James Joyce took fifteen years to write Finnegans Wake, filling hundreds of pages in notebooks with his thoughts and visions. Having been published in 1939, FW has since been one of the most intimidating texts to pick up. Academics pick it apart, philosophers dialogue it, scholars puzzle over it, linguists are intrigued by it, and polyglots worship it; I just want to play in it.

Because my own attempts to read it have been sabotaged by its almost impenetrable verse, I discovered it much more interesting to read aloud. If I was having problems following the story silently, at least I could entertain myself listening to my voice utter phrases like:

"thereby, he said reflecting from his own individual person life unlivable, transaccidentated through the slow fires of consciousness into a dividual chaos, perilous, potent, common to allflesh, human only, mortal"

So, I invite others who enjoy reading aloud or being read to, to get together informally and read FW together.

For the first class, if the group is interested, I will talk about the circumstances of the book with a little historical and literary context, discussing the potential complexities in reading it, beginning with the title, and an introduction to Joyce himself. In subsequent weeks, I will provide some additional readings that are meant to explain and contextualize some of the recurrent themes in FW that visit linguistic, philosophical, classical, mystical, biblical, historical and literary tradition and inversion, illuminating where Joyce plays with cultural and linguistic visual and vocal expectations. If people are so inspired, the readings may be discussed and applied to whatever chapter we might be reading. Finnegans Wake compels the reader/audience to read differently, exploring, and experimenting with the play of words and images.

Mostly I think it would be fun to put aside two hours a week to read that which we are curious to read – together.

rachel at anarchistu.org