Pick up a Penguin this Christmas... not a biscuit
Posted: Monday 06 December, 2010
Keredy Andrews
I love to give people books for Christmas because my love of writing is borne from my love of reading and when I hear people say they don’t do reading I always try and recommend something I think they will like, even giving them a copy of my own. I believe there is a book out there for everyone and reading a book over the Christmas break is a great way utilising one’s spare time.
Sometimes it’s just hard to choose a new book to start so I was excited to learn about World Book Night last week when The Culture Show featured the national event in which 1 million books will be given away. A panel of people who are passionate about books chose 25 titles based on recommendations from publishers, librarians, booksellers and others. The huge giveaway will result in approximately 1 in every 35 adults across the country being given a book they haven’t read, for free, on Saturday, March 5.
How are they choosing the recipients I hear you ask? They’re not! I am. You are. We are. Anyone can apply to be a giver and I’ve already filled in my application to hand out copies of Margaret Atwood’s novel from 2000, The Blind Assassin. Apart from the fact that Atwood is probably my favourite author anyway, the themes in this book, the narrative voices, the structure and its pace are suited perfectly to my literary taste. My second choice to give away is David Mitchell’s amazing 6 narratives in one entitled Cloud Atlas; a joy to read and it shows Mitchell as a truly clever and talented author.
If you’re a book lover and want to be one of 20,000 people giving out books on March 5 then apply to be a giver too. If you haven’t read a book for a while, why don’t you put one of the above titles on your Christmas list or give a gift of a book – here are some handy money saving deals on books from Savoo.
