Chris, I just finished the book today. I'm a 50 year old Dubliner (Born a spit away from Eccles Street). Born on Blooms Day!!! So it was a MUST thing for me to do. It took me over 1 year. You were fantastic help and I'm not sure I could have done it without you. Thank you. Neil
You have no idea how much your comments lift my spirit. We are in some rough times and knowing you made it through the book, being so close to it all, places I will never see, warms my heart. Thank you for taking the time to post your comments.
Dear Chris, I feel a simple "thank you" is not enough to express my gratitude towards the support I have received following your comments while reading Ulysses. I would risk banality or a repetition of the beautiful things that many of your admirers have already revealed in wonderful words and I fear I could never say in a better or different way. Nevertheless, after being in your precious company for so many months, I do want to share with you a few of my feelings. When I visited Dublin, quite long ago, with my girlfriend (now my wife) she was studying English literature and, as a Joyce fan, she imposed our first visit be Martello Tower at Sandybeach, Dublin! And there, at the Joyce Museum, I bought Ulysses! Well aware of the challenge expecting me, I desisted reading it, postponing the feat up to last summer. A rule my Latin teacher in school gave me: "never abandon reading a book you have started: every book is a journey of the soul, which mostly serves to discover more about one's inner world". To be sincere, after the third episode, for the first time I was about to break my teacher's rule! But then I found your videos, and thanks to you, my rule mantained its integrity! I found your comments relevant and impeccaple! I have made it all the way through, in spite the many difficulties as non native English speaker! Thank you Chris for having allowed me to discover secrets yet unknown of my very soul... thank you for making me feel internally more enriched... Francesco Mazzucco, Formia, Italy.
That one of the most heart warming things anyone has ever said to me. Thank you so much for your very kind words! And now, it is my turn. You are to be commended for making it through your own odyssey! You must be very very bright my friend. I cannot imagine reading this book as a non native speaker. Thank you again for your comments.
Thank you Chris,as a Dubliner and involved in the Joyce Centre here.I encourage everyone to zoom into Ulysses for all directed by Dr.Caroline Elba.Happy Reading.Yes.
I have not read Ulysses in ten years but when teaching my child about modernism I mentioned the book and she later asked about reading it. And now we are working on it together. Your videos have helped me remember a lot and taught me even more. Thanks for this series.
I finished Ulysses today. You have been my friend through the process and I am so grateful for the help and inspiration you have given me. A big hug to you from Denmark!
Thanks! Here I am, on June 16, seven years after buying (and start reading this book), two years after you uploading these videos, in the middle of a pandemic, finally finishing Ulysses. I couldn’t make it without your enthusiastic comments on each episode and it really feels like you were part of this “odyssey”. As someone previously said, it was adorable. Happy Bloomsday and thanks once more!
I'm 24 and this was my first time reading Joyce's Ulysses and I can only say that this was an amazing Odyssey! Thank you Chris for your efforts to make the book more easy on us, I definetly enjoyed it and found gracefully subtle and profound meaning on it's pages.
Chris, You are a special gift. I've wanted to read Ulysses for 20 years. These videos truly carried me through one of the great monuments of human thought and experience. You made it possible. 1,000 thanks!
Hi Chris, I cannot adequately describe in words my gratitude for what you have done in these videos. I am a 22-year old just about to finish college, and of my life so far reading this book has been one of the greatest joys. The happiness for life that this book has brought me would not have been possible without your help, and for that I thank you so much. I have learned from this book, with your help, the dangers of sentimentality, and the fact that never in my life will I be able to understand another human being quite in the way I do Leopold, Molly, and Stephen, and even they are a mystery to me. Compassion is something this book has in spades. Recently, I have become somewhat disillusioned with modern literature and culture, of which there seems to be an almost pornographic portrayal of sadness. But this book is life affirming, even with all the suffering within it, and so with your help I have come to see Joyce as rather incomparable and with a value that I don’t feel I can find anywhere else. I think I shall make a tradition of reading this book every year. So, thank you Chris for taking the time to make these videos. They were invaluable to me. Conor
Chris, Thank you so much for these videos. Ulysses has always been a a daunting “white whale” for me. I simply could not have gotten through this incredible story without your help. I started reading fittingly in Dublin this April on vacation. The time was now and your videos were not only enjoyable, and educational, but so helpful on the journey. Thank you and I hope all is well! May I suggest a reunion party for all of us late to the original party? I will certainly be recommending your videos to anyone I know that wants to embark on this journey. Thank You!
hey chris, just finished ulysses yesterday. for the past six months i've followed every episode in the novel with your videos, couldn't have done it without you. it was great to have someone to read it along with. thank you so much for this. a series on finnegan's wake would be great ! thanks a lot.
I got through it. Phenomenal book, amazing how it incorporates its theme. It really did do something for me, its hard to describe, but the book ended perfectly and solidified that Bloom is not alone in the world, Molly appreciates that Bloom is so understanding of her and women in general, and how it goes from that to the beautiful scenery of her youth and when Bloom proposed to her. Fantastic. Really does make you think about life, and how Joyce wrote a loveletter to humanity in a sense. How life is an infinite cycle, we live and we pass away, and this will keep on happening. People will fall in love, just as Bloom and Molly did, it will keep happening throughout our time on the planet. Thank you for videos, it helped me greatly to understand a lot more than i normallt would have. This book will stick witv me for the rest of my life. Thank you. :) I dont usually comment on social media, but you deserve to know your impact. We are all grateful! Cheers!
I did it! After so many starts and stops I completed Ulysses! I am so grateful for these videos, Chris. Without them, I would never have finished this life-changing novel. I may reread it again one day but I can say with much confidence that given the mighty effort it took to read and understand Ulysses, there is no chance I will ever tackle Finnegan’s Wake 😅. Thank you Chris for all the help and encouragement!
I am approximately two years late - but this series has been so thoroughly enjoyable. Chris, you have been such a lovely virtual reading companion on this journey! Thank you for this series and your insights, it has definitely helped me get through such a dense (but incredible) novel ~
Thank you so much for leaving a comment! I am so glad you enjoyed the series. I am starting some new things in the next couple of weeks so please stay tuned!
I'm a late-comer to this wonderful adventure, but I just wanna say... Thank you. This was amazing. An amazing video series of an amazing piece of art. It was wonderful and a pleasure, and I'm honored to have been guided through this book by You, Sir.
Thank you so much from Italy! It took me more than one year to finish Ulysses, and it was totally worth it. If I would have forced myself and rushed it I wouldn't have enjoyed it so much. Ulysses is truly a novel that changes your life, if you can find a reason to go beyond its complexity, and your videos were part of my reason. For some chapters I really wanted to get to the end to listen to your comments (I remember struggling a lot with Wandering Rocks). So thank you again, it felt like having a friend reading the book with me!
Bravo from Los Angeles. You got me through it all. I would’ve quit without you. You’ve kept everything interesting. And I am really sure you will help tons of people get through this for many years to come. Well done buddy!
Congratulations! You have climbed the toughest literary mountain known to humans. Bryan, thank you for your comments along the way. You have a lot to be proud of. When you look back, pick a chapter and read a paragraph and you'll be astounded at the feeling that comes over you of returning to a familiar place and you'll 'see' things you never saw before. Joyce gave us an amazing book and there is nothing else like it. Thank you again for your comments.
Hello Chris, I have been watching your videos when I finished each of the chapters of the book. Every chapter finished, I watched your video. I cannot thank you the help, your point of view, It has been very very useful, Today I have finished this book, I could not finish last year, but with a better preparation and your videos I have been able to finish and now this book is one of my favourites ever. Thank you so much Chris
Chris, you have been a happy and important part of this life-changing experience for me. i have watched all of your videos several times...your approach and mentorship, teaching, is unique: it truly comes from a place of love and deep appreciation. your introductory statement says it all so accurately, and simply. i love your humility, it is very very unusual. there are so many experts and mansplainers out there, not to write them off...but you are offering the reader something different. like the novel itself, you don't spell it all out... your structure is great...the RUfF episodes all felt just a little too short...but you seemed to know not to make them too long. that's why i will keep going back. thank you for all the work you have put into this...i won't go on...but THANK YOU.
Hi Chris- I made it! My odyssey with this wonderful book wasn’t nearly as exciting as others that I’m reading. I owned a copy for about a month before I started reading it. The only interesting thing that happened during this journey was water spilling and ruining my copy, leading me to buying another (in some ways better) copy. All I really have to say is that you have opened up so much of this fantastic book to me, and I am infinitely grateful for it. As a 17 year old I can’t say I connected with every theme in the book, but I did find Bloom, and to a lesser extent Stephen, to be relatable, fantastic characters. This is definitely a book I’ll read over and over, and I’ll most likely return to this series. Thank you
Chris, I have just finished Ulysses with your guidance and insights. It's 2022 so years after your original RUclips episodes. Thank you with immense gratitude for your efforts and humor.
End of the book. Wonderful, unique, hard, sensual and deep. It will be placed on my favourite books shelf for sure. I was able to make it to the end accompanied by your patient, warm, clever guidance. This time, even though I missed the party you organised some time ago, ...SLAINTE !!! To you, Mr. Chris!!! THANKS!!!!
SLAINTE to you Andrea! Congratulations! You finished what might be the most difficult book AND you enjoyed it! We MUST have another party this year! Please stay tuned, we have more ahead for you! Best to you, Chris
Thank you so much for these videos! Your enthusiasm made reading Ulysses a joy. I had tried before and it was too much. Much gratitude to you for all the care you put into these videos.
Thank you so much for this series. I went through the book almost exclusively with these videos. It was easy to get bogged down with the other million sources, so I decided to just go with your videos. The approach in this series worked great as acompanion piece. I really liked the down-to-earth approach and your enthusiasm!
Thank you! That means a lot to me. It was a big project to talk through this book. Welcome to the club of those who actually finish the book! May I ask where you are located? (My personal interest) Thank you again!
Chris Reich The location is Denmark :) - By the way, for my read I did a combination of the ebook and the audiobook by Jim Norton. I highly recommend the audiobook, and it even had a female narrator for Molly’s episode. Was often hilarious to hear Joyce’s prose spoken out loud. Regards, Chris
I can't begin to express how helpful this videos have been. I don't think I would have made it through without them (I have failed many times before). Thank you Chris, greetings from Argentina!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I just now finished the book, after two years of chipping away at it in small pieces. It would have taken far, far longer than two years without these guides. I'd gone from studying Portrait to diving into this, thinking it was going to be as easy reading as Portrait. Found myself to be wildly mistaken when I came across "ineluctable modality of the visible" - I almost set it down for good right there. But then I found your videos, watched them, then went back and re-read 1-3 and finally got it. Life got in the way at Chapters 6 and 9 and I stopped reading for a while as it became a chore and I wanted to wait until I could enjoy it. I've been chipping away at it these last few weeks and am so thrilled to have completed this odyssey and to have had your wisdom on the way. Thank you so much!!!!
Congratulations! YOU did it! It hope you enjoyed the book. It's a chore but Joyce packs so much into every chapter we have to be in awe at the skill. You have much to be proud of for making it through! That puts you in an elite class of readers. Thank you so much for your very kind comments. I wish the videos were easier for people to find. Your comments help and give me a huge boost. Thank you. Stay safe and well.
Greatest video series of all time for this book, easily. Just went through it and couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for all you’ve done. Hope you are well!
@@TeachUBusiness we did! Your videos helped me get 10x more meaning out of the text than I would have going in blind. I am actually rather sad it’s over now 😢 already looking forward to the next re-read with all the knowledge of the characters, themes, and styles 🙂
Great Chris. On infinity and the Liffey, Finnegans Wake begins in the middle of a sentence ('riverrun, past Eve and Adam's...') which is a continuation of the last sentence of the novel making an infinite circle of the book.
Thank you so much, Chris, for these amazing months. I went through Ulysses guided by your videos. It definitely is one of the best books of all time and your light at it was unique.
Well Mr Reich, I want to extend my sincere thanks for putting this series together. It helped me enormously and I finished the book this morning. It is magnificent. Thank you again from A Coruña in Spain!
Your comment is RIGHT ON! BTW, Thank you SO MUCH for the very thoughtful letter. I can't tell you how much I appreciate hearing from you. Thank you so much. Chris
Thank you Chris! I wouldn't have enjoyed the book nearly as much if not for these videos. You're passion for the book is contagious and inspiring. Hope you are well and Congratulations on a truly remarkable accomplishment.
finished your series now slowly reading through the final episode gleaning as much insight and especially joy from the magnificent writing you so movingly illuminated thank you for your wonderful commentaries you made my JomesJayce (sic) experience deeply rewarding now as when i finish the book i will miss the bloomermollystephanites and also with gratitudinationappreciation the "rich" fellow who made my bloomsday. Peace.
Many thanks for your insightful, well-conceived videos. 'Ulysses' is easily the most complex, erudite and insightful fictional work I've ever read. I especially enjoyed 'Ithaca', 'Circe' (bizarre, but fascinating) and 'Hades'. The last few pages of 'Penelope" were among the most beautiful I have ever read. I will confess, however, to having been very confused and frustrated at times. 'Scylla and Charybdis' and 'Oxen of the Sun' were particularly difficult; indeed, there were moments during these episodes when I was tempted to throw in the towel. I appreciated the conceptual brilliance of the latter, but struggled mightily with the language. Here's the strange thing: There were times when I swore one reading of this modernist beast would be enough. But, upon finally completing the book, I now want to read it again (after an adequate recovery period). Once again, thanks for your splendid videos. I never would have read that final "Yes." without them.
Thank you. I just finished the novel last night around 2 in the morning and it really hit me... You’re videos and insights have been absolutely fantastic. I can’t wait to reread this for Bloomsday.
Thank you! Congratulations on completing your own odyssey! Your words mean a lot to me and I appreciate that you took the time to comment. If you pick up the book and start reading a random page, you'll be surprised at how new things open up. It's a very strange book in that way. I hope to hear more from you! Cheers!
@@TeachUBusiness Just completed it. Enjoyed a lot. Thanks for reminding everyone that enjoying literature is more important than any other thing for a reader.
Chris, Thank you so much for your videos. Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is one of my favorite books, and I wanted to read Ulysses for a long time, but I put it off because I knew I would have to devote a great deal of time getting through it if I wanted to read it with a decent level of understanding. I am on the final pages of the novel now. Your videos helped me get through the novel, understand it, and enjoy it. Thanks for putting them together. I am going to reread the Proteus chapter as soon as I am finished, as it's one of my favorites, and I know I will be a lifelong reader of Ulysses and will be back to view your videos. Thanks again!
Hi Chris! A big thank you a happy Bloomsday 2020 from me and from our group in Dublin - we read a chapter a month and met in the relevant spot in Dublin to discuss the chapter, it's been such fun, and your videos were a big part of making it fun and accessible. well done.
Genuinely emotional watching this final video in the series, Chris!!! You've become a huge part of my odyssey through reading this book and I talk about your videos constantly to anyone who'll listen ... After 8 years since my first try and 2 further failed attempts at getting past page 100, I finally finished Ulysses this evening. Im from about 30 minutes down the road from Dublin, so I always felt this book was something I "had to do" as a keen reader ... But it became a bit of a chore or duty then and I couldn't even enjoy it. But all that changed by watching your videos as I went along ... You made it so enjoyable 😊 As i said on a previous video of yours, you've democratised Joyce in a truly unique way. This is what I feel the Internet is for; giving intelligent, unpretentious and sincere people like yourself the platform to share information with people around the world. I've also started reading some Virginia Wolff and bought the Rain King too based on your recommendations!! I am eternally grateful for your videos Chris, thanks so much. Yes, Yes, Yes!!! 😊
THANK YOU!!! I truly love your comment. It means a lot to me. Also, I am NOW able to make more videos so I hope you will participate. Thank you again for your support. Chris
Thank you Chris. I finished it this week. Enjoyed dipping into your videos - their insights helped me get deeper in my experience of the book. Appreciate it so much!
Congratulations Chris on finishing this series, these videos are invaluable for us "to-be" readers of Ulysses, and we thank you for offering is this very accesible guide for a very inaccesible book.
Ah gee, thanks. I appreciate that very much. This has been a learning odyssey for me as well. If you gain some pleasure in the book, the goal was reached. It's rewarding to hear from so many people. Thank you for taking the time to comment. Do you mind if I ask where you are located?
Iasonas Xd Thank you so much! I enjoy knowing where readers are located. It is a lesson in itself that we all have more in common than we have differences. The humanities make us human. Your participation is valued very much.
I did it! I finished Ulysses, and I can't thank you enough for the support and encouragement your videos have given me throughout my odyssey. I could never have completed this journey without them! I think that my experience of Penelope was very different to that of other readers, and different to what I was expecting. Despite being frequently moved by Joyce's beautiful writing, this final epispde left me feeling sad. Molly's want for attention is a universal human need, and one that, as Joyce illustrates, we sadly often have to demean ourselves and give up parts of ourselves to get, Molly allowing her husband to drink from her for example, and literally walking through dung to fulfil his fantasies. Like her long, unpunctuated sentences, our search for acceptance can feel desperate and exhausting, like the weary, writhing weeds of Proteus. Throughout the novel sexual acts appeared to me not an expression of love but an assertion of power. In this episode the description of Molly's experience with Boylan was particualrly aggressive, using words that bring to mind an attack, such as 'brute', 'crowbar', 'iron'. Bloom is also described as coercing Molly into certain acts through being 'so persevering,' and she herself remembers 'tormenting the life out of' Harry. In this context, despite the romantic surroundings, Molly's final 'yes' felt to me like resignation, giving up on the dream of being truly cared for, accepting that it was 'as well him as another.'
Wow! That's a great analysis of the final episode. Penelope has always left me a little cold and empty except I do believe the final "Yes" to be an affirmation and not a resignation. Molly got some satisfaction from Boylan but she does have a heart for Bloom despite her tolerance for his appetites. I think she likes that he is more assertive (wants breakfast) and she sees the possibilities of Stephen spending time in their home. Molly is not truly attracted to the brute, Boylan, but she did enjoy both the attention and, I believe, the sex. At the end of the day, I feel like both have dealt with their own demons in this day and both are turning toward each other for the next chapter of life. Sex has an undeniable power component though that isn't all it is. I think both sexes use their powers to meet needs. Molly can command attention and gifts using hers, Boylan can feel dominant in his sexual expression, and Bloom relieves some of his, what, perversity? It's hard to say as sexuality is probably the most guarded and complex of our human emotions. In the end, I don't see Molly as a victim as much as someone who took action to get what she wanted. And, I do believe that final 'Yes' is an affirmation not only for her rekindling of affections for Bloom, but for all of us to affirm life. Life for all it's complications is....well, worth it. Yes. Thank you so much, Rachel!
@@TeachUBusiness Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I reread the last pages with this in mind and felt so differently about Molly's final words, particularly when comparing this to her introduction in Calypso, grunting 'mn,' an indistinct no. As you say, Molly is not a victim. She has experienced disappointments, frustration and pain, not only in her marriage, but as a friend, a lover and a mother, but she has been able to accept these and she has made a choice to move forward, to live. Of course none of us can know what will happen next in the Blooms' lives or in our own, but every day, every moment, is an opportunity to make a choice to live, to say yes. Thank you so much for helping me to find this understanding, for being such an important part of this journey, and for making me glad I made the choice to say yes to reading Ulysses!
Leaving a comment to say thankyou so much for the series, it's been a massive help throughout my reading of the book and a real source of comfort and cozyness to sit back and listen to you speak following each episode and for providing the bigger picture.
Thanks for the videos. They provided great encouragement and clarity as I made my way through the entire book after two previous attempts. Once again thanks and once again yes to read again yes in a year or two. Yes.
All I can say is: thank you so much. Your enthusiasm and smarts got me through a book I never dreamt I'd finish....or understand. How does this great book stand up to second readings?
You will discover that we have just scratched the surface and that the book will open new things every time you read it. I would say to start by thinking about your favorite chapter and read that; you'll see so much more and it will be hard to put it down. From here out, you will have this book as part of you. Every time you open it, you will get a weird sensation of going to a place that is familiar. Thank you very, very much for all of your interaction and comments along the way. Sharing your journey will help other readers. Thank you so much.
Chris, THANK YOU! Thanks to you I finished the book today! ❤️And I loved every page! Your encouragement helped me so much... Thank you!!! I already want to read Ulysses again... I love your channel! And I hope that you had a wonderful Bloomsday this year!
Congratulations! That is a huge accomplishment. I hope you enjoyed your journey through the book. There are some really tough parts. Someday, pick it up and read a random page and see how you feel. I'll bet it touches you. Take care and thank you for commenting.
Thanks! from Sheffield (UK) - I totally agree that a book doesn't have to be disected to death in order to be enjoyed, but I felt pretty disoriented after the Circe episode and came across your channel then. After backtracking through all your videos I've taken far more from the book than I would have otherwise. Looking forward to any further literature you decide to cover! And "road to lisdoonvana" is a nice touch as an intro
Congratulations! This is the Mt. Everest of books and you should be proud for making it through! Thank you so much for your comments! I tried to add 'flavor' to the videos. I'm waiting for an upgrade to my internet. It takes 13 hours to upload one of these videos. That's very impractical. When I get fiber installed, it will cut that to around an hour. Stay tuned! I have lots of plans! And thank you! Stay safe, mate.
Alastair, I'm about to finish the book and live in Sheffield too! We could meet up in a pub and swap notes if you're interested. No pressure though.. only an idea. We could just meet for a pint on Bloomsdays? Ha
Thank you Chris for your heartfelt videos, took me the summer to get through them (had to read the chapters first); very helpful throughout. I would have done it without you but it wouldn't have been the same 🙂
this was great Chris, I really liked your interpretation. I think the differences in how a person thinks is what really struck me, and the difference in how Molly's stream of consciousness felt really brought home what the whole book was doing. Id say I only understood about a quarter of it though so hopefully I'll re-read over the years
Thank you SO much, Chris. I couldn't have read it and enjoyed it as much without your videos. You helped me make sense of much of it and also reassured me when I couldn't. Sláinte!
Just finished last night. What a great episode and what a great book. Hate that it came to end. I believe Molly says at one point, something to the effect of that it is Blooms fault for her affair. I think that Molly is into the affair with Boylan but is comfortable and emotionally attached to Bloom. Great way to kick off 2019 with completing my first goal of 2019...to read Ulysses. Now to research and figure out why my 1934 first publication, first print does not have a giant period at the end of episode 17! And of course, to order a paper copy for future periodic reading. Thank you for your educational assistance along this journey.
Congratulations! You have climbed the literary mountain of mountains. I hope you had fun as well as gained a sense of accomplishment. I wish I had trophies to give. Molly meets her physical and emotional need to be desired with Boylan. I believe that she sees a change in ole Bloom and likes his demand for breakfast. While things won't be perfect, the Blooms are starting a new chapter and they will remain together, and stronger. With all the philosophy, history, and obscurity in the book, it is a testament to Joyce that he concludes with the most basic sentiment of all. People are flawed but they have an amazing ability to overcome. Stephen walk into the dark, his work as Joyce's immature alter ego is done. The boy in the first act of life is the mature man of act 3. Yes.
Hey Chris, like many others here I just wanted to express a very heartfelt thank you. I've been on a kind of Joyce odyssey for the past year but always found Ulysses so intimidating. Your videos were absolutely invaluable to unlocking and allowing me to enjoy the book & I think I can now say it's my favorite as well. I'm on my second read through now and it's been so incredibly rewarding. My new project has been putting together a playlist of all the musical allusions in the book. Needless to say, learning about the music has added even more layers and made my experience of the book that much richer. Thank you so much for taking the time to make these videos! p.s. My partner hasn't read any of Ulysses and only knows what I've rambled on to her about, but she loves your videos too and it was a really nice way for us to pass some time at home, so thanks also for helping us stay sane!
Michael Goldenberg Congratulations! You did it man! I am so happy to hear from people who actually finished the book for the first time. Thank you, Michael.
This video made me so emotional at the end I cried at the end. Thank you so much Chris for your time, energy, and pouring your heart into these videos. I hope to re-visit this book again one day and will remember to come back to your channel. Love, Julie.
Hello Chris, from London England. I just want to really thank you for these videos . I found that watching the first 5 minutes of each video, before I would read the relevant chapter, to understand the context from the Odyssey really helped with my comprehension and I would subsequently follow up with the remainder of each video after finishing the last page almost to test myself with how much I did (or sometimes didn’t pick up). Your videos were informative and also fundamentally playful, and in the same sense that Bloom walked parallel arm in arm with Stephen back home, it felt a genuine comfort to experience that with you. For the book itself, I feel that finishing on such a simple, yet powerful word such as ‘yes’ highlights the genius of Joyce - what a joy.
That sounds like a great strategy. I am so happy that you enjoyed the book. Reading Ulysses for fun. That is the goal and it sounds like you had fun. I hope to be making more videos as soon as I get my internet upgraded. Thank you for commenting. Stay in touch.
Like many others before me, I want to thank you for your nice video's. Without them I would not have reached the end of Ulysses. I must reckon I read some pages (too) fast. So a second reading is necessary (some other time in the future). And some pages were terrible, mostly those enumerations. But, it is an uncredibale work of art. And your video's gave me a lot of fun, seeing your happy smiling face and tinckling eyes in your studio. Thanks and keep up ten good work for art and literature. Guido Wolfs / The Netherlands.
Thank you so much. Your words mean a lot to me. Now that the work is over, try picking a random chapter and just read a few lines for fun. You will be surprised at how much you know!
Beautiful. Thank you. I am writing from Sweden, and have read the book in Swedish, with your videos always at hand. The language is more complicated than you may think, and perhaps I would not have made it in English. My translation from 2012, by Erik Andersson, is considered to be very good. (My father had the first translation, from 1946, titled "Odysseus". I consulted it at times to check on some words.) I bought the book a few hears ago but did not get started. The covid-19 summer has been a good opportunity to spend a lot of time with Ulysses. It took more than a month. I have started to read it a second time, now more carefully and at a slower pace. I enjoy it. One may well read it for fun! Grateful for all the effort you have put into this project! Anne
Greeting from California. Thank you for taking the time to comment. I love what you wrote! Thank you so much. You are encouraging others to take on the book. Take care and stay tuned for more, hopefully interesting, content.
After reading Ulysses for the second time, I enjoy it even more. I find myself reading with a smile, there is so much humour. And when I look through other people's comments, I find that many others have spent this covid summer reading Ulysses, just as I did. (So you were quite farsighted in preparing these videos 2 years ago.) Before choosing to follow your videos in June, i looked around for a guide to Ulysses, and found none that were as interesting and well made as yours. It is also your personal tone that stands out. Thanks again. Anne
yes thank you for leading us through this amazing book This closure video on the series ends with a similarly affirmative conclusion as did Ulysses itself Well done chris i and many others really owe you i am going to have my bachelors oral examination partly on Ulysses and feel much more prepared after always seeking the guidance you provided us with thanks a lot and greetings from Germany.
Hey Chris ! just wanted to say love ya thx u so much for ur help and overall wholesomeness; struggled with this book being only 17 and not a native eng speaker, but you made this book so much more manageable, and i had so much fun i just closed the final page ten seconds ago after picking it up 3 weeks ago and i truly think this is the best novel ive ever read; thank u for sharing this with us! if u ever make a video on Finnegans - or just about anything honestly listening to ur thoughts are a delight - ill be here! Love from Paris (:
Hello, Chris! Now, the book is over, but I don't feel like it is. I believe, one cannot really finish "Ulysses". No matter how many times you read it, there's still something new for you 🌌 like in the starry night sky. Once you've seen it you know you'll never get enough of it. I am very grateful that I have had you by my side all the way through this reading journey ❤️ the sparkle in your eyes was truly enlightening ✨ thank you! Hope, you and your dearest ones are safe now. Take care and thank you again ☺️
I decided to reread Ulysses as one of the things to do during this virus lock down. I came across your video series and I want to thank you. Your insights made this time round with the book so enjoyable. I live in the eye of the storm of this awful happening here in Manhattan and having Joyce and you as my companions for the last 6 weeks has been a spiritual blessing.
That means more to me than I can ever express. Thank you so much for taking your time to comment. When I made the videos, I had no idea that a year later the world would be so different. Stay safe and thank you, Paul.
Beautiful.Thank you. I am writing from Sweden, and have read the book in Swedish, with your videos always at hand. The language is more complicated than you may think, and perhaps I would not have made it in English. My translation from 2012, by Erik Andersson, is considered to be very good. (My father had the first translation, from 1946, titled "Odysseus". I consulted it at times to check on some words.) I bought the book a few years ago but did not get started. The covid-19 summer has been a good opportunity to spend a lot of time with Ulysses. It took more than a month. I have started to read it a second time, now more carefully and at a slower pace. I enjoy it. One may well read the book for fun! Grateful for all the effort you have put into this project! Anne
Very interesting. I was drawn to this video via autoplay when I was looking up Joyce after watching Back to School. Rodneyfield passes the Great Gatsby test, enjoys Yes, win hoolhan. Sort of like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Not a Fake Gatsby with veneer.
Thank you. I finished the book for the first time. I would not have made it through without these videos. I know I will return to the book at some point and will certainly watch these videos again as well. Thanks again. I really enjoyed it.
Congratulations! That is a huge accomplishment. What pleases me most is that you enjoyed it. That is the nicest thing I heard all day today. Thank you!
The question I was left with at the end, I read the chapter and then watched the video. But after the video I was left with the question “is bloom Capable of forgiveness?” And the answer to that is yes. Whether or not they stay together, Bloom can forgive and they can move on together or not.
Well I finally got there! I’ve now read Ulysses for the first time. I feel like I’ll need to let everything sink in for a week or so before i can piece together a lot of the pieces of the puzzle. Do we have a new holy trinity at the end, in Stephen, Bloom and Molly, for a more secular modern future? Symbols of the Father, son and Holy Spirit? In the final pages it struck me that Stephen’s phobia of water might be a symbol of his inability to let go and immerse himself in the stream of life like Molly has(which I think is highlighted by the contrast in the stream of consciousness of the two - Stephen’s thoughts and language are alienating and obscure making it more difficult to connect with him, whereas Molly in her simplification of language and her general positivity and passion for life and beauty makes you gravitate towards her). I love the way the book connects her to the moon, controlling the waters, the stream of life; life giver, water carrier. I love the fact that she loves her own imperfect body and is comfortable in her own personality. I also think she might bipolar. Everything just connects with everything else, it’s insane. There’s just so much to chew on once the book comes to a head. I’m still trying to work out the Shakespeare/Hamlet/Hamnet connection and asking myself where does Stephen go? In Portrait of an Artist Stephen talks about the aim of the artist is (don’t quote me on this) to pour himself into the pages, while at the same time rendering himself invisible, separate from the art) Is that what’s happening when Stephen walks off into the dark? One Odyssey ends (Bloom’s) and a new Odyssey begins (Stephen’s Odyssey to write a new Odyssey for Ireland). Or maybe it represents Joyce fading off into the cosmos/Finnegans Wake AFTER writing Ulysses. There’s too much for my tiny brain to digest but I will definitely read this book again within the next year. Thanks again for all your effort in making these videos, Chris. I have really enjoyed your ongoing commentary. You should be very proud - you’ve made a noble contribution in helping a younger generation get to grips with this work of genius.
It was so great for me to meet you, sort of, the other day. I was blown away that so many people came. You have a lot to be proud of. Your comments reflect that you really got it. Nothing is definitive. It is beautiful, like life. We do not know what happens next but I think Molly is done with Blazes and Bloom is a new man. I am just finishing my annual read and always leave Dublin with my head spinning too. Cheers to you!
Chris Reich thanks Chris, it was great to have that live connection with you and the other guys too. Personally I wasn’t surprised with the numbers - I bet more would have joined in you didn’t have the technical problems. I don’t think you realise how good your Ulysses videos are, Chris! I will definitely be following your videos going forward. I think I’ll pop over to Dublin to see my friends on Bloomsday next year. It would be nice to trace Bloom’s steps in the city, see Martello Tower and Sandymount strand with new eyes.
Congratulations on finishing your video series! I just wanted to say thank-you again - I had never read Ulysses or had any knowledge of it that made any sense to me prior to watching your videos and had two weeks to learn everything for an exam. Without your videos, there is no way I would have been able to produce an essay on Ulysses! I don't know if I've passed or not yet but I know my grade will be much less catastrophic thanks to you :) I have to say, I disliked Ulysses for its complexity, but I think I may try to give it a read for fun now!!
Ah, that's so nice. Thank you. Your comments along the way have been a huge help. This is a tough book to reduce to short (ahem) videos per chapter. You should be very proud for finishing! I congratulate you. Would you attend a video party? I'm trying to plan that. You are one of the first to join the odyssey!
I just finished watching all your videos on ulysses, they’ve benn a great help! I read the book before watching the series because I tried to figure something out on my own. Now I’m searching throught youtube looking for ulysses videos/documentaries and I think your material was the best I’ve seen so far. I also have an impression that you are such a sweet person. Massive thank you!!
Chris I did it! Finished today! I started the book in Sheffield and finished it in Bournemouth, UK. Thank you so much for all of your help with it, would never have finished it without you. Feel like it's my biggest covid lockdown accomplishment. Whilst reading this chapter, I couldnt help thinking that it sounded like a man trying to think like a woman... do you have information on how he wrote this chapter and whether he had any female input with writing it please?
This could be an interesting discussion. Nora was a pretty open minded woman and she and Jim exchanged some pretty X-rated letters. I think Joyce captured her voice rather well. That said, times have changed and perhaps that is what you sense? I would love your thoughts on this. As a male, I could be blind to the writing. What particular point sounds contrived? Thank you, Theresa.
In my opinion, Penelope is the episode requiring the least intellectual analysis. Read it slowly and try to feel what Molly is is expressing. If you immerse yourself, you'll get more from her words than any "expert". What do you think she is saying?
@@TeachUBusiness thanks Chris I am writing a PhD on Picasso ‘s women and Joyce women and I would need a philosophical approach I don’t know if there is something written on this
Yes, oysters supposedly increase desire, urge, potency. Probably because they are high in zinc. It serves well as evidence of what transpired and the kind of guy Blazes is. You did a great job. Was this read enjoyable for you?
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
Chris, I just finished the book today. I'm a 50 year old Dubliner (Born a spit away from Eccles Street). Born on Blooms Day!!! So it was a MUST thing for me to do. It took me over 1 year. You were fantastic help and I'm not sure I could have done it without you. Thank you. Neil
You have no idea how much your comments lift my spirit. We are in some rough times and knowing you made it through the book, being so close to it all, places I will never see, warms my heart. Thank you for taking the time to post your comments.
@@TeachUBusiness Chris. Thank you again and I sincerely hope you are surviving the C19 situation. Take Care
Dear Chris,
I feel a simple "thank you" is not enough
to express my gratitude towards the support I have received following your comments while reading Ulysses. I would risk banality or a repetition of the beautiful things that many of your admirers have already revealed in wonderful words and I fear I could never say in a better or different way.
Nevertheless, after being in your precious company for so many months, I do want to share with you a few of my feelings.
When I visited Dublin, quite long ago, with my girlfriend (now my wife) she was studying English literature and, as a Joyce fan, she imposed our first visit be Martello Tower at Sandybeach, Dublin! And there, at the Joyce Museum, I bought Ulysses! Well aware of the challenge expecting me, I desisted reading it, postponing the feat up to last summer. A rule my Latin teacher in school gave me: "never abandon reading a book you have started: every book is a journey of the soul, which mostly serves to discover more about one's inner world". To be sincere, after the third episode, for the first time I was about to break my teacher's rule! But then I found your videos, and thanks to you, my rule mantained its integrity! I found your comments relevant and impeccaple! I have made it all the way through, in spite the many difficulties as non native English speaker! Thank you Chris for having allowed me to discover secrets yet unknown of my very soul... thank you for making me feel internally more enriched...
Francesco Mazzucco, Formia, Italy.
That one of the most heart warming things anyone has ever said to me. Thank you so much for your very kind words! And now, it is my turn. You are to be commended for making it through your own odyssey! You must be very very bright my friend. I cannot imagine reading this book as a non native speaker. Thank you again for your comments.
Thank you Chris,as a Dubliner and involved in the Joyce Centre here.I encourage everyone to zoom into Ulysses for all directed by Dr.Caroline Elba.Happy Reading.Yes.
I have not read Ulysses in ten years but when teaching my child about modernism I mentioned the book and she later asked about reading it. And now we are working on it together. Your videos have helped me remember a lot and taught me even more. Thanks for this series.
I finished Ulysses today. You have been my friend through the process and I am so grateful for the help and inspiration you have given me. A big hug to you from Denmark!
Thanks!
Here I am, on June 16, seven years after buying (and start reading this book), two years after you uploading these videos, in the middle of a pandemic, finally finishing Ulysses.
I couldn’t make it without your enthusiastic comments on each episode and it really feels like you were part of this “odyssey”. As someone previously said, it was adorable.
Happy Bloomsday and thanks once more!
Congratulations and happy Blooms Day. You did it! Celebrate the day and the accomplishment. And thank you for your kind words!
I'm 24 and this was my first time reading Joyce's Ulysses and I can only say that this was an amazing Odyssey! Thank you Chris for your efforts to make the book more easy on us, I definetly enjoyed it and found gracefully subtle and profound meaning on it's pages.
Chris, You are a special gift. I've wanted to read Ulysses for 20 years. These videos truly carried me through one of the great monuments of human thought and experience. You made it possible. 1,000 thanks!
I waited until your midnight to wish you a fun and happy Blooms Day!!!!!! Congratulations and thank you so much for all your comments!
Hi Chris,
I cannot adequately describe in words my gratitude for what you have done in these videos. I am a 22-year old just about to finish college, and of my life so far reading this book has been one of the greatest joys. The happiness for life that this book has brought me would not have been possible without your help, and for that I thank you so much. I have learned from this book, with your help, the dangers of sentimentality, and the fact that never in my life will I be able to understand another human being quite in the way I do Leopold, Molly, and Stephen, and even they are a mystery to me. Compassion is something this book has in spades.
Recently, I have become somewhat disillusioned with modern literature and culture, of which there seems to be an almost pornographic portrayal of sadness. But this book is life affirming, even with all the suffering within it, and so with your help I have come to see Joyce as rather incomparable and with a value that I don’t feel I can find anywhere else. I think I shall make a tradition of reading this book every year.
So, thank you Chris for taking the time to make these videos. They were invaluable to me.
Conor
Chris,
Thank you so much for these videos. Ulysses has always been a a daunting “white whale” for me. I simply could not have gotten through this incredible story without your help. I started reading fittingly in Dublin this April on vacation. The time was now and your videos were not only enjoyable, and educational, but so helpful on the journey. Thank you and I hope all is well! May I suggest a reunion party for all of us late to the original party? I will certainly be recommending your videos to anyone I know that wants to embark on this journey. Thank You!
hey chris, just finished ulysses yesterday. for the past six months i've followed every episode in the novel with your videos, couldn't have done it without you. it was great to have someone to read it along with. thank you so much for this.
a series on finnegan's wake would be great !
thanks a lot.
I got through it. Phenomenal book, amazing how it incorporates its theme. It really did do something for me, its hard to describe, but the book ended perfectly and solidified that Bloom is not alone in the world, Molly appreciates that Bloom is so understanding of her and women in general, and how it goes from that to the beautiful scenery of her youth and when Bloom proposed to her. Fantastic. Really does make you think about life, and how Joyce wrote a loveletter to humanity in a sense. How life is an infinite cycle, we live and we pass away, and this will keep on happening. People will fall in love, just as Bloom and Molly did, it will keep happening throughout our time on the planet. Thank you for videos, it helped me greatly to understand a lot more than i normallt would have. This book will stick witv me for the rest of my life. Thank you. :) I dont usually comment on social media, but you deserve to know your impact. We are all grateful! Cheers!
Thank you for this series. I doubt I could have made it through the book without your videos.
I did it! After so many starts and stops I completed Ulysses! I am so grateful for these videos, Chris. Without them, I would never have finished this life-changing novel. I may reread it again one day but I can say with much confidence that given the mighty effort it took to read and understand Ulysses, there is no chance I will ever tackle Finnegan’s Wake 😅. Thank you Chris for all the help and encouragement!
I am approximately two years late - but this series has been so thoroughly enjoyable. Chris, you have been such a lovely virtual reading companion on this journey! Thank you for this series and your insights, it has definitely helped me get through such a dense (but incredible) novel ~
Thank you so much for leaving a comment! I am so glad you enjoyed the series. I am starting some new things in the next couple of weeks so please stay tuned!
I'm a late-comer to this wonderful adventure, but I just wanna say... Thank you. This was amazing. An amazing video series of an amazing piece of art. It was wonderful and a pleasure, and I'm honored to have been guided through this book by You, Sir.
Thank you so much from Italy! It took me more than one year to finish Ulysses, and it was totally worth it. If I would have forced myself and rushed it I wouldn't have enjoyed it so much. Ulysses is truly a novel that changes your life, if you can find a reason to go beyond its complexity, and your videos were part of my reason. For some chapters I really wanted to get to the end to listen to your comments (I remember struggling a lot with Wandering Rocks). So thank you again, it felt like having a friend reading the book with me!
Your help is gold ❤
Thank you Chris. I do have one regret. I may never have an opportunity to thank you in person. Best regards, Bernard
Bravo from Los Angeles. You got me through it all. I would’ve quit without you. You’ve kept everything interesting. And I am really sure you will help tons of people get through this for many years to come. Well done buddy!
Congratulations! You have climbed the toughest literary mountain known to humans. Bryan, thank you for your comments along the way. You have a lot to be proud of. When you look back, pick a chapter and read a paragraph and you'll be astounded at the feeling that comes over you of returning to a familiar place and you'll 'see' things you never saw before. Joyce gave us an amazing book and there is nothing else like it. Thank you again for your comments.
I really admire and love the way you explained with passion. Thx a lot😊
Hello Chris,
I have been watching your videos when I finished each of the chapters of the book. Every chapter finished, I watched your video. I cannot thank you the help, your point of view, It has been very very useful,
Today I have finished this book, I could not finish last year, but with a better preparation and your videos I have been able to finish and now this book is one of my favourites ever.
Thank you so much Chris
YES!YES!YES!! All done. Thanks for this guide, I’ve watched all of your videos
Amazing accomplishment. Very good. Congratulations!
Chris, you have been a happy and important part of this life-changing experience for me. i have watched all of your videos several times...your approach and mentorship, teaching, is unique: it truly comes from a place of love and deep appreciation. your introductory statement says it all so accurately, and simply. i love your humility, it is very very unusual. there are so many experts and mansplainers out there, not to write them off...but you are offering the reader something different. like the novel itself, you don't spell it all out...
your structure is great...the RUfF episodes all felt just a little too short...but you seemed to know not to make them too long. that's why i will keep going back.
thank you for all the work you have put into this...i won't go on...but THANK YOU.
Happy Bloomsday from Dublin, Ireland.
global.gotomeeting.com/join/789827509 I'm online now---Would love o meet you!
WOW! Thank you so much! It means a lot to me coming from Dublin! Thank you!
Hi Chris- I made it! My odyssey with this wonderful book wasn’t nearly as exciting as others that I’m reading. I owned a copy for about a month before I started reading it. The only interesting thing that happened during this journey was water spilling and ruining my copy, leading me to buying another (in some ways better) copy. All I really have to say is that you have opened up so much of this fantastic book to me, and I am infinitely grateful for it. As a 17 year old I can’t say I connected with every theme in the book, but I did find Bloom, and to a lesser extent Stephen, to be relatable, fantastic characters. This is definitely a book I’ll read over and over, and I’ll most likely return to this series.
Thank you
Many, many thanks!!! These videos help a lot!!
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoyed your odyssey!
Thank you for taking this journey with me Chris. You've made it understandable and enjoyable.
Chris, I have just finished Ulysses with your guidance and insights. It's 2022 so years after your original RUclips episodes.
Thank you with immense gratitude for your efforts and humor.
I am grateful for your comment! Congratulations on a big accomplishment in completing your own odyssey.
These videos helped loads with my reading. I thank you so much and I"m eternally grateful you took the time to make them.
End of the book. Wonderful, unique, hard, sensual and deep.
It will be placed on my favourite books shelf for sure.
I was able to make it to the end accompanied by your patient, warm, clever guidance.
This time, even though I missed the party you organised some time ago, ...SLAINTE !!! To you, Mr. Chris!!!
THANKS!!!!
SLAINTE to you Andrea! Congratulations! You finished what might be the most difficult book AND you enjoyed it! We MUST have another party this year! Please stay tuned, we have more ahead for you! Best to you, Chris
@@TeachUBusiness Yes!!! I'll stay tuned!! Let me know if there issome other material you've analysed to follow you again!!!
Thank you so much for these videos!
Your enthusiasm made reading Ulysses a joy. I had tried before and it was too much. Much gratitude to you for all the care you put into these videos.
Thank you so much for this series. I went through the book almost exclusively with these videos. It was easy to get bogged down with the other million sources, so I decided to just go with your videos. The approach in this series worked great as acompanion piece. I really liked the down-to-earth approach and your enthusiasm!
Thank you! That means a lot to me. It was a big project to talk through this book. Welcome to the club of those who actually finish the book! May I ask where you are located? (My personal interest) Thank you again!
Chris Reich The location is Denmark :) - By the way, for my read I did a combination of the ebook and the audiobook by Jim Norton. I highly recommend the audiobook, and it even had a female narrator for Molly’s episode. Was often hilarious to hear Joyce’s prose spoken out loud.
Regards,
Chris
I can't begin to express how helpful this videos have been. I don't think I would have made it through without them (I have failed many times before). Thank you Chris, greetings from Argentina!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I just now finished the book, after two years of chipping away at it in small pieces. It would have taken far, far longer than two years without these guides.
I'd gone from studying Portrait to diving into this, thinking it was going to be as easy reading as Portrait. Found myself to be wildly mistaken when I came across "ineluctable modality of the visible" - I almost set it down for good right there. But then I found your videos, watched them, then went back and re-read 1-3 and finally got it. Life got in the way at Chapters 6 and 9 and I stopped reading for a while as it became a chore and I wanted to wait until I could enjoy it. I've been chipping away at it these last few weeks and am so thrilled to have completed this odyssey and to have had your wisdom on the way. Thank you so much!!!!
Congratulations! YOU did it! It hope you enjoyed the book. It's a chore but Joyce packs so much into every chapter we have to be in awe at the skill. You have much to be proud of for making it through! That puts you in an elite class of readers. Thank you so much for your very kind comments. I wish the videos were easier for people to find. Your comments help and give me a huge boost. Thank you. Stay safe and well.
It has been a great journey, you made reading the book so much easier. Thank you 😊
Greatest video series of all time for this book, easily. Just went through it and couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for all you’ve done. Hope you are well!
Thank you so much for your kind words! Congratulations! You DID IT! I hope it was fun.
@@TeachUBusiness we did! Your videos helped me get 10x more meaning out of the text than I would have going in blind. I am actually rather sad it’s over now 😢 already looking forward to the next re-read with all the knowledge of the characters, themes, and styles 🙂
Great Chris. On infinity and the Liffey, Finnegans Wake begins in the middle of a sentence ('riverrun, past Eve and Adam's...') which is a continuation of the last sentence of the novel making an infinite circle of the book.
Thank you so much. I hope you enjoyed your own odyssey! Thank you for commenting.
Thank you so much, Chris, for these amazing months. I went through Ulysses guided by your videos. It definitely is one of the best books of all time and your light at it was unique.
Well Mr Reich, I want to extend my sincere thanks for putting this series together. It helped me enormously and I finished the book this morning. It is magnificent. Thank you again from A Coruña in Spain!
Thank you chris! loved it! Can't stop thinking about how every day has enough content to merit an amazing novel. every day is an odyssey.
Your comment is RIGHT ON! BTW, Thank you SO MUCH for the very thoughtful letter. I can't tell you how much I appreciate hearing from you. Thank you so much. Chris
Thank you Chris! I wouldn't have enjoyed the book nearly as much if not for these videos. You're passion for the book is contagious and inspiring. Hope you are well and Congratulations on a truly remarkable accomplishment.
Thank you, Josh! I hope you enjoyed the journey. Take care, stay safe, be well.
Thank you so much Chris. This was wonderful help!
finished your series now slowly reading through the final episode gleaning as much insight and especially joy from the magnificent writing you so movingly illuminated thank you for your wonderful commentaries you made my JomesJayce (sic) experience deeply rewarding now as when i finish the book i will miss the bloomermollystephanites and also with gratitudinationappreciation the "rich" fellow who made my bloomsday. Peace.
You’ve done magnificently. I’ve loved your passion and love of the book. Phenomenal. 👏👏👏👏👏
Many thanks for your insightful, well-conceived videos. 'Ulysses' is easily the most complex, erudite and insightful fictional work I've ever read. I especially enjoyed 'Ithaca', 'Circe' (bizarre, but fascinating) and 'Hades'. The last few pages of 'Penelope" were among the most beautiful I have ever read. I will confess, however, to having been very confused and frustrated at times. 'Scylla and Charybdis' and 'Oxen of the Sun' were particularly difficult; indeed, there were moments during these episodes when I was tempted to throw in the towel. I appreciated the conceptual brilliance of the latter, but struggled mightily with the language. Here's the strange thing: There were times when I swore one reading of this modernist beast would be enough. But, upon finally completing the book, I now want to read it again (after an adequate recovery period). Once again, thanks for your splendid videos. I never would have read that final "Yes." without them.
Amazing ...just finished it tonight ...thanks for the videos....much sppreciated
I finished ulysess today after 7 months of reading. Thank you so much for this series, i probably wouldnt understand halve of what i did without it
Thanks Chris. Your help was tremendous. Just finished.
I'm on sentence 6. I'll never finish this thing. Thank you for the insight. This is a great help.
Thank you. I just finished the novel last night around 2 in the morning and it really hit me... You’re videos and insights have been absolutely fantastic. I can’t wait to reread this for Bloomsday.
Thank you! Congratulations on completing your own odyssey! Your words mean a lot to me and I appreciate that you took the time to comment. If you pick up the book and start reading a random page, you'll be surprised at how new things open up. It's a very strange book in that way. I hope to hear more from you! Cheers!
Chris, you made it great!! Thanks and congratulations! Blanca from Mexico City...just about to finish Ulysses!!
Thank You for your hard work.
Read it for the pleasure! Thank you for your kind words!
@@TeachUBusiness Just completed it. Enjoyed a lot. Thanks for reminding everyone that enjoying literature is more important than any other thing for a reader.
Chris, Thank you so much for your videos. Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is one of my favorite books, and I wanted to read Ulysses for a long time, but I put it off because I knew I would have to devote a great deal of time getting through it if I wanted to read it with a decent level of understanding. I am on the final pages of the novel now. Your videos helped me get through the novel, understand it, and enjoy it. Thanks for putting them together. I am going to reread the Proteus chapter as soon as I am finished, as it's one of my favorites, and I know I will be a lifelong reader of Ulysses and will be back to view your videos. Thanks again!
Thank you very much, Chris. God bless.
Hi Chris! A big thank you a happy Bloomsday 2020 from me and from our group in Dublin - we read a chapter a month and met in the relevant spot in Dublin to discuss the chapter, it's been such fun, and your videos were a big part of making it fun and accessible. well done.
We'll be back in June again soon! Let's do it again!
Genuinely emotional watching this final video in the series, Chris!!! You've become a huge part of my odyssey through reading this book and I talk about your videos constantly to anyone who'll listen ... After 8 years since my first try and 2 further failed attempts at getting past page 100, I finally finished Ulysses this evening. Im from about 30 minutes down the road from Dublin, so I always felt this book was something I "had to do" as a keen reader ... But it became a bit of a chore or duty then and I couldn't even enjoy it. But all that changed by watching your videos as I went along ... You made it so enjoyable 😊
As i said on a previous video of yours, you've democratised Joyce in a truly unique way. This is what I feel the Internet is for; giving intelligent, unpretentious and sincere people like yourself the platform to share information with people around the world.
I've also started reading some Virginia Wolff and bought the Rain King too based on your recommendations!!
I am eternally grateful for your videos Chris, thanks so much. Yes, Yes, Yes!!! 😊
THANK YOU!!! I truly love your comment. It means a lot to me. Also, I am NOW able to make more videos so I hope you will participate. Thank you again for your support. Chris
Thank you Chris. I finished it this week. Enjoyed dipping into your videos - their insights helped me get deeper in my experience of the book. Appreciate it so much!
Congratulations Chris on finishing this series, these videos are invaluable for us "to-be" readers of Ulysses, and we thank you for offering is this very accesible guide for a very inaccesible book.
Ah gee, thanks. I appreciate that very much. This has been a learning odyssey for me as well. If you gain some pleasure in the book, the goal was reached. It's rewarding to hear from so many people. Thank you for taking the time to comment. Do you mind if I ask where you are located?
Sorry for talking so long to respond, I had forgotten about your question. I live in Greece.
Iasonas Xd Thank you so much! I enjoy knowing where readers are located. It is a lesson in itself that we all have more in common than we have differences. The humanities make us human. Your participation is valued very much.
I did it! I finished Ulysses, and I can't thank you enough for the support and encouragement your videos have given me throughout my odyssey. I could never have completed this journey without them!
I think that my experience of Penelope was very different to that of other readers, and different to what I was expecting. Despite being frequently moved by Joyce's beautiful writing, this final epispde left me feeling sad. Molly's want for attention is a universal human need, and one that, as Joyce illustrates, we sadly often have to demean ourselves and give up parts of ourselves to get, Molly allowing her husband to drink from her for example, and literally walking through dung to fulfil his fantasies. Like her long, unpunctuated sentences, our search for acceptance can feel desperate and exhausting, like the weary, writhing weeds of Proteus. Throughout the novel sexual acts appeared to me not an expression of love but an assertion of power. In this episode the description of Molly's experience with Boylan was particualrly aggressive, using words that bring to mind an attack, such as 'brute', 'crowbar', 'iron'. Bloom is also described as coercing Molly into certain acts through being 'so persevering,' and she herself remembers 'tormenting the life out of' Harry. In this context, despite the romantic surroundings, Molly's final 'yes' felt to me like resignation, giving up on the dream of being truly cared for, accepting that it was 'as well him as another.'
Wow! That's a great analysis of the final episode. Penelope has always left me a little cold and empty except I do believe the final "Yes" to be an affirmation and not a resignation. Molly got some satisfaction from Boylan but she does have a heart for Bloom despite her tolerance for his appetites. I think she likes that he is more assertive (wants breakfast) and she sees the possibilities of Stephen spending time in their home. Molly is not truly attracted to the brute, Boylan, but she did enjoy both the attention and, I believe, the sex. At the end of the day, I feel like both have dealt with their own demons in this day and both are turning toward each other for the next chapter of life.
Sex has an undeniable power component though that isn't all it is. I think both sexes use their powers to meet needs. Molly can command attention and gifts using hers, Boylan can feel dominant in his sexual expression, and Bloom relieves some of his, what, perversity? It's hard to say as sexuality is probably the most guarded and complex of our human emotions.
In the end, I don't see Molly as a victim as much as someone who took action to get what she wanted. And, I do believe that final 'Yes' is an affirmation not only for her rekindling of affections for Bloom, but for all of us to affirm life. Life for all it's complications is....well, worth it. Yes. Thank you so much, Rachel!
@@TeachUBusiness Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I reread the last pages with this in mind and felt so differently about Molly's final words, particularly when comparing this to her introduction in Calypso, grunting 'mn,' an indistinct no.
As you say, Molly is not a victim. She has experienced disappointments, frustration and pain, not only in her marriage, but as a friend, a lover and a mother, but she has been able to accept these and she has made a choice to move forward, to live. Of course none of us can know what will happen next in the Blooms' lives or in our own, but every day, every moment, is an opportunity to make a choice to live, to say yes.
Thank you so much for helping me to find this understanding, for being such an important part of this journey, and for making me glad I made the choice to say yes to reading Ulysses!
Leaving a comment to say thankyou so much for the series, it's been a massive help throughout my reading of the book and a real source of comfort and cozyness to sit back and listen to you speak following each episode and for providing the bigger picture.
Thanks for the videos. They provided great encouragement and clarity as I made my way through the entire book after two previous attempts. Once again thanks and once again yes to read again yes in a year or two. Yes.
Muchas gracias Chris, big hug, desde Montevideo , uruguay
Thank you Chris for your great videos. They were fun to watch and very helpful. You gave great insight and reason to finish the book :)
All I can say is: thank you so much. Your enthusiasm and smarts got me through a book I never dreamt I'd finish....or understand. How does this great book stand up to second readings?
You will discover that we have just scratched the surface and that the book will open new things every time you read it. I would say to start by thinking about your favorite chapter and read that; you'll see so much more and it will be hard to put it down. From here out, you will have this book as part of you. Every time you open it, you will get a weird sensation of going to a place that is familiar.
Thank you very, very much for all of your interaction and comments along the way. Sharing your journey will help other readers. Thank you so much.
Chris, THANK YOU! Thanks to you I finished the book today! ❤️And I loved every page!
Your encouragement helped me so much... Thank you!!! I already want to read Ulysses again... I love your channel! And I hope that you had a wonderful Bloomsday this year!
Congratulations! That is a huge accomplishment. I hope you enjoyed your journey through the book. There are some really tough parts. Someday, pick it up and read a random page and see how you feel. I'll bet it touches you. Take care and thank you for commenting.
Thank you so much! It was really great! You did a great job!
Thanks! from Sheffield (UK) - I totally agree that a book doesn't have to be disected to death in order to be enjoyed, but I felt pretty disoriented after the Circe episode and came across your channel then. After backtracking through all your videos I've taken far more from the book than I would have otherwise. Looking forward to any further literature you decide to cover! And "road to lisdoonvana" is a nice touch as an intro
Congratulations! This is the Mt. Everest of books and you should be proud for making it through! Thank you so much for your comments! I tried to add 'flavor' to the videos. I'm waiting for an upgrade to my internet. It takes 13 hours to upload one of these videos. That's very impractical. When I get fiber installed, it will cut that to around an hour. Stay tuned! I have lots of plans! And thank you! Stay safe, mate.
Alastair, I'm about to finish the book and live in Sheffield too! We could meet up in a pub and swap notes if you're interested. No pressure though.. only an idea. We could just meet for a pint on Bloomsdays? Ha
Hi - that sounds good! Next Bloomsday's a while away though :)
It really is amazing how he shows us how the little things, gestures, a glance, or even the absence of a response can communicate so much.
Just finished Penelope! Thanks for everything. Your videos have been a huge help. I hope to go to Dublin next year for Bloomsday :-)
Thank you Chris for your heartfelt videos, took me the summer to get through them (had to read the chapters first); very helpful throughout. I would have done it without you but it wouldn't have been the same 🙂
And now the other infinite cycle begins, me reading Ulysses over and over ad infinitum. Thanks again for these invaluable videos Chris!
this was great Chris, I really liked your interpretation. I think the differences in how a person thinks is what really struck me, and the difference in how Molly's stream of consciousness felt really brought home what the whole book was doing. Id say I only understood about a quarter of it though so hopefully I'll re-read over the years
Thank you SO much, Chris. I couldn't have read it and enjoyed it as much without your videos. You helped me make sense of much of it and also reassured me when I couldn't. Sláinte!
Yes! I finish the book! Thank you so much for your videos! Thanks for sharing your passion! Yes!
You are so welcome!
Thank you so much for this video series. You made the book approachable and fun, and most of all completeable! Incredible work, much appreciated!
Just finished last night. What a great episode and what a great book. Hate that it came to end. I believe Molly says at one point, something to the effect of that it is Blooms fault for her affair. I think that Molly is into the affair with Boylan but is comfortable and emotionally attached to Bloom. Great way to kick off 2019 with completing my first goal of 2019...to read Ulysses. Now to research and figure out why my 1934 first publication, first print does not have a giant period at the end of episode 17! And of course, to order a paper copy for future periodic reading. Thank you for your educational assistance along this journey.
Congratulations! You have climbed the literary mountain of mountains. I hope you had fun as well as gained a sense of accomplishment. I wish I had trophies to give. Molly meets her physical and emotional need to be desired with Boylan. I believe that she sees a change in ole Bloom and likes his demand for breakfast. While things won't be perfect, the Blooms are starting a new chapter and they will remain together, and stronger. With all the philosophy, history, and obscurity in the book, it is a testament to Joyce that he concludes with the most basic sentiment of all. People are flawed but they have an amazing ability to overcome. Stephen walk into the dark, his work as Joyce's immature alter ego is done. The boy in the first act of life is the mature man of act 3. Yes.
Chris Reich I believe you are spot on with your analyses.
Hey Chris, like many others here I just wanted to express a very heartfelt thank you. I've been on a kind of Joyce odyssey for the past year but always found Ulysses so intimidating. Your videos were absolutely invaluable to unlocking and allowing me to enjoy the book & I think I can now say it's my favorite as well.
I'm on my second read through now and it's been so incredibly rewarding. My new project has been putting together a playlist of all the musical allusions in the book. Needless to say, learning about the music has added even more layers and made my experience of the book that much richer. Thank you so much for taking the time to make these videos!
p.s. My partner hasn't read any of Ulysses and only knows what I've rambled on to her about, but she loves your videos too and it was a really nice way for us to pass some time at home, so thanks also for helping us stay sane!
Beautiful finale. Thank you for everything, helping us to get to the big "Yes!"
Michael Goldenberg Congratulations! You did it man! I am so happy to hear from people who actually finished the book for the first time. Thank you, Michael.
I considered waiting until June 16th, but momentum carried me through much sooner.
Michael Goldenberg I think the 16th is the perfect day to have a party.
It's just so beautiful
Chris! I think they do make it! Yes ,, yes . Yes. LOVE ......And you know and can put it together so completely!
This video made me so emotional at the end I cried at the end. Thank you so much Chris for your time, energy, and pouring your heart into these videos. I hope to re-visit this book again one day and will remember to come back to your channel. Love, Julie.
Thank you so much! You words mean a lot to me. Stay tuned!
Hello Chris, from London England. I just want to really thank you for these videos .
I found that watching the first 5 minutes of each video, before I would read the relevant chapter, to understand the context from the Odyssey really helped with my comprehension and I would subsequently follow up with the remainder of each video after finishing the last page almost to test myself with how much I did (or sometimes didn’t pick up). Your videos were informative and also fundamentally playful, and in the same sense that Bloom walked parallel arm in arm with Stephen back home, it felt a genuine comfort to experience that with you.
For the book itself, I feel that finishing on such a simple, yet powerful word such as ‘yes’ highlights the genius of Joyce - what a joy.
That sounds like a great strategy. I am so happy that you enjoyed the book. Reading Ulysses for fun. That is the goal and it sounds like you had fun. I hope to be making more videos as soon as I get my internet upgraded. Thank you for commenting. Stay in touch.
Like many others before me, I want to thank you for your nice video's. Without them I would not have reached the end of Ulysses. I must reckon I read some pages (too) fast. So a second reading is necessary (some other time in the future). And some pages were terrible, mostly those enumerations. But, it is an uncredibale work of art. And your video's gave me a lot of fun, seeing your happy smiling face and tinckling eyes in your studio.
Thanks and keep up ten good work for art and literature.
Guido Wolfs / The Netherlands.
Thank you so much. Your words mean a lot to me. Now that the work is over, try picking a random chapter and just read a few lines for fun. You will be surprised at how much you know!
Beautiful. Thank you. I am writing from Sweden, and have read the book in Swedish, with your videos always at hand. The language is more complicated than you may think, and perhaps I would not have made it in English. My translation from 2012, by Erik Andersson, is considered to be very good. (My father had the first translation, from 1946, titled "Odysseus". I consulted it at times to check on some words.) I bought the book a few hears ago but did not get started. The covid-19 summer has been a good opportunity to spend a lot of time with Ulysses. It took more than a month. I have started to read it a second time, now more carefully and at a slower pace. I enjoy it. One may well read it for fun! Grateful for all the effort you have put into this project! Anne
Greeting from California. Thank you for taking the time to comment. I love what you wrote! Thank you so much. You are encouraging others to take on the book. Take care and stay tuned for more, hopefully interesting, content.
After reading Ulysses for the second time, I enjoy it even more. I find myself reading with a smile, there is so much humour. And when I look through other people's comments, I find that many others have spent this covid summer reading Ulysses, just as I did. (So you were quite farsighted in preparing these videos 2 years ago.) Before choosing to follow your videos in June, i looked around for a guide to Ulysses, and found none that were as interesting and well made as yours. It is also your personal tone that stands out. Thanks again. Anne
yes thank you for leading us through this amazing book This closure video on the series ends with a similarly affirmative conclusion as did Ulysses itself Well done chris i and many others really owe you i am going to have my bachelors oral examination partly on Ulysses and feel much more prepared after always seeking the guidance you provided us with thanks a lot and greetings from Germany.
Thank you. Your comments mean a lot to me. Congratulations! Let me know how you do!
Hey Chris ! just wanted to say love ya thx u so much for ur help and overall wholesomeness; struggled with this book being only 17 and not a native eng speaker, but you made this book so much more manageable, and i had so much fun i just closed the final page ten seconds ago after picking it up 3 weeks ago and i truly think this is the best novel ive ever read; thank u for sharing this with us! if u ever make a video on Finnegans - or just about anything honestly listening to ur thoughts are a delight - ill be here!
Love from Paris (:
Hello, Chris!
Now, the book is over, but I don't feel like it is. I believe, one cannot really finish "Ulysses". No matter how many times you read it, there's still something new for you 🌌 like in the starry night sky. Once you've seen it you know you'll never get enough of it.
I am very grateful that I have had you by my side all the way through this reading journey ❤️ the sparkle in your eyes was truly enlightening ✨ thank you!
Hope, you and your dearest ones are safe now. Take care and thank you again ☺️
I decided to reread Ulysses as one of the things to do during this virus lock down. I came across your video series and I want to thank you. Your insights made this time round with the book so enjoyable. I live in the eye of the storm of this awful happening here in Manhattan and having Joyce and you as my companions for the last 6 weeks has been a spiritual blessing.
That means more to me than I can ever express. Thank you so much for taking your time to comment. When I made the videos, I had no idea that a year later the world would be so different. Stay safe and thank you, Paul.
@@TeachUBusiness Will do. You're welcome.
Beautiful.Thank you. I am writing from Sweden, and have read the book in Swedish, with your videos always at hand. The language is more complicated than you may think, and perhaps I would not have made it in English. My translation from 2012, by Erik Andersson, is considered to be very good. (My father had the first translation, from 1946, titled "Odysseus". I consulted it at times to check on some words.) I bought the book a few years ago but did not get started. The covid-19 summer has been a good opportunity to spend a lot of time with Ulysses. It took more than a month. I have started to read it a second time, now more carefully and at a slower pace. I enjoy it. One may well read the book for fun! Grateful for all the effort you have put into this project! Anne
Very interesting. I was drawn to this video via autoplay when I was looking up Joyce after watching Back to School. Rodneyfield passes the Great Gatsby test, enjoys Yes, win hoolhan. Sort of like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Not a Fake Gatsby with veneer.
Thank you. I finished the book for the first time. I would not have made it through without these videos. I know I will return to the book at some point and will certainly watch these videos again as well. Thanks again. I really enjoyed it.
Congratulations! That is a huge accomplishment. What pleases me most is that you enjoyed it. That is the nicest thing I heard all day today. Thank you!
The question I was left with at the end, I read the chapter and then watched the video. But after the video I was left with the question “is bloom Capable of forgiveness?” And the answer to that is yes. Whether or not they stay together, Bloom can forgive and they can move on together or not.
Well I finally got there! I’ve now read Ulysses for the first time. I feel like I’ll need to let everything sink in for a week or so before i can piece together a lot of the pieces of the puzzle. Do we have a new holy trinity at the end, in Stephen, Bloom and Molly, for a more secular modern future? Symbols of the Father, son and Holy Spirit? In the final pages it struck me that Stephen’s phobia of water might be a symbol of his inability to let go and immerse himself in the stream of life like Molly has(which I think is highlighted by the contrast in the stream of consciousness of the two - Stephen’s thoughts and language are alienating and obscure making it more difficult to connect with him, whereas Molly in her simplification of language and her general positivity and passion for life and beauty makes you gravitate towards her). I love the way the book connects her to the moon, controlling the waters, the stream of life; life giver, water carrier. I love the fact that she loves her own imperfect body and is comfortable in her own personality. I also think she might bipolar. Everything just connects with everything else, it’s insane.
There’s just so much to chew on once the book comes to a head. I’m still trying to work out the Shakespeare/Hamlet/Hamnet connection and asking myself where does Stephen go? In Portrait of an Artist Stephen talks about the aim of the artist is (don’t quote me on this) to pour himself into the pages, while at the same time rendering himself invisible, separate from the art) Is that what’s happening when Stephen walks off into the dark? One Odyssey ends (Bloom’s) and a new Odyssey begins (Stephen’s Odyssey to write a new Odyssey for Ireland). Or maybe it represents Joyce fading off into the cosmos/Finnegans Wake AFTER writing Ulysses. There’s too much for my tiny brain to digest but I will definitely read this book again within the next year.
Thanks again for all your effort in making these videos, Chris. I have really enjoyed your ongoing commentary. You should be very proud - you’ve made a noble contribution in helping a younger generation get to grips with this work of genius.
It was so great for me to meet you, sort of, the other day. I was blown away that so many people came. You have a lot to be proud of. Your comments reflect that you really got it. Nothing is definitive. It is beautiful, like life. We do not know what happens next but I think Molly is done with Blazes and Bloom is a new man. I am just finishing my annual read and always leave Dublin with my head spinning too. Cheers to you!
Chris Reich thanks Chris, it was great to have that live connection with you and the other guys too. Personally I wasn’t surprised with the numbers - I bet more would have joined in you didn’t have the technical problems. I don’t think you realise how good your Ulysses videos are, Chris! I will definitely be following your videos going forward. I think I’ll pop over to Dublin to see my friends on Bloomsday next year. It would be nice to trace Bloom’s steps in the city, see Martello Tower and Sandymount strand with new eyes.
Congratulations on finishing your video series! I just wanted to say thank-you again - I had never read Ulysses or had any knowledge of it that made any sense to me prior to watching your videos and had two weeks to learn everything for an exam. Without your videos, there is no way I would have been able to produce an essay on Ulysses! I don't know if I've passed or not yet but I know my grade will be much less catastrophic thanks to you :)
I have to say, I disliked Ulysses for its complexity, but I think I may try to give it a read for fun now!!
Ah, that's so nice. Thank you. Your comments along the way have been a huge help. This is a tough book to reduce to short (ahem) videos per chapter. You should be very proud for finishing! I congratulate you. Would you attend a video party? I'm trying to plan that. You are one of the first to join the odyssey!
I just finished watching all your videos on ulysses, they’ve benn a great help! I read the book before watching the series because I tried to figure something out on my own. Now I’m searching throught youtube looking for ulysses videos/documentaries and I think your material was the best I’ve seen so far. I also have an impression that you are such a sweet person. Massive thank you!!
Now I blush. Thank you so much. I think you must be brilliant to go through Ulysses! Congratulations. I hope you enjoyed your journey.
it was a great challange, I was struggling but enjoyed it. And your videos helped a lot afterwards :)
Done it! Finished! Yes.
Thanks a lot.
You have a LOT to be proud of! Congratulations!!!
Chris I did it! Finished today! I started the book in Sheffield and finished it in Bournemouth, UK. Thank you so much for all of your help with it, would never have finished it without you. Feel like it's my biggest covid lockdown accomplishment. Whilst reading this chapter, I couldnt help thinking that it sounded like a man trying to think like a woman... do you have information on how he wrote this chapter and whether he had any female input with writing it please?
This could be an interesting discussion. Nora was a pretty open minded woman and she and Jim exchanged some pretty X-rated letters. I think Joyce captured her voice rather well. That said, times have changed and perhaps that is what you sense? I would love your thoughts on this. As a male, I could be blind to the writing. What particular point sounds contrived? Thank you, Theresa.
And on his wise shoulders through the checker work of leaves the sun flung spangles, dancing coins.
Chris can you recommend me a good book that analyses Penelope ? Thanks
In my opinion, Penelope is the episode requiring the least intellectual analysis. Read it slowly and try to feel what Molly is is expressing. If you immerse yourself, you'll get more from her words than any "expert". What do you think she is saying?
@@TeachUBusiness thanks Chris I am writing a PhD on Picasso ‘s women and Joyce women and I would need a philosophical approach I don’t know if there is something written on this
I never understood the symbolism of oysters. Desire? Lust? Covetousness?
Yes, oysters supposedly increase desire, urge, potency. Probably because they are high in zinc. It serves well as evidence of what transpired and the kind of guy Blazes is. You did a great job. Was this read enjoyable for you?