Crazy book.
This author can pack more data into fewer words than any other author I've ever read. This book is combination of the adventures of Ulysses (you know, Homer's Odyssey), set in 1904 Ireland, with a detailed history of Ireland. OK, it's not a history that explains what happened in Ireland's history. It instead mentions traceable historical events by the bushelful at the leading character's every turn.
The story's hero is one Leopold Bloom (google it, references abound), whom we follow through the entire day of June 16, 1904. The day is still celebrated as Bloomsday in Ireland, Dublin in particular, by retracing Leopold's steps and doing the things he did (not sure about the masterbation). In the story we follow Bloom at breakfast, to the outhouse, to the store, to a funeral, to his odd advertising job at a newspaper, to lunch, to the beach, to a large somewhat formal stag dinner, out late at night, and eventually, back home to his somewhat estranged wife. The author mentions, in passing, in innumerable one or two word phrases reminders of something that occured in the past, or existed at the time of the novel, that the character is passing, or thought of, or sees.
Examples:
p.35: I am happier than you are, he said. We have committed many errors and many sins. A woman brought sin into the world. For a woman who was no better than she should be, Helen, the runaway wife of Menelaus, ten years the Greeks made war on Troy. A faithless wife first brought the strangers to our shore here, MacMurrough's wife and her leman O'Rourke, prince of Breffni. A woman too brought Parnell low (See also, Ivy Day). ...
That was an easy one. Now this:
p.45: ... Pretenders: live their lives. The Bruce's brother, Thomas Fitzgerald, silken knight, Perkin Warbeck, York's false scion, in breeches of silk or whiterose ivory, wonder of a day, and Lambert Simnel, with a tail of nans and sutlers, a scullion crowned. All kings' sons. Paradise of pretenders then and now. ...
In another instance which I can't now remember, I was led to history on ancient Ireland, in the 8th centery A.D. and prior, when Ireland was the light of the world. The Dark ages had already come to Europe, but Ireland's monestaries kept knowledge alive. That is, until the Vikings and Danes snuffed it out.
The author also employs, with great success so I'm told, a wide variety of literary styles, each one more bizarre than the next. One section has a detailed, specification-like description of the parade route taken by a royal procession, with detailed descriptions of all things seen and what each character (must be 15) was doing at the very moment the procession passed. Another section has verbal interation with running commentary thoughts -- it's uncanny how his characters' minds wander. Another section has no punctuation whatsoever, and is suprisingly easy to read. The only problem is: when to breath?
Did I like it? It's a bit chewy. I read it and didn't get as much out of it as I could have. There is so much to look up -- it's almost a study book where you spend a week on a chapter looking up all the references (many veiled). Would I recommend it? Not really. It's not a relaxing, enjoyable read, and that's why we do this, isn't it.