About a third of the way through this book already and it's truly spellbinding. Ellmann has a deep understanding and admiration for Joyce's remarkable skill, charming exuberance, and sheer analytical power.

Moreover, he doesn't overlook the fact that Joyce drove his loved ones, companions, and almost all his contemporaries completely crazy.

The Joyce I've been getting to know is someone well worth reading about, even if he weren't the greatest writer of the 20th Century (despite my own bias).

I'm definitely going to have to obtain Ellmann's "Yeats" and "Wilde" at some point in the future.

He writes with a refined grace and sophisticated irony, showing a genuine respect for the creative output of a highly enlightened man. The organization of the book, considering its massive topic, is elegant and easy to understand.

A scholarly volume that reads like a novel and has all its empirical facts in order? Absolutely yes!

.....Now about halfway through and it hasn't lost its momentum. The reader is now privy to all the rather questionable aspects of Joyce's character (perhaps even to the same extent as his friends and family were!), but the anecdotes (Joyce was a tall and ungainly man, and a voracious drinker. His "spider dance" must have been hilarious) and witticisms are truly priceless. And when they shed light on Joyce's prose works, well... that's just extraordinary.....

Do you want to have a profound understanding of James Joyce? Then this is the book that you must read. It is truly detailed, leaving no stone unturned in presenting Joyce's life and works. What's more, it is not afraid to expose Joyce's many human foibles, showing a more real and three-dimensional image of him.

Frequently, the author ties the people in Joyce's real life to his fictional characters in a descriptive and accurate way. This not only helps readers better understand the source and inspiration of Joyce's characters but also allows them to have a deeper understanding of Joyce's creative process and the social and cultural background at that time.

In short, this book is an excellent introduction to James Joyce, suitable for both beginners and those who have already had some understanding of Joyce. It will definitely bring you a new reading experience and a deeper understanding of this great writer.

Previous training and hubris had led me to walk blindly into the Joycean buzzsaw.

In the summer of 1994, I was in the process of recovering from knee surgery. The pain in my knee was like a constant reminder of my vulnerability. At the same time, I was dealing with the aftermath of a bad relationship that had hit me right in the solar plexus. It felt as if my heart was bruised and battered.

However, during those hot, heady, and hobbled days of that summer, I also discovered the World Cup. The excitement and passion of the games provided a welcome distraction from my physical and emotional pain. And then there was this tome, which became a wellspring of delight for me. It was like a precious gem that I could turn to whenever I needed a moment of escape and joy.

As I delved into the pages of this book, I was transported to another world, a world filled with wonder and beauty. It was a place where I could forget about my problems and simply lose myself in the story. The words on the page seemed to dance and come alive, captivating my imagination and making me forget about everything else.

Looking back now, I realize that this summer was a turning point in my life. It was a time when I faced my challenges head-on and emerged stronger and more resilient. And it was all thanks to the power of books, the World Cup, and the human spirit.

Don't bother,

as this is just a giant tomb and a definite yawner!

It seems to hold no excitement or mystery,

merely a vast and empty space.

The thought of exploring it doesn't bring any anticipation,

but rather a sense of boredom.

Why waste time on something that offers so little?

There are surely more interesting and engaging things to do.

Let's move on and find those instead,

leaving this uneventful tomb behind.

Who knows what awaits us in other places?

Maybe there are real treasures and adventures waiting,

far more captivating than this yawn-inducing giant tomb.