You need to be stupid to read ulysses
I tried to read ulysses about a year ago. Prior to reading, I heard that it was an extremely challenging book and only smart people actually enjoy it while everyone else who praises the book is just a snob.
I read the first chapter, didn't understand it, and then gave up.
A couple months later, I started boxing and it lowkey made me a little retarded.
I picked up ulysses again, and just completely understood it.
I think the reason Ulysses is challenging for most people is because they are trying to analyze it, and over-interpret every line. But the stream of conscious is associative and messy, and to understand it you have to just sit there like a monkey absorbing the book. Over time (it typically hits me about 5 pages after), you'll naturally understand the patterns, the underlying connections between each stream of thought, and resonate with the characters. The finer details that you are hyper focusing on are fuzzy for a reason. stop trying to smarten up before opening the book, be stupid.