I don't want to get in the middle here, but I do really agree with Bookjumper. Ulysses is a book that's just really hard to read. I've read the entire book, although it took me forever. Reading it wasn't, I didn't enjoy it a lot. But i felt I had to read it all.
It might be very interesting and difficult and has a lot of different layers, but it's really way to pretentious about it.
I get your point about the necessity of being difficult, but keeping with your example, quantum physics can be explained in kiddie language if neccesary, and it will still mean the same.
I really hate it that art needs to be pretentious or difficult to be interesting or good. I just don't get why people say they love something when they understand what it's about. For me Ulysses can be compared to drone music. It might be very new and innovating, but it's still painful to listen to.
A book can be just as good if it isn't that difficult and I truly believe Joyce went overboard with his writingstyle. He could have made it a way easier to read book and still leave his 'message' intact.
Oh and I see you're still reading Ulysses?