Ulysses

Amazing

I've listened to 30+ books from Audible now and a few of them have needed a bit of persistence. I was keen to listen to Ulysses as I reasoned that I may be unlikely to finish the book in print if I attempted it.

It seems to me that the audiobook format is excellent for this incredible book. I can see why the book is rated so highly. The narrator is excellent and I found his characterisations worked very well. The pace was just right - quite hard to keep up but I don't think this is the book to read aloud slowly.

Did I understand everything? No. I had to review an online source at the end of each episode to keep up. But it is well worth it and I feel like I have experienced a very special piece of literature.

79 of 81 people found this review helpful

Monumental Achievement

"Grant me, Lord, the courage and the joy / I need to scale the summit of this day”, wrote Jorge Luis Borges of "Ulysses" in one of his sonnets. Both are needed, courage and joy, since the most challenging works of literature should be enjoyable in their difficulty. When it comes to Joyce’s great work, a colossus among the colossals, it’s quite impossible to write about the reading experience succintly, to the point, and well. I’m trying, though.

I like reading "Ulysses", but equally I love listening to it. There is something about Joyce’s language and his way of expressing things that lends beautifully to performance. His words float, soar and swerve, and I think we are incredibly lucky to have an audiobook of the work that is without equal. Narrated by Jim Norton and Marcella Riordan, it is an unabridged recording (27 hours and 21 minutes) that has not only been expertly read, it’s actually recorded and mixed wonderfully, and it’s amongst the best audiobooks I’ve ever encountered. This is a monumental achievement in audiobook recording that cuts no corners, takes all the time it needs in the right places, and uses technology and vision to create an unforgettable listening experience.

One of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to.

76 of 79 people found this review helpful

Perfect rendering of a towering masterpiece

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This reading opened this wonderful, wonderful book to me. I, Seán Holden, have started what's always been called a hard read several times. Jim Norton has led me effortlessly through Bloom's journey. The depth of Joyce's understanding of language, mind and body is as profound as Shakespeare's and as beautiful. And he is funny and and he is learned. Having done the 27 hours I'm going to start all over again. Jim Norton's own understanding of the narrative and the distinctive presentation of the vast swirl of characters is perfection. It sounds just as I imagine it swooshing out of Joyce's head. The last chapter, read by Marcella Riordan, is a joy of pure eroticism with her enticingly beautiful voice taking us intimately inside Molly in every way. This is the best audio book performance I have ever heard. It gives us with ease the book we should all have.

14 of 14 people found this review helpful

Well worth the effort!

Would you consider the audio edition of Ulysses to be better than the print version?

The audio version makes this complex, many layered novel accessible and enjoyable.

What other book might you compare Ulysses to, and why?

This is incomparable to any book I have read to date.

What about Jim Norton’s performance did you like?

The ability ot the narator to create different voices, accents and sounds was brilliant.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This book needs concentrated time to absorb, but I was always delighted to return to it and did so again and again and got more out of each reading.

Any additional comments?

I was surprised with how much enjoyed this book. Even after 3 readings, I feel there is still a rich vein to be excavated so I know I will return for more.

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

Remarkable

This is a superb performance - not merely a reading - of an extraordinary book. For those of us who would never have managed to get through it as a written text, a real eye-opener and a very worthwhile investment of your time.

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

Wonderful book, brilliantly read.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It helped that I'd read this book previously and had done some study on how it has been interpreted. Once you have a grounding you really appreciate the full force of its brilliance.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bloom: an outsider, cuckold and under-dog, but persistent and dogged, he wins through in the end.

What does Jim Norton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Jim Norton's (and Marcella Reardon) reading adds immensely to an appreciation. Wonderful characterisation, pace, humour, accents and invective. It is difficult to imagine it will ever be bettered.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The last section as Molly describes why she married and has stuck with Bloom. But almost every chapter has some brilliant passage.

Any additional comments?

If you've never read it before do at least skim the basics of the story first so you appreciate the basic structure - and then plunge in and enjoy and imbibe the language and scatological humour. Every reading will bring out more subtleties and enjoyment. This really is one of those books worth coming back to. I will certainly be returning to this reading!

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

Great listen!

I thought the audiobook was great, I chose to read along as I listened because Joyce writes in such a way that you need to see as well as actually hear the words to get the full effect. I had been putting off reading it for ages because everyone said how difficult it is but in fact this audiobook is a wonderful accompaniment 10/10 would recommend.

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Ulysses brought to life

This is audio books at their absolute best. I'm only a quarter of the way through but this is completely captivating. The range of voices Jim Riordan can produce is amazing: it brings the characters to life and helps the listener keep track of what is obviously a difficult 'plot'. He also brings a range of tone to the characters, distinguishing speech and thoughts very helpfully. Perhaps not the best bed-time listening - a fatal combination of mellifluous accents and aimless ramblings that has me dozing off in minutes - but there the fault is entirely my own.

43 of 47 people found this review helpful

Don't think you can do anything while listening

The story demands your full attention as you borrow the characters thoughts and feelings. I did try to listen to it while walking, but found that there is no room to be distracted. Having said that it is a rich experience that matches visual media.



Make sure you have time to give listening your full attention, and you will be rewarded.

13 of 14 people found this review helpful

Unfulfilled

I couldn't follow the audiobook but I believe it wasn't the audiobook's problem and it was due to the difficulty of the Ulysses. The techniques that Joyce uses in his masterpiece make is a difficult "story" if one just wants to listen to or to read a story. Ulysses is a kind of book that must be read with a lot of pauses and contemplation. if you are willing to hear it so, you could use the audiobook. otherwise my suggestion is to read the book in your sanctuary and then after grasping it try to listen to the audiobook.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful