I’m seeing Bloomsday mentioned everywhere. Google is commemorating it, many of my favorite webloggers have brought it up, and I’ve seen mention in other places as well. I know it’s all about the James Joyce novel Ulysses, which I have not read. I also know that the novel was published 82 years ago, and this is the first year I’ve ever seen Bloomsday discussed at all. Why? Did something happen to make it a bigger deal this year, or has this been going on annually for some time? What’s the big deal all of a sudden?

Update: Readers have pointed out that while the book may have been published 82 years ago, the events in the book all take place on June 16, 1904, so today is the centennial. Makes perfect sense.