Reading Ulysses with my Mom

TWENTY-THREE:
13. NAUSICAA

OCTOBER 4

What a change! From scattered thoughts to long detailed descriptions of the three young women—especially Gerty MacDowell sitting on a beach along with children playing in the sand. Perhaps the change of setting from the busy streets to the quiet beach as sunset nears awakens a more reflective side of JJ.

One thing that hasn't changed is Bloom's perspective... ogling the girls!

In one moment he is heart broken by Molly's infidelity, then he is masturbating as Gerty "charms" him.

Interesting that it was this episode that made it illegal to publish Ulysses in the US and Great Britain for its obscenity. Cuckoo Cuckoo Cuckoo.

OCTOBER 9

Hi Mom,

Knowing as I do that you were tempted to skip Oxen of the Sun (episode 14), I feel a Catholic amount of guilt that I’m skipping Naussicaa. But hear me out before you judge!

When I sat down to read this episode, I was reminded of something that happened to me on a bus back when I was in grad school. The bus was mostly empty, and I had a few more stops to go until my destination. A man got on the bus and walked past several rows of empty seats to sit next to me. As he sat down, he slid his body down mine, basically sitting on my thigh before settling on to the seat. It was absolutely revolting; it was clearly done for his gratification. It was an assault. I didn’t react. I just scrunched myself against the side of the bus, making myself as small as possible until I could get off at the next stop.

That’s what I think about with the prospect of Bloom jerking off on a beach before me. I don’t care that it’s fictional. I don’t care if Gertie is a commentary on the way that femininity is constructed through media. I don’t care if it’s all in Bloom’s gross mind. I’m tired of gross men and media made by gross men. I feel worn down by a lifetime of reading “great literature” that’s gross about women, and worn down by contemporary media that is just as sexist.

To put it in slangy internet terms: nobody cares about your boner, Bloom.

I may circle back to Naussicaa in a different mood, but for now I’m going to jump ahead to Oxen of the Sun.

K.

OCTOBER 9

Wise decision. I am so sorry this happened to you. One never forgets these awful experiences. Long bus rides after dark seems to bring out the creeps!

You may feel the same way about 15—Circe. Much of the episode deals with seasoned prostitutes not vulnerable young girls although there is reference to their early lives. That being said there are some other interesting sections. I am at 15.3310 and getting tired of how long and dragged out it is becoming.

This book shouldn't get us down!

Take care and Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

mom

OCTOBER 9

Oh it happened in broad daylight. Middle of the afternoon.

Feel free to take your time with Circe as I’m still working on Oxen of the Sun.

Forgot completely about Canadian Thanksgiving, although we are deep in “pumpkin spice” season here with pumpkin spice cereal and pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls and pumpkin spice Oreos. Nary a pie in sight yet, but it’s coming.

At least the heatwave here has broken.

OCTOBER 9

Oh yuk! My worst bus trips were driving from [the small prairie town where my family is from] to [the city where I grew up] and [that city] to [the small mining town where I worked as a teacher]. Think when the lights were out the perv's came out. At one point a driver actually stopped the bus and threatened the guy that if he didn't leave me alone he would put him off the bus and we were in the middle of nowhere. Great respect for the driver who actually reacted to what he saw!

On a positive note I have been enjoying spiced creamer in my coffee!

mom

OCTOBER 9

Wow I’m glad that bus driver stepped up for you. I remember you telling me (years ago) how people used to drink so much on that bus ride, there would be beer bottles rolling around on the floor of the bus. That can’t have helped the situation.

Important follow up re: these [mining town] bus rides: were you still wearing nuns’ habits at this point, or civilian clothes?

It absolutely blows my mind that you were paid A DOLLAR A DAY for being a teacher at that time. According to an inflation calculator online, $1.00 in 1970 is the equivalent to $7.84 in 2023. To put that further into perspective, the minimum wage for an adult in 1970 in [that province] was $1.50 PER HOUR ($15.30 in 2023). So as a PROFESSIONAL HUMAN BEING tasked with inculcating the next generation into literacy and knowledge, you were paid for just half an hour of work out of the eight or nine you actually did.

I know you said they provided housing and food and the parishioners helped out, but that ain’t right. Sounds like you should have at least gotten hazard pay when visiting your family.

Oxen of the Sun comments later today.

OCTOBER 12

All all counts times were different! On the bus to [the mining town] I was in what we called our "modified" habit—shorter black skirt and no veil. In civilian clothes for the [prairie town] trips.
About the $1 a day. We lived in housing maintained by the parish, who relied on donations from parishioners. Many of the nuns taught in public high schools and uni. Our community did not lack for money... and we had taken a vow of poverty! Lacked for nothing!

Will get back to Ulysses later today.

Happy reading!

mom