Ulysses Funmary # 9: Scylla & Charybdis

Ok– it is long past time for me to write this funmary, but admittedly I’ve been bogged down in the minutie of academia (not unlike our librarians here).  So, after far too much ado and many apologies, through the twin dangers we must sail. Now, in The Odyssey, Odysseus knows what dangers await him.  He [...]

ULYSSES Funmary #8: Lestrygonians

By JERRY GRIT We’re back with Bloom, who is for the most part alone here. Sensual guy he is, his concern for food is central. Especially since he’s looking for lunch. Unlike the narcotic somnolent effect food has on us (as depicted in the postprandial “Lotus Eaters”) we’re preprandial here. His mind is alert. He’s [...]

A “Lestrygonians” Preview and 13 Good Reasons

By JERRY GRIT There are many reasons I’ve gone astray the last few weeks and haven’t been administering to full capacity. Here are 13 good ones… 1. I moved. 2. To a fixer-upper. 3. I got a metal shared in my eye. 4. It rusted. 5. It infected my eye. 6. I assembled these chairs. [...]

ULYSSES Funmary #7: Aeolus (plus pp. 134-150)

By Brendan Jaysis, there were a lot of windbags in this episode – windbags talking about windbags. We see again that there’s not enough room for Bloom – after being “tight” in the carriage, he’s bumped into by the Gallant Lenehan. And verbally dissed by Crawford.. And pretty much ignored by everyone else. Another example [...]

ULYSSES Funmary #6: Hades

By KATIE ELSE Okay, so Saturday turned into Sunday (which is rapidly turning into Monday…) But! we are done with Hades in all of it’s gloominess. The good news is, friends, that we are out of hell. One can only assume that it’s just going to be kittens and rainbows from here on out! I [...]

ULYSSES pp.87-93 “Hades”

By KATIE ELSE Let me just begin by saying that I am enjoying being inside Leopold Bloom’s head far more than Stephen’s. I find him a much more sympathetic, empathetic and accessible character.  In the first pages of this chapter, the subtext and the… well, obvious text give us insight into these two men.  Let me [...]

ULYSSES Funmary #5: The Lotus Eaters

by SCOOTER THOMAS Scooter Thomas, aspiring toward dolce far niente. x My owners have asked me to write The Lotus Eaters Funmary for reasons which I find both flattering and deeply offensive. On one hand, they know that my astute critical analysis could enhance “The Lotus Eaters” chapter in illuminating and perhaps unexpected ways. I’ll [...]

ULYSSES Funmary #4: Calypso

By LIZAANNE All right, Folks, it’s time for another funmary!  Let’s hear it for Calypso! The Calypso section serves as an introduction to Leopold Bloom, his family, his personal issues, and his role in the novel.  In this chaper, Leo is the active character.  He’s the Energizer Bunny as he makes breakfast for himself, his wife, and the cat; [...]

ULYSSES Funmary #3: Proteus

By JERRY GRIT With “Proteus,” we come to the end of Ulysses‘ Part 1, its Telemachiad (the chapters focused on Dedalus-Telemachus). Although, it was a short chapter, it was long on confusing, headache-inducing obscurity.  Not very much happens in the chapter. Stephen walks on Sandymount Strand along the polluted Dublin Bay, thinks about a bunch [...]

ULYSSES Funmary #2: Nestor

by BEN VORE Behold! I am about to reveal to you my amazing ability to perform a super secret Joycean mind meld which allows me to discern some of the thoughts and probing questions of a few Wandering Rocks regulars. Allow me to address those unspoken questions here: “Could you just give me a brief overview [...]

ULYSSES Funmary #1: Telemachus

By JERRY GRIT First, an administrative matter. We need episodes adopted. “Proteus” doesn’t have anyone, and that could start as early as Tuesday. (It’s only 14 pages! It’s only a baby!). If you plan on reading Ulysses with us, please find it in your heart to call one of these episodes your own. You will [...]