World Book Night 2012

Posted: April 11, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Projects and news | Tags: , | Leave a comment

World Book Night is taking place on Monday 23rd April 2012, when one million free books will be given away by tens of thousands of volunteers. Each book giver has chosen a favourite book from a selection of 25 different titles. Our Reading Circle have been selected to take part again this year, with the result that we have some free books to distribute.

Our chosen book is: “Rebecca” by Daphne Du Maurier

Rebecca is one of the greatest psychological thrillers ever written. Several of our members have commented on it in the past. One reader said: “This book is wonderful, the pure elegance in her writing is outstanding. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a great, sometimes sad, romantic, heart-rending novel. 10 out of 10.”

We hope that you will write to us after reading Rebecca, to let other participants know what you think of the book. You might also like to pass the book on to someone else afterwards.

Margaret Forster wrote of Daphne Du Maurier: “No other popular writer has so triumphantly defied classification… She satisfied all the questionable criteria of popular fiction, and yet satisfied the exacting requirements of ‘real literature’, something very few novelists ever do.”

 

If you would like a free copy of Rebecca, please contact us so that we can post your book out to you. Reading Circle members will get first chance.

We hope that you will write to us after reading Rebecca, to let other participants know what you think of the book. You might also like to pass the book on to someone else afterwards.

More from World Book Night

Posted: June 6, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Your book reviews | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

I have just read a couple of books that were on the World Book Night list and would have been included in the giveaway of a million books last March.

 

“All Quiet on the Western Front” by Erich Remarque

I have read several books about the Great War, but usually a story set against the events of the time. Remarque’s words tell it just how it was. Seven young men from the same village rush to enlist, as everyone knew the war would be over by Christmas. They all reach the same camp and their story begins. Narrated by Paul, he tells of the bad food and conditions, the heart break of watching his friends die, how visits home to an ill mother became increasingly hard as the war wore on.

He begins to question the point of the war, any war, and how befriending some imprisoned Russians made him realise under different circumstances they would be friends. This is a hard book to read because it’s true. Paul describes the devastating effect of dysentery, influenza, the water, mud and filth in the trenches and how boots were passed on from soldiers no longer in need of footwear.

The summer of 1918 was the worst of the war and Paul is the only one left of the friends who left to serve their country. He fell in 1918, the last of the group.

When I started to read this book it took me a while to realise that the young men were German and the enemy was us.

The translation into English was done in 1936.

 

“Dissolution” by C.J. Sansom

Jean gave me this book instead of the Alan Bennett, “A life like other people’s”. Murder mystery isn’t really my choice; however this Tudor style detective may have won me over.

Henry has just beheaded Anne Boleyn, and is busy with the dissolution of the monasteries after declaring himself head of the church. Thomas Cromwell sets about investigating the monasteries and sends a commissioner, Robin Singleton, to the remote Sussex village of Scarn Sea. When he is found murdered and a treasured relic goes missing, Cromwell sends a Matthew Shaldrake and his assistant, Mark Pole, to investigate. This is a great story, more murders, a great cold and spooky place, scary monks, a bit of romance and a fair sprinkling of humour kept me enthralled to the end.

I think these two, Shaldrake and Pole, would be the present day Morse and Lewis! I noticed there are three more titles in the Shaldrake series, well worth a read.

I will hand this book back to Jean, if anyone is interested in something a bit different.

 

June Richardson

 

“A Life Like Other People’s” by Alan Bennett

Posted: May 11, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Your book reviews | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

I am on a coach holiday to Whitby. My reading is Alan Bennett’s “Life Like Other People’s”. I can’t put it down. Much of it mirrors my own life, growing up in Yorkshire, with numerous aunts and aging parents, even our Sunday teas and the obligatory visit to the graveyard were the same. The writing is exceptional, what you’d expect from an Oxford Don, but it’s the insight, the way even from a book, the author seems to be speaking just to you the reader. I shall pass my copy on as requested, and now I eagerly await the new book “Smut”. Finally. I’ve peeped at the ending and laughed aloud, all heads turned my way on the bus, when Mr Bennett makes reference ever so indirectly at his sexual preferences, and sticks two fingers metaphorically up to society and conformity. Such freedom seems refreshing.

Valerie Dodd

A Million Books and More

Posted: March 31, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Your thoughts | Tags: | Leave a comment

In the March issue of the reading circle Jean wrote about World Book Night which duly took place on March 5th with a million books being distributed across the U.K. by 20,000 volunteer ‘givers’, the idea being to pass on the book and record your name in the back so the book will reach as many people as possible.

Two weeks before the main event BBC Two broadcast a short programme each evening named My Life in Books. Hosted by Anne Robinson, an amazing mix of celebrities were invited to talk about their favourite books from childhood, adult life and to confess a ‘guilty pleasure’, a book they would always return to.

The guests were varied and some of their book choices were surprising to say the least. Sue Perkins went from ‘Big green caterpillar’ to Russian history, Jon Snow chose a chick lit novel by Sophie Kinsella, and the enigmatic Sister Wendy went for ‘Death on the Nile’. Lawrence Lewellyn Bowen still has a dictionary of art symbols he discovered age ten, and loves ‘Brideshead Revisited’. Other guests included the author P.D. James, and TV presenter Richard Bacon.

Watching this series set me thinking about my own ‘Life in Books’ and what set me on the wonderful adventure of reading the printed word. I can remember as a child having an oversized, beautifully illustrated book about flower fairies, I just loved that book; sadly it disappeared during a house move. At school I was introduced to ‘Ballet Shoes’ and haven’t stopped reading since. I think it’s hard to choose one favourite book, however I have to say two fairly recent books have to come top of my list. ‘New York’ by Edward Rutherford, and ‘The Island’ a first novel by Victoria Hislop. My ‘guilty secret’ is easy, Jane Eyre. I can read this book time and time again.

I thought the series was one of the best on TV for some time. Maybe other readers might share their favourite books from past and present. Could be interesting!

June Richardson

“A Life Like Other People’s” by Alan Bennett

Posted: March 31, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Your book reviews | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Alan Bennett’s “A Life Like Other People’s” invites the reader to share a poignant journey introducing his family’s delightful idiosyncrasies and intolerant foibles along the way. Touchingly funny with equal portions of pathos this book is uncomfortable in parts, yet compulsive reading as you wait for their hidden secrets to emerge. Well written and refreshingly honest. Alan Bennett shows off his prolific writing talents as he sets the scene of family life. Powerfully detailing his mother’s illness in a thought provoking, reflective way and showing how it affects the rest of the family. This book is well worth a read and I will recommend it to my friends.

Carol Ellis

World Book Night – 5th March 2011

Posted: March 3, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Projects and news | Tags: , | Leave a comment

World Book Night is taking place on Saturday 5th March 2011 when one million free books will be given away by 20,000 “givers”. Each giver has chosen a favourite book from a selection of 25 titles that were picked by a committee of people, based on recommendations from publishers and booksellers.

Our Reading Circle applied to take part and we were selected to be a “giver”, with the result that we have some free books to distribute.

Our chosen book is: “A Life Like Other People’s” by Alan Bennett.

This is a selection of his Untold Stories of four years ago, especially printed for World Book Night and based on his family memoirs. It’s a well-written, honest and moving piece of writing, and we’d really like to share it with you.

If you live in Kirklees and you would like a free copy of “A Life Like Other People’s”, please contact us so that we can post one out to you.

BBC Two are broadcasting a World Book Night event on the night and have been showing programmes each day at 6.30pm for the past two weeks.

 

Other posts about World Book Night and our chosen book