'Joke' from my mother (an English Lit. professor):
If someone tells you they enjoyed Ulysses, they're either pretentious or mad.
If someone tells you they enjoyed Finnegan's Wake, they're a liar -- because no-one has made it through that book.
A good number (I won't say plenty) of people have read Finnegans Wake and enjoyed it. At the risk of being branded a liar I can say that I've read the whole thing (out loud) and found it a very worthwhile experience. Some of the language play is very enjoyable.
n.b. reading _Finnegans Wake_ out loud is fundamental to the purpose of the book and it's enjoyment as a reader. I find myself laughing regularly and not knowing exactly why; maybe just because of the surrealist nature of the language.
If someone tells you they enjoyed Ulysses, they're either pretentious or mad. If someone tells you they enjoyed Finnegan's Wake, they're a liar -- because no-one has made it through that book.