World Book Night first took place on the 5th March this year, two days after World Book Day. On that night, one million books were given away for free by 20,000 volunteers across the UK and Ireland. The idea was to read the book and then pass it on to someone else (in your own time, not all on the same night!). People gathered in shops, libraries, pubs and other meeting places to share their love of reading and pick up a free book or two. You can see 2011's 25 chosen titles on the World Book Night website.
The event will be back in 2012, but this time on the 23rd April to coincide with UNESCO's International Day of the Book. The organisers need our help in choosing next year's titles and are asking members of the public to contribute their top ten favourite books to the website (http://www.worldbooknight.org/). You've got until the 31st August 2011 to cast your votes, so get cracking. While you're on the website, you'll also be able to see the top 100 books chosen so far and find out how to apply to be a World Book Night giver. Famous authors have contributed their top ten to the World Book Night blog, so be sure to take a look at that too.
Once you've made your choice, why not share it with us? It would be interesting to see if there are any trends in the SMU community!
Well, I've made my choices! Here they are, my top ten books, as registered on the World Book Night website:-
ReplyDeleteThe Princess Bride, William Goldman
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
The Virgin Suicides, Jeffey Eugenides
Emotionally Weird, Kate Atkinson
The House at Pooh Corner, A. A. Milne
Rebecca, Daphne Du Maurier
Tender is the Night, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
It's so hard to choose just ten best reads - this list would probably look a bit different if I compiled it next week, or even tomorrow - but these books are all close to my heart and will always be amongst my favourites.
Just added mine:
ReplyDeleteMidnight's Children, Salman Rushdie
Company of Liars, Karen Maitland
Oscar and Lucinda, Peter Carey
The Glass Room, Simon Mawer
Winnie and Wolf, A.N. Wilson
The French Lieutenant's Woman, John Fowles
Devil in the White City, Erik Larson
Widow for One Year, John Irving
Tales of the City, Armistead Maupin
Ulysses, James Joyce
Philippa - surprised you voted for Virgin Suicides - it sent me into a stupor! Though each to his own!
Thanks for sharing your top ten, Nigel. I am rather partial to a bit of teenage angst, so Virgin Suicides has long been a favourite of mine!
ReplyDeletejust a quick update to say the lon list has been finalised: http://www.worldbooknight.org/your-books/the-wbn-top-100-books.
ReplyDeleteGood to see a few of mine have made the cut!