Stream of consciousness, yes. "Story", no.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Narration was just right.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A film that's far too clever for you. Wake up for the last chapter though.

Any additional comments?

A very difficult 30 hours, but like an ultra-marathon the sense of accomplishment at the end made it all worthwhile. I'm not clever enough to understand it, however like a great painting or piece of music you can just stand back at marvel at its brilliance. The final seven sentences (and some 2hrs listening) from Molly in bed are absolutely staggering and had me gripped to the end. Yes!

Hard going, but worth it.

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John Lee has done an excellent job in reading this great book.

There were a few minor errors in the pronounciation of placenames (e.g Killiny pron as 'Kill-in-ey' instead of ''Kill-ine-ey') but they would only be obvious to an Irish person and in no way does it detract from the enjoyment of John's very fine narration.

This audio-book is ideal for the 'Ulysses' novice (but be sure to read some of the many guides to the novel also - you don't set out to climb Mount Everest without doing some homework) as well as for those of us who already love it. It is a marvelous, witty, life-enhancing, enjoyable work and this comes through in this excellent audio version.


Excellent Rendition of Joyce's Masterpiece

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I have just finished this epic novel by James Joyce and whilst it was a marathon, I have achieved another goal in my must read (or listen to) list of great books. I don't pretend to understand all of this complex work (in fact I would say 50% of it was most incomprehensible to me) but what I did understand I enjoyed immensely. John Lee is a magnificent narrator and the book is read in a most ear pleasing manner. My only criticism is that being born in Dublin myself, I noticed a lot of incorrect pronunciations of both Street and Place names but this was only a minor irk. For all those people who have always wanted to read Ulysses, this is the way to do it.

Brilliantly Narrated

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I'm an English literature student and being faced with Ulysses in my fast approaching second year of uni was pretty daunting so I decided to get it over and done with over the summer holidays. I would not characterise the book itself as particularly enjoyable and it was by no means easy to get through but I can safely say that tackling this book was made so much easier through the use of this audio book and I am so thankful to John Lee for taking so much time to read this behemoth for the benefit of us poor student folk! Thank you very much to everyone at Audible for producing this 😃

A Gentle Behemoth!

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I thoroughly enjoyed this ripping reading despite any 'difficulty' the book may be said to contain. From the outset, I had it in mind that it was possibly not graspable in any sense in a first hearing and, with a little help from a 'schema' on Wikipedia, decided simply to roll with it, certain in the knowledge that I'd revisit it one day. Reaching the end of the book has not dampened my resolve to do this. John Lee is an excellent choice and I was surprised to learn that he is not Irish but English; his accent is wonderful. Moreover, he brings a speed and energy to the performance which truly helps the 'stream of consciousness'. A slower reading would have resulted in pausing, paragraphed ponds of consciousness and it wouldn't have been the same fun. I'm not sure if this was a conscious decision on Lee's part but, in either case, it certainly worked for me. I couldn't help feeling that the intense, internal monologues must have influenced later writers such as James Kelman and Irvine Welsh. If you've a spare credit in your Audible account, and have reservations about this book, I'd urge you to take the plunge and swim with Joyce's joyous tide.

Just roll with it

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Suck it, pages. Audiobooks rule. Seriously, why 20 words? 20 words prove I'm human and not a robot trying to up Joyce's Ulysses's ratings? Might be.

Did it

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What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I just couldn't follow the plot line! Either I wasn't paying enough attention or this was just hard reading!

Has Ulysses put you off other books in this genre?

No, I've read worse!

Have you listened to any of John Lee’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Yes, quite a few. John Lee is an excellent narrator. I've never heard him do an Irish accent before but it was consistent and well delivered.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Boredom, really, and relief when it was over.

Any additional comments?

No.

A labour

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