Audio books go too fast for me. I have dipped into The Dubliners but not read in full. Frankly, I am somewhat ambivalent about Joyce. I lack the necessary patience, these days. Maybe had I been younger, when my patience with others' words was close to infinite. Ah well, I am sure his legacy will survive my ambivalence, obviously. Peake's Gormenghast, for example, I loved, aged 19; but now, on revisiting, I can't be bothered. Everything depends on attitude, eh?
Agreed, Andrew, what depends on audio books. There is one story, though, that I read four times to an audience, and when it came to the end could not stop crying, with tears running down my cheeks and snod in my nose. I then decided to not try it again, 'cause I know the same will happen. The story is "Counterparts" (2:23:28).
Thank you for the links. I much prefer to read than to hear. But, in the absence of the book, those videos, at least give you a small idea of what it's all about. Although I don't think that people are meant to understand James Joyce. Just to puzzle him out.
I prefer to read, too, Claude. Once I was given the complete "Tristram Shandy", once "Under the Milkwood". Several times I started the first CD, fell asleep, and never went on with the second. Still, I think audio-books are wonderful, especially for blind people.
Audio books go too fast for me. I have dipped into The Dubliners but not read in full. Frankly, I am somewhat ambivalent about Joyce. I lack the necessary patience, these days. Maybe had I been younger, when my patience with others' words was close to infinite. Ah well, I am sure his legacy will survive my ambivalence, obviously. Peake's Gormenghast, for example, I loved, aged 19; but now, on revisiting, I can't be bothered. Everything depends on attitude, eh?
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Andrew, what depends on audio books. There is one story, though, that I read four times to an audience, and when it came to the end could not stop crying, with tears running down my cheeks and snod in my nose. I then decided to not try it again, 'cause I know the same will happen. The story is "Counterparts" (2:23:28).
DeleteThank you for the links. I much prefer to read than to hear. But, in the absence of the book, those videos, at least give you a small idea of what it's all about.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I don't think that people are meant to understand James Joyce. Just to puzzle him out.
I prefer to read, too, Claude.
DeleteOnce I was given the complete "Tristram Shandy", once "Under the Milkwood". Several times I started the first CD, fell asleep, and never went on with the second.
Still, I think audio-books are wonderful, especially for blind people.