Evan’s Reviews > Finnegans Wake > Status Update

Of the many modern terms and phrases Joyce invented prophetically, in this section we have "Harley Quinn," and "googling".

"But all that's left to the last of the Meaghers in the loup of the years prefixed and between is one kneebuckle and two hooks in the front." A beautiful reflection on the last evidence of lost lives and memories. Have a toehold in book 2 now, having completed the epic book 1. Is this Stockholm Syndrome, as I have developed a love for my literary captor.

Real tour-de-force, chapter 1.8. I have to say I've gone from skeptic to appreciator the further in I go. Just the wordplay alone. The presents-gifting section is incredible. I'm only getting the surface, and this thing would take a lifetime of study to fully mine, but I can see why this is revered.

The washerwomen on the River Liffey couldn't possibly be comparable to Wagner's Rhinemaidens, could they be? asks I. I look it up. Yeah, that comparison has been made by scholars. I'm apparently a greater genius than I thought, lol.

"that the more carrots you chop, the more turnips you slit, the more murphies you peel, the more onions you cry over, the more bullbeef you butch, the more mutton you crackerhack, the more potherbs you pound,
the fiercer the fire and the longer your spoon and the harder you
gruel with more grease to your elbow the merrier fumes your
new Irish stew."
I'll take this as metaphorical compliment for getting it this far...

I need to get back innagin to Finnegan as today I didn't get too far in.

Chapter 1.6 was quite a ride. Lots of sauciness and some wordplay that made me laugh out loud. Yeah. I think I can finish this now. Gonna take awhile, though.

The most romantic/erotic section of the book, and so far, the best. Really lovely, and the wordplay is off the chart. Amazing stuff.

Rough equation: two cups of coffee equals 14 pages.

Deep into territory few humans have tread. After awhile it becomes a bit hypnotic. Someone at the bookstore today was impressed I've gotten this far, lol.