World Book Night 2013
Have you heard about World Book Night? It’s a celebration of books and reading and the people behind the initiative are passionate about books, bookshops and libraries but above all else about encouraging everyone to read.
They recruit volunteers to help spread a love of reading in communities across the country. Each one of 20,000 volunteers gives twenty copies of one of twenty books which World Book Night has hand-picked and specially produced to people who don’t regularly read to encourage them to do so. Volunteer givers collect the specially printed copies of their books from their local bookshop or library. World Book Night is free to participate in for all.
There’s more information detail about World Book Night and what they do on the World Book Night website.
World Book Night and Kensington and Chelsea Libraries
To celebrate World Book Night on 23 April 2013, there will be a special London black taxi at Kensington Central Library at 6pm. It’ll be stuffed full of World Book Night books that we want to give away. There will also be refreshments and a surprise special guest so do come along if you can.
Some of our staff applied to be one of the 20,000 book givers so over to them to tell us which books they chose and why….
A Little History of the World by E.H. Gombrich
It’s the third year running that I’ve been fortunate enough to have successfully applied to be a World Book Night giver and this time I’ve chosen a children’s book (but one that can be enjoyed by adults too!).
It’s the classic bestselling history of the world – Erst Gombrich’s “A Little History of the World” which has been translated into 25 different languages! It covers the story of mankind from the Stone Age to the atomic bomb.
Previously I have elected to give out my books to a bus load of half-marathoners on their way to the Silverstone half-marathon, sat in a local pub, and given them out to my choir, Goldsmiths Choral Union – this time I’ve chosen to give out the copies at Canberra Primary School. Hammersmith and Fulham Libraries has worked with this school before on various projects and English is very much the minority language there.
Elin Jones
Tri- Brough Stock Librarian
Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
When I saw the World Book Night list for this year I immediately knew which book I’d like to give away if I was lucky enough to be chosen as a giver – ‘Noughts and Crosses’ by Malorie Blackman.
A few years ago I was given a list of novels for young adults to read for a course I was studying. ‘Noughts and Crosses’ was on this list and it just blew me away. I don’t want to give too much away (and spoil it for those of you that haven’t read it) Sephy is a Cross – a member of the dark-skinned ruling class. Callum is a nought – a ‘colourless’ member of the underclass who were once slaves to the Crosses. The two have been friends since early childhood but that’s as far as it can go.
I plan to give my twenty copies away to friends, family and neighbours and I hope they enjoy it as much as I did. Another great thing about this book is if they do enjoy it – it’s the first of a series so plenty for them to read!
Jodie Green
Lending Librarian
Why be happy when you can be normal by Jeanette Winterson
Jeanette Winterson brilliantly describes her nightmare childhood in the north of England with a matter of factness and humour that made me wince and laugh out loud, sometimes simultaneously!
I chose to give this book out on World Book Night as it is an amazing read and I have really enjoyed the author’s other books. I hope it will encourage people to try her other titles.
Sally- Connew Volpe
Tri- Brough Stock Librarian
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
The reason I chose this book to give away on World Book Night is because when I read it I finished it very quickly – I just couldn’t put it down. I thought this mesmerising story of love and secrets, horror and compassion would be the ideal book to give away on World Book Night – the story is so engaging and the pages fly by.
Andy Norton
Tri- Brough Stock Librarian
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