Maite Lopez

Loved this little pocket sized book. For starters, it’s the most concise and humorous plot summary of James Joyce’s epic novel Ulysses I’ve ever seen, with chapters distilled somewhat impossibly down to a short paragraph and cartoon on a single page, captioned with a quote. It is absolute simplicity in style married to the complexity and occasional opacity of Joyce. On the adjoining pages the book then gives suggestions for activities in Dublin that correspond to the fictional activities of good old Bloom, Dedalus, and the rest, as well as another quote and a fun fact. The center of the book has a nice little map that charts Bloom’s romp through Dublin over the course of his day.

Only a serious Joyce nut would do even a fraction of everything suggested or walk his entire route, but as Bloomsday is celebrated in Dublin every June 16 (see the wiki page!), these folks exist, and even if you’re not that hardcore, seeing at least some of the places and getting a better appreciation for Ulysses is enjoyable. Oh. And I love the copyright/publishing name “At it Again!”, an homage to my favorite chapter in the book.… (altro)