Ulysses gives slowly, then greatly. It rewards return. But it is very hard at first and I know few people who've gotten through it just on their own. I didn't.

My route: 1) I read it out loud with someone I loved at a beautiful moment in my life. I don't know how anyone could simply replicate this, but you should try. 2) Years later, I got the audiobook and listened to it on repeat for awhile, until I started to really know and feel the text. 3) I just keep it around, occasionally reading a chapter, and now the experience is about as extraordinary as one can get from reading a book.