Ulysses

So I was in a book shop yesterday. I had never visited this particular establishment before. I just happened upon the shop as I was searching for a book, and I failed to find it in either of the big stores(Easons and O'Mahony's). Needless to say this shop did not have the book I was looking for. However, unlike Easons and O'Mahonys, I did not feel a strong compulsion to immediately leave the premises after being told they did not have the book I was looking for. The place is a bookshop in the real old sense of the word. The door to enter the shop is weather beaten and creaks. Signs advertising sales are nowhere to be seen. It is all about the books in this establishment, turning a profit seems almost an afterthought. The word that stuck in my mind was "character", the place has character. I resolved to browse around the shop for awhile. Finding a section seemingly dedicated to Irish classics, I thumbed through a few different titles. Then, I spotted out of the corner of my eye a book hidden at the back of the bookshelf. I felt I knew what book it was going to be before seeing it. "Ulysses, James Joyce." It is a book which I have heard much about but always considered to be one book I was destined never to read. The reason for this being I generally buy most of my books on amazon and download them to my Kindle, so as such I would have been avoiding this book, considering it beyond what I would be capable of reading. But here it was, in my hands in front of me, enticing yet aloof. I began to think that perhaps this was a sign of some sort, that maybe I was supposed to happen across this book, in this brilliantly obscure bookshop.
I then thought back on the words my leaving cert English teacher had spoken one day 2 years ago when we were discussing Shakespeare's "Macbeth." "Some of you believe that this is as complex as the language gets. Ulysses, that's all I'll say. If your mad enough, try to read it someday."
No price was displayed on the book, so I asked the shopkeeper what the price of the book was.(Being a college student this would be important.) "2.50 or something close." I was delighted with this, thinking it would be closer to a tenner. I told him I'd take it, he gave me a furtive smile, wrapped book with care bordering on the devotional and simple said " Best of luck." I had never heard those words from a shopkeeper but he didn't say it in a condescending way, he seemed to really be hoping that I would manage to finish it.
So a day later here I am, feeling daunted looking at Ulysses in the corner of the room. I suppose I'm looking for encouragement, your experience with reading the book, or any thoughts really. I'm not a voracious reader, I don't really have the time with college and and work at the weekend. But I do enjoy reading, and generally consume books very quickly.