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I’m rather excited, I got an e-mail just after midnight last night (didn’t read it until this morning though), telling me I’d been selected to be a giver of books on World Book Night which happens in the UK on March 5th following on from World Book Day on March 3rd.
People were asked to apply to give away 48 copies of a particular book from a broad selection of 25 titles. You had to choose a title from the list, say why you picked it and who you would give it to. They needed a massive 20,000 volunteers to give away a million books between them and it’s great to hear they got more than the minimum.
I was delighted when I spotted that my book of the year from 2010 happened to be in the list, so I applied for that and was delighted to get my first choice. I have definite plans on how I aim to give out my 48 books – I’m going to keep it local, but am not going to say any more for now. I’m very much looking forward to it though.
What are your thoughts about World Book Night?
Congratulations- it sounds like quite an honour.
I’m very interested in the books chosen for World Book Night as there a quite a few I haven’t read, some I’ve never heard of.
Congratulations!
I was also selected and I am really excited!
Well done to you too! Which book did you choose Leah?
It was Beloved by Toni Morrison, I wanted to pick one I had read and enjoyed, that may introduce people to a new kind of writing that they may not have come across before. I am hoping to get a womens centre here involved, that supports and encourages women to socialise when they don’t know where to start, maybe because of illness or family commitments. They offer courses, therapies and social events for women in the area and I know they have a readers group so I thought this book would be a good one to give away there. Just waiting for the woman who runs it to get back to me.
How about you, what are your plans for your books?
I must admit I struggled with Beloved, but if I re-read it I think I’d now have a different experience. I hope your plans work out – sounds fab.
My book the Le Carre was published in 1963 shortly after the Berlin Wall went up. Most people don’t read books from their parents’ generation, so I wanted to give it to lots of parents at my daughter’s school who were mostly not born when that happened.
I know, the style of Beloved is not for everyone. In a group discussion sometimes it is most lively when some like it and some don’t I guess. I think that this one may stretch readers a little and some may surprise themselves by getting a lot from it if they haven’t tried a Morrison before. If they are getting a free copy, at least it doesn’t feel as if they have wasted hard earned cash by taking a risk too. I like the thought of widening horizons and getting the chance to try.
I haven’t read your choice but will look out for it. I like your thinking on how to distribute it.
well done ,I love idea unfortuantely had plans made for weekend it on ,all the best stu