Bloomsday

[electricland]

Spotted on officialgaiman: One of the biggest events in the literary calendar - the centenary celebration of Bloomsday, 16 June, the day on which the events of James Joyce's Ulysses take place - has been seriously marred by a bitter struggle over copyright.

Stephen Joyce, the grandson and last surviving relative of the writer, has caused consternation by declaring that any public reading of what is regarded as the most influential novel of the 20th century will be a breach of copyright and cannot go ahead without permission and payment. Readings in both London and Dublin to launch the first ever unabridged audio CD of the book - the 22 discs last 27 hours - have been cancelled because of fears of litigation.

Hisss. (The discussion that follows the entry is interesting -- read it now, before it falls off the edge of the syndication world.)

Five (!) years ago my cousin Jen and I went to Ireland. Our first full day there -- we landed in Dublin -- happened to be Bloomsday, which is also Jen's birthday. I have wonderful memories of wandering around Dublin that day, taking in the scene, smiling as crowds of people in Edwardian dress sailed past on bicycles, listening to readings of Ulysses on street corners. If one greedy little killjoy can manage to squelch that, I say it's a damn shame.

(This reminds me that I still haven't made it all the way through Ulysses. Must tackle it again. I ran out of steam somewhere around the Sirens.)

Comments

[mickeytor.livejournal.com]

Ullysses has sort of been a thorn in my side this year as well. I made a New Years Resolution to read it, as well as the other 20 greatest books of the 20th century (per Modern Library).

The others have been easy so far - but this one is killer. So far, after 6 months, I'm on page 50.

Perhaps a discussion/support group is in order for this.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

I'm up for it!

Besides, it worked (http://www.electricpenguin.com/blatherings/lotr/) for ohiblather when she wanted to finally read Lord of the Rings. Perhaps this is a useful model.

[mickeytor.livejournal.com]

hmmm *wheels start turning*

[oblomova.livejournal.com]

It's sitting on my nightstand, but I just started "The Guns of August" and want to finish that first.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

That's right, remind me I haven't finished Paris 1919 EITHER...

[raithen.livejournal.com]

signs of people who did NOT do a lit degree at college.

To be clear: my point not that you guys aren't as well read as us lit grads. Rather, I think y'all may be BETTER read, because you keep at it after college.

Me, I have gone through a long period of self-forgiveness. If a book is too frustrating, I don't let it bother me, and read something else. I have had LOTS of experience with enforced completion of difficult texts. I am NOT willing to go there now. Whether or not this is a good attitude, I am unsure....

[mrs-cake.livejournal.com]

This may be blasphemous, but I hated Ulysses. And the Dubliners. Will be grateful for any explanation as to what all the fuss is about...

As to Stephen Joyce, though, what a git! And good on Neil for posting this link to Mark Twain on copyright: http://www.bpmlegal.com/cotwain.html

He was one cool guy.

[littlebluenote.livejournal.com]

i'd join it. i've been halfway through ulysses for the better part of a year.

- a stranger