Finnegans Wake

[Worm of Despite]

Though it's not fantasy, it's certainly not reality. Anyway, I read the first page, laughing all the way through. I thought it was one of the most beautiful things I had ever read, though it was quite elusive to grasp its meaning. Rather, "quite" is a bit tame for describing this book. Here's a small example:

The fall (bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonner-
ronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthur-
nuk!) of a once wallstrait oldparr is retaled early in bed and later
on life down through all christian minstrelsy. The great fall of the
offwall entailed at such short notice the pftjschute of Finnegan,
erse solid man, that the humptyhillhead of humself prumptly sends
an unquiring one well to the west in quest of his tumptytumtoes:
and their upturnpikepointandplace is at the knock out in the park
where oranges have been laid to rust upon the green since dev-
linsfirst loved livvy.

What clashes here of wills gen wonts, oystrygods gaggin fishy-
gods! Brékkek Kékkek Kékkek Kékkek! Kóax Kóax Kóax! Ualu
Ualu Ualu! Quaouauh!

Mind you, this book is a bit over 600 pages long. Anybody got some insight on this book, or tried to read it? I know what it is about, from reading the interpretations and such, but I want to figure out how ANYBODY ever read this and got something from it. What's the technique for reading it?! I'd like to learn how!

[duchess of malfi]

Isn't there a play based on that book? Seems to me it was one some of my friends did back in high school, but I can't think of what it was called?

[The Leper Fairy]

Kinda looks like he had a gerbil walk all over the keyboard...

[Samadhi Foul]

Kinda looks like he had a gerbil walk all over the keyboard...

It does look like that. hehehe...

[birdandbear]

You're a braver man than I, trying to read that!! Based on that short quotation, Finnegan's Wake is now on my list of books never to read. I have a headache now, I'm going to bed.

[Samadhi Foul]

I think I'd like to read that though. It sounds enjoyable enough.

[MsMary]

LF, you are a brave individual, to tackle Finnegan's Wake.

I am a very big James Joyce fan, and have read everything else that he ever wrote, but this is one book I have not tackled yet.

The only way to read and understand the book is with a commentary. The same is true for Ulysses, which I have read a number of times. Joyce is very clever in his use of language, but it's not really possible to get the full impact of his writing without understanding the background and references.

~MsMary~