HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JAMES JOYCE! His works got me hooked in my teens when I really related to his character Stephen Dedalus as he rejected his religion and indulged what I call his “young and pretentious side” in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916). I wore out my copy of Joyce’s novel Ulysses (1922) and continue to mark Bloom’s Day to this very day.
Over the years Finnegans Wake (1939) replaced Ulysses as my favorite Joyce novel and I’m fonder than many people are of his play Exiles (1918).
Naturally, I’m also into his “epiphanies” in Dubliners (1914) and, poetry geek that I am, even his volumes of verse Chamber Music (1907) and Pomes Penyeach (1927). Aside from the fully assembled version of Joyce’s poem Giacomo Joyce, I’m still uncommitted regarding his works published posthumously – the short stories The Cat and the Devil and The Cats of Copenhagen. And then there’s Finn’s Hotel, the collection of ten rough drafts of potential material for Finnegans Wake.
So, if you live in Ireland, say hello to Anna Livia Plurabelle for me today!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUNNY JEEM!
Balladeer's Blog 
I accompany you with all you said, dear friend. Happy birthday to this brilliant genius.
Thanks! I agree about him!
This is a man I just didn’t understand. I wonder what it was like to live inside his brain!!
Yes, that would have been an experience!
I read “Dubliners” not long ago and it was an interesting slice of Irish life. I’m not sure what else of his I have on the reader right now …
Yes, I enjoyed Dubliners, too! Let me know if you ever check out any other Joyce works!
Great posts as always. I haven’t heard of James Joyce before but he does appear to be a fascinating author. He wrote Irish stories set in Ireland that brought to my mind great Irish films. For instance, the author’s stories reminded me of the film “The Banshees of Inisherin”. Set during the Irish Civil War in the 19th Century, it tells the story of two friends that all of a sudden end their relationship suddenly. A masterpiece, it’s one of the best Irish films I’ve ever seen.
Here’s why it’s worth watching:
Thank you! I look forward to reading your review pf The Banshee of Inisherin.