91Èȱ¬

I know that this day is coming around every year. The 16th of June. Bloomsday. The day on which James Joyce's masterpiece "Ulysses" is set. Last year I thought I'd start reading it. I got as far as Chapter 1. It was a long chapter. And despite all the Joycean enthusiasts I talk to every year, I haven't started Chapter 2, and because I can't remember Chapter 1, I'm going to have to start re reading it. Now I feel trapped in a Groundhog Day Ulysses.ÌýBut now I've been given a Bloomsday 11thÌýHourÌýreprieve. Declan Kiberd,Ìýa Professor andÌýJoycean and author of "Ulysses and Us"Ìýhas told me to listen to it read.ÌýI've been really enjoying Jim Norton reading Gordon Bowker's biography of James Joyce onÌý91Èȱ¬ Radio 4 this week as the Book of the Week at 0945-1000. Bowker told me he loves it too, and actually recommended Norton to Radio 4, having listened to his audio book reading of Ulysses. So if it's good enough for Joyce's biographer then I'm away to buy it. And next year, I will be able to hold my head up high and say I've at least listened to the great book.Ìý