ulysses

I decided last week that I am going to read Ulysses.  I have only 2 classes left and during those two classes I have a great deal of breaks for the holidays. I know that I won’t read this massive book within this time frame and I honestly don’t care if I ever finish it.  It is more that I want to know something concrete about the book. I bought a copy today and I already plan on buying an annotated copy from amazon.com that provides much more information.  From everythign I’ve read online about this novel, this is not an easy to read fluff type of book.  It reminds me much of my biggest book nemisis by David Foster Wallace.  When Mr. Wallace left us earlier this year I vowed to read his book but then felt like one of those smucks that latches onto a book just because the author died.  That book might remain my nemesis until the day I die.

However, 4 years of college and I have not been asked to read James Joyce.  Of course I am a business management major and therefore the scant few literary courses I have had have had me reading tame short stories and the like.  Not that I’m complaining as my next course is in fact a Literature one that involves much short story reading.  However, because I’m somewhat of a geek when it comes to school I have already read over half of the stories we’re assigned.  Yes, I’m an overachiever when it comes to school.

I probably won’t ever blog about it again and I might even throw my copy of Ulysses on the bedside table with the other 25 books laying there.  I read the 3 books in the Twilight series in a matter of 4 days and then the 6^th day I got Breaking Dawn and haven’t cracked it open since that day.  I have a way of doing these things.  I have intentions and then my intentions change. I got bored with reading about Bella after an entire week and honestly I think each book in the series got weaker and weaker.  I would say she shoulda stopped with Twilight but then she wouldn’t be as rich as she is now.  Nothing against her, but I probably will never read Breaking Dawn.  I’m ok with that.  I’m even ok with the fact that Wallace died before I ever read his “Infinite Jest” book.  His death sucks and bugs me, but my failure to read his book doesn’t anymore.

I do think I’m going to end up seeing the movie “Twilight” but I know that I prefer to go alone without anyone.  Perhaps on a school day before the kidlets can go.

I also want to get a pen and write in this book.  This is something that’s always been rather taboo in my world. I barely change the appearance of an entire book that I have in fact read…ever.  I’m really anal about my books and I treat them quite well indeed. I do not share my books, lend my books, sell my books or abuse my books.  It’s just one of my things.  I know where it comes from after years of therapy have given me the answers.  I don’t care anymore.  But for this book, this time, I’m going to scribble.  I might read it. I might not.  I probably won’t.  But I will try.