Bibliophiles Flock to Dublin

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Bloomsday, a fictional holiday created by Irish author James Joyce in his esteemed novel "Ulysses," Dublin is organizing a James Joyce festival to begin June 16. The festival will consist of 73 events to include book readings, walking tours, plays and art exhibitions that will celebrate Joyce and his literary works.

"Ulysses" is consistently on critic's lists of the best literature of all time, but could be one of the most challenging books to read. Written entirely in stream-of-consciousness and filled with obscure references, entire college courses have been dedicated solely to reading this work.

Organizers of the event realize that not many of the festival's attendees have successfully completed reading "Ulysses," but have designed the festival as a way for average people to enjoy his literature in different ways and celebrate the life of a great author. Though benign in intent, some opponents to the festival see it as a way to capitalize on Joyce, while others challenge the importance of Joyce's novels and short stories and hence the need for such a festival. But festival co-coordinator Laura Weldon contests, "The themes that he deals with - love, death, marriage, birth - regardless of where you're born, those are all things we relate to." Joyce died in 1941 in Zurich.