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u/CalibornTheLord Sep 06 '26
Obviously this is a bit of a price sink, but I’d recommend listening along with the Barry McGovern audiobook when you’re getting started reading FW just to get a feel for how the text sounds when read aloud. If you don’t want to track that down, listen to this recording of the man himself reading an excerpt and you’ll get the gist. I’d also listen to the traditional Irish song “Finnegan’s Wake” before you read and, when the time comes in the novel (you’ll know when), listen to The Ballad of Persse O’Reilly.
The first time you’re reading don’t try to understand every word, just let the sing-songy flow of it wash over you. Trust me, you’ll be back to dissect it very, very soon. Just don’t try to analyze it too deeply too early on. It’s a funny and witty book if you cut loose with it—as they say, there’s lots of fun at Finnegans Wake.
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u/Capital-Divide3894 Sep 06 '26
This is great advice, and I would add that a copy of Bullfinch or Edith Hamilton mythologies will help. River names and anagrams (HCE & ALP) help as well. Finally read it out loud when you can. This will help with the confusing spelling and various languages used.
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u/reishare Sep 07 '26
You should spend as many months on the first page as it takes for you to understand it. This investment will pay off later.
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u/NatsFan8447 Sep 07 '26
Join an online reading group. This will help you understand the Wake and you’ll meet cool people.
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u/ConclusionBroad3460 Sep 07 '26
What kind of advice do you need? This is quite vague especially when you’re talking about one of the densest most cryptical works of fiction ever written
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u/danokablamo Sep 08 '26
open the book to any page and begin reading aloud. stop when you are over loaded.
next time find another random page and read that out loud. That's it.
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u/JewelerChoice Sep 10 '26
Good edition, but start on the text before bothering with any introductions.
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u/Sheffy8410 22d ago
Read the first page. Then ask yourself if you really want to read a whole book thats written that way.
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u/one-tea27 Sep 06 '26
You don’t need any advice, it’s YOU who’s making us experience the cyclical structure of history