I Read Finnegans Wake So You Don’t Have To!
But, let me tell you now, this is no insightful academic assessment of what is perhaps the most perplexing, ambiguous and downright impenetrable work of literature known to man. One summer a couple of years ago, in-between writing my own novels of dubious quality, I fancied a bit of a literary challenge. I had participated in Bloomsday – an annual celebration of James Joyce’s other famed work, Ulysses – a few times and it struck me that maybe it was time to tackle the mighty Finnegans Wake. The idea of attempting an idiots guide (or, more appropriately, a guide by an idiot) came about after discussing my attempts at comprehension with friends.
And so this, Finnegans What?, a plaintive effort to decipher the indecipherable, was born. My method was a to read a chapter and then make notes about what I thought might be happening. These were originally posted weekly on my blog for the benefit of curious readers. So what we have here is a chapter-by-chapter explanation, as I read each in turn. This is my interpretation and musings on Joyce’s eponymous work, rather than any kind of instructional companion or serious analysis. Goodness knows, I’m not capable of that kind of high-minded literary endeavour. I’m just an ordinary person, reading Finnegans Wake.
And this is what I came up with.
Lucy Brazier 
I thought you would have finished it by now, *snicker*
Ooooh Susan! You cheeky bugger 😉 I could be at this sometime, methinks….
Cheeky moi? Never say it.
Never a truer thing was uttered. Which is certainly one of the reasons we are friends 🙂
😀
Good for you, Lucy, braving this one…and good for me so I won’t have to! I’m all for taking the lazy way out of situations that present themselves as unsavory. Hey, maybe you’ll convince a few of us to get a copy of this tome and read it ourselves?!
I would heartily recommend anyone at least having a go at it. I am only about a third of the way through, but there will be my own tips and suggestions for how to read it. It is a bit of an undertaking but I am approaching it light heartedly and sincerely hope no one expects too much more than a game attempt 🙂
Gee, I admire your even undertaking such a project (both the reading and the reviewing!)
I like a challenge! Although I may have bitten off more than I can chew – haha!
😉