James Joyce’s “Ulysses,” regarded by many as the greatest novel of the 20th century and by some as the finest work ever written in English, is under attack.
As Ireland gears up to celebrate the centenary of Bloomsday — the day in June 1904 on which the novel is set — some disgruntled writers and columnists say they are sick to death of the impenetrable book and its cult following.
More, in This Reuters Article.
“Ulysses could have done with a good editor,” Doyle told a literary gathering in New York. “People are always putting Ulysses in the top 10 books ever written, but I doubt that any of those people were really moved by it.”
Broken link
I clicked on the link and got a Proxy Report that the host was not found.
As for those disgruntled writers and columnist who can’t stand Ulysses — why do you insist on being obsessed with it? Drop the subject and get on your life, for Christ’s sake. It’s not Joyce’s fault or the books that you can’t just let it go. That’s entirely your fault.
Irish writers and Joyce
From the article:
If Irish writers are constantly being compared with Joyce, then it’s no wonder some want to cut him down to size. It’s a natural desire for any writer to want their own place in the literary sun. Maybe it’s the literati who venerate Joyce who ought to get over him.
Re:Irish writers and Joyce
Which, to me, means that he’s pissed off because he’s not as good as Joyce. A lot of North American writers feel the same way about Stephen King. That’s not King’s problem, it’s ours. Doyle needs to get over himself. Or maybe he needs to learn how to develop a style of his own that won’t be confused with Joyce.