MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - World Book Night

Helen Smith · 12-09-2010, 01:14 PM

Queentess

Thanks for replying. I think the idea is to get people reading. They appointed a panel to choose the books and these included librarians, people in publishing, previous judges for book prizes, etc.

Presumably they had to choose books that they thought were 'good' and that were likely to prove popular enough for people to want to sign up to give away 48 copies of a single book on that list.

I think it's incredibly exciting. There are people who are carping about the choices on blogs and in the comments sections of newspaper articles over here but any list, by definition, is going to disappoint people by what is left out/put in. I do applaud the initiative.

They're already saying they're going to do it again the year after so hopefully it will be ongoing. Presumably each year they will learn from any lessons about what kind of books to put on/not put on the list.

I would think that it will be incredibly exciting as the books are shipped to libraries and book stores in March to be collected and passed out by the 'givers' on the night. I do remember the buzz when book shops opened for the first time at midnight so children could queue up with their parents to get their hands on a Harry Potter book. There was a collective excitement about reading/books that I hadn't seen before in my lifetime (much as I love reading myself) and no doubt the organisers of this event are hoping to capture some of the same feeling.

Of the books on that list, I have read some but not all. I'd probably put my hand out for Agent Zigzag as it looks interesting and I haven't read it.

From the list, I'd probably sign up to give away The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

I haven't read Ender's Game - thanks for the suggestion. I'll look it out.

12-09-2010, 01:14 PM	#3
Helen Smith Zealot Posts: 149 Karma: 200000 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: London Device: kindle	Queentess Thanks for replying. I think the idea is to get people reading. They appointed a panel to choose the books and these included librarians, people in publishing, previous judges for book prizes, etc. Presumably they had to choose books that they thought were 'good' and that were likely to prove popular enough for people to want to sign up to give away 48 copies of a single book on that list. I think it's incredibly exciting. There are people who are carping about the choices on blogs and in the comments sections of newspaper articles over here but any list, by definition, is going to disappoint people by what is left out/put in. I do applaud the initiative. They're already saying they're going to do it again the year after so hopefully it will be ongoing. Presumably each year they will learn from any lessons about what kind of books to put on/not put on the list. I would think that it will be incredibly exciting as the books are shipped to libraries and book stores in March to be collected and passed out by the 'givers' on the night. I do remember the buzz when book shops opened for the first time at midnight so children could queue up with their parents to get their hands on a Harry Potter book. There was a collective excitement about reading/books that I hadn't seen before in my lifetime (much as I love reading myself) and no doubt the organisers of this event are hoping to capture some of the same feeling. Of the books on that list, I have read some but not all. I'd probably put my hand out for Agent Zigzag as it looks interesting and I haven't read it. From the list, I'd probably sign up to give away The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I haven't read Ender's Game - thanks for the suggestion. I'll look it out.