World Book Night 2012

Had it not been for my appalling internet problems this week I would have provided a more timely piece on Monday's World Book Night event here in my small Devonshire town. For weeks the library had been advertising a book swap event, handily taking part in my local pub. As it's on my doorstep it would have been rude not to have turned up. I didn't apply to give away books though because I couldn't decide which one of the books on the list I would want to give away!


I headed off armed with a book to swap. Coincidentally it was The Player of Games by Iain M Banks, which was on the list. I walked into a pub that made me feel like a kid in a sweet shop. There were loads of books, some withdrawn from the library (I used to pick up loads of cheap books that way back when I was younger) and others that had come from the pub's small lending library and other swappers. I was told they had done a brisk trade earlier in the evening and had been particularly inundated by children early in the evening. I was so pleased to hear the event was being well attended and those running it have suggested as it was so successful they would like to run them on a regular basis.


So what did I come away with? The Resurrectionist by James Bradley. I was prepared to pretend I hadn't seen the sticker on the front touting it as a Richard & Judy's Summer Read pick; I have about as much luck with those as I do with Booker Prize Winners, but now looking at some of the reviews on Goodreads I'm wondering if I should have picked something else. The saving grace might be the gift copy of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's Good Omens I was handed when I arrived. I haven't read much Pratchett but always hear great things and I'm looking forward to reading it.


I think World Book Night (and World Book Day last month) are a great idea. Sharing a love of reading is a great thing. My daughter enjoys What the Ladybird Heard, which I got her as a free gift and I've hopefully got at least one good read out of the night.