Ulysses Unbound: A Reader's Companion to James Joyce's Ulysses (The Florida James Joyce Series)

I have attempted to read Ulysses many times, only to be discouraged within a few pages by not knowing what was going on and the sheer weight of it. I never got much farther than "Stately, plump Buck Mulligan..." Now well into middle age, I decided to try again, but this time, abandoning the purist notion that I read the book with no outside help, I used this guidebook. And what a tremendous difference it made! I don't exaggerate when I say that this reader's companion made Ulysses not only approachable, but pretty enjoyable too.The book is divided into sections that correspond with the sections of Ulysses. Each section in the guide contains a summary of the action, explanation of the Homeric correspondences, an analysis of Joyce's style of the passage, a commentary, a glossary of notable references and another glossary of words and phrases. This brilliant arrangement allows the reader to delve as deeply into Ulysses as they care to, and I appreciated it a great deal.Since this was my first pass through Ulysses, I found it most helpful to read the summary, correspondences, commentary and style sections of the Guidebook before reading the paired section in the novel. I kept the guidebook handy for the glossaries, but in honesty didn't go too far into those, as I felt a bit overwhelmed by the whole novel and the process of digesting it.This guidebook opened up Ulysses for me in a wonderful way, enabling me to finish the novel, understand a great deal of it, and appreciate the sylistic experimentation going on in the different sections. Mr. Killeen's commentary and analysis are well written, interesting, engaging, and encouraging.Although I found the novel a bit of a slog, and I don't think I will be reading it again, I would have given up again if it weren't for this guidebook.Highly recommended, especially for those reading Ulysses for the first time.

Actually explains what is going on in the story. Also translates the random Latin, French, German, and Yiddish. TBH, the story (Ulysses by Joyce) is a mess by itself and a lot of modern readers probably will grow tired of it (it's a loooong book and not very engaging)...this book helped makes sense of it and made it enjoyable.

I ordered it arrived in good condition, perfect!

Free online cliff notes were more comprehensive and detailed to understand the subject!

If you had an interest in The Ice Man found in the Alps, this book presents the same archaeological findings if not better. The forensics involved in bog bodies are fascinating and anyone who has any interest in history, forensic science, death, disposal and ritual will not be disappointed.The book is written in an easily understandable layman's approach in mind to why and where these bodies are found, who they possibly were and how they ended up bogged (this is my term) to death. Think about it, why would anyone, knowing the topography, think "oh today I'm going to try to jump into the center of a bog and kill myself"? Another plus is that most bodies appear like they did when alive. Fascinating reading.

It's virtue is that it is not interminably lon g-winded

An excellent companion to Ulysses that enabled me to enjoy reading the text with an appreciation of its classical background and an understanding of the events described.

James Joyce es uno de los más importantes escritores del siglo XX- du lectura no es fácil, este libro ayuda a descifrarlo!

An indispensable introduction to Ulysses offering summaries and explanations of each chapter. I cannot imagine reading Ulysses without it.

Very helpful book.Would have liked a bit more interpretation/links to secondary literature/scholarly thought.