For 25 years, Venice Oceanarium has organized a marathon reading of Moby Dick on Venice Beach, inviting readers young and old to pull up a chair and listen, or even take a turn at reading a few pages.

In the age of COVID, the event is becoming virtual. 

 Readers of any age, in any language, from anywhere in the world are invited to submit video of themselves reading chapters of the book.

Readers can feel free to get creative with costumes, props, and/or scenic backgrounds.  

Sign up to participate. Participants can read any chapter they want. Multiple interpretations of the same chapter is part of the fun. Readers are encouraged to sign up for less popular chapters to ensure the whole book is covered.

Children are encouraged to participate. Those using a children's edition of the book don't need to sign up, just record and share the video.

Participants record their chapter(s) on their computer or with their smartphone, whenever and wherever they want. Don't have a copy of the book? No problem - Project Gutenberg has it covered.

Upload videos by Saturday, November 14 at 5pm Pacific.

Viewers can then check back on  November 21-22 (or anytime after that) for the 25th Anniversary virtual reading of Moby Dick, (info viewing to come).

Fun fact: The annual reading is every third weekend in November in order to correspond with the start of the story, as well as the annual migration of the Grey Whale from the Aleutians to Baja California.