Struggling with Ulysses

Date Posted: 09.23.07

UG! This is so hard. I keep picking it and putting it down again. I am determined to read it but I am having a tough time getting past the first chapter. Naturally, this just makes me more annoyed. I don't like to think I "can't" read something. I can and I will.

A colleague of mine said that she and her husband took turns reading it aloud to each other and discussing it. She said the book wasn't necessarily enjoyable but she also said it was worth the effort.

I have been reading summaries and analyses of it online. That is helping some. I also ordered A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. It is supposed to be a slightly easier read and should help me get past the awkward stream-of-consciences style.

On a positive note, it does help me empathize with my students. Its easy for strong readers to forget how it feels to struggle. My students struggle every day. I need to be able to relate to that. I can't tell them to work through it if I am not willing to do so myself. I have been detailing my efforts and my frustrations to them as I go. They may not understand the books but they understand what its like to be overwhelmed by words.

Insert Small Moment of Self-pity ->
I wish I had someone to really talk about these books with. It is O.K. to write it down but another perspective would be nice.

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