I didn't hate reading Ulysses, but I didn't particularly enjoy it. I suspect my experience wasn't that different from yours. There were parts that made sense, and even some parts where I could follow along with the humor, but there were many passages where I had no idea what the hell was going on.

In retrospect, I should have read a Cliffs Notes version before attempting the novel. I'd recommend anyone interested in reading Ulysses to go in knowing the story and what the chapters are about ahead of time. It's not going to spoil anything.

Finnegan's Wake, I gave up after 20 pages. That thing makes Ulysses seem like a YA novel by comparison.

Ulysses abounds in humor, and of all sorts, from the lowest bawdy humor to the most arcane in-group nerd humor. It’s a pity that you were unable to enjoy at least those passages in the novel.