UlyssesIn80-Reading James Joyce Masterpiece in 80 Days

Renowned James Joyce scholar and author of "Annotations to James Joyce's Ulysses (2022), Sam Slote joins Ulysses In 80 hosts Cliona O'Farrelly, and Mark Sanford Gross.

A wonderful opportunity for the curious reader, the first-time reader, and the frequent reader. 

For more about the Ulysses in 80 project, visit Ulysses in 80 on Facebook and @Ulysses80 on Bluesky

This episode is the podcast version of the Ulysses in 80  weekly webinar held on June 11th, 2025.

Ulysses In 80 brings its webinar series to the podcast platform.  The 2025 webinar series, part of the Reading Ulysses in 80 Days project, is a weekly online event featuring an incredible array of guests during the 2025 80-day global reading of Ulysses.  These webinars will be available in podcast format for viewing on demand.

Webinar #1 features Patrick Hastings, renowned author of The Ulysses Guide, and Deirdre Mulrooney, dance historian, filmmaker, and author of Full Capacity, The Life of Lucia Joyce, and producer of the film, Lucia Joyce, Full Capacity.

The Ulysses in 80 podcast series is hosted by Cliona O'Farrelly and Mark Sanford Gross

Reading Ulysses is often called a marathon—demanding, winding, and full of questions. Can I do this? Will I make it through? At the start of our 80-day journey, we offer encouragement—not just from fellow readers around the world, but from James Joyce himself. The novel’s first call to action, “Come up, Kinch!” (Stephen’s summons to rise and begin the day), sets the tone.

 Hosts Mark Sanford Gross and Clíona Ó’Farrelly gather voices—new and returning participants—offering words and phrases of support to carry us through. This is not pomp and performance, just real readers walking the pages together.

Ulysses in 80 Days, 2025 begins June 1, 2025. 

Follow us on Facebook @ ulyssesin80 and Bluesky @ulysses80

In this episode of Ulysses in 80, we talk about the big question: How do you read James Joyce’s Ulysses?

Hundreds of books, essays, lectures, and guides exist to help decode Joyce’s masterpiece. But for every reader who dives deep into its layers of meaning, allusions, and annotations, there are just as many who set it down and walk away.

 This episode brings together a small group of volunteer participants from around the world—some first-timers, some familiar friends of the book—who’ve joined the 2025 “Ulysses in 80” project.

Together, we share individual thoughts on what it means to prepare, what to expect, and why we are committing to reading 8–10 pages a day for 80 days, starting June 1st, 2025. We're just everyday folks.

Hosted by project guides Clíona O’Farrelly, from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, and Mark Sanford Gross, Founder of Write Up the Coast in Northern California.

🔗 Learn more and join the conversation:
Facebook: ReadingUlyssesIn80
Bluesky: @ulysses80.bsky.social
Email: readingulyssesin80@gmail.com

🎧 Thank you to all our volunteer participants for your thoughtful contributions.

Ulysses in 80: The Podcast. Can you read Ulysses in 80 days? This podcast isn't the reading itself; the reading is happening offline, together!

In this episode, hosts Cliona O'Farrelly and Mark Sanford Gross dive deep into The Reading experience as everyday people tackle this unique global book club and literary marathon. It's your essential support system and a shared journey! You'll hear real talk from this year's participants—newbies and returning readers alike—as we navigate Joyce together. All levels welcome.

For more on the Ulysses in 80 global book club, find us on Facebook ("Reading Ulysses in 80 Days"), Bluesky (@ulysses80.bsky.social), or email readingulyssesin80@gmail.com.

Welcome to Ulysses80

Okay, so you're staring down the Ulysses edition problem? We get it! Which book to even pick? And don't get us started on the "expert" opinions that all hilariously contradict each other.

In this first Reading Ulysses in 80 Days, 2025 podcast episode, we're diving into this edition's confusion. We might not have the answer, but we'll have fun discussing it, just like we will with the group reading starting June 1st. 

Think of this as your friendly prep talk. No perfect edition stress here – just fun conversation as we get ready for the Ulysses adventure together. Tune in and join the chat!

We're excited to have you,

Cliona, Zoe, Mark