Actress Marilyn Monroe was a famous reader of James Joyce’s book “Ulysses.” Bloomsday’s Yes Girl competition will involve dramatic readings of the last 100 words of Irish literature’s “most beloved slut.” Readers in drag are allowed.

By Amber Williams

As Americans, we tend to covet and even celebrate things more when they are banned, shunned and prohibited, such as hardcore 1980s rappers 2 Live Crew, Cuban cigars and Jagermeister. In the good old days — before video games like “Grand Theft Auto” and cartoons like “The Simpsons” and “South Park” corrupted the minds of kids — times were simpler, and it was literature that was sometimes deemed racy and banned from public access. One such example is the classic novel “Ulysses” by James Joyce.

Set in Ireland, “Ulysses” chronicles a man named Leopold Bloom as he pub crawls his way through Dublin on an ordinary day on June 16, 1904. The story is 265,000 words long — too long for most of today’s attention deficient readers — but you don’t have to read the book to understand its meaning. You just have to check out Des Moines’ first Bloomsday celebration (held on June 16 in pubs around the world) at Gas Lamp this weekend: “Yes, I Said Yes, I Will Yes.”

“We wanted to begin Bloomsday in Des Moines when June 16 fell on a Saturday, and this year it is also the 90th anniversary of the publishing of the book,” said James Wilson, one of three owners of Gas Lamp. “We want it to be what many people wish St. Patrick’s Day was — a celebration of the best of Irish culture, without the falling-down drunkeness, face paint, funny hats and green food coloring.”

Instead, Bloomsday, which kicks off at noon at Gas Lamp this Saturday, is about true Irish culture — not just booze, but also coffee, food and the Yes Girl, “Irish literature’s most beloved slut,” according to event organizer Jim Duncan (Cityview’s Food Dude). Of course, for Duncan, it’s mostly about the food.

“Bloomsday is special to (owners) Ryan (Flattery), James and I because we are all very proud to be Irish Americans, but for me, the food is important,” Duncan admitted. “There are many amazing Irish dishes from 1904, and the book treats food almost as sensually as it does sex. I want to share some with other Irish eaters. Heirloom recipes are like stories — both are based on love, and we really can’t live well without either.”

The day’s events include: a pub breakfast/lunch authentic to Joyce’s Dublin as depicted in the story; an early 20th century Irish cooking demonstration by Cyd Koehn; an Irish coffee class; a lesson on how not to get beat up by an Irishman for ordering “the wrong kind of whiskey (or whisky)”; a reading by the Iowa Shakesperience Troup; “Ulysses” in five minutes by Drake professor Craig Owens; “Me and Ulysses,” how the Italians tie in, by Iowa State University professor John Domini; an Irish beer tasting; and a Yes Girl competition.

“The Gas Lamp is perfect for this, because it has a good stage and acoustics, Irish owners, and one Italian,” Duncan said. “It reminds me of pubs in Dublin, because it’s about the music and food and drinks, not about proclaiming its Irishness.” CV