World Book Night
As you must know by now, World Book Night is fast approaching. This time next week, over 20,000 designated book givers across the country will be readying themselves to spend Saturday 5th March giving away one million books.
And there’s all sorts of shenanigans that have been scheduled to coincide with this momentous occasion. The party starts a week today, with an enormous star-studded event in Trafalgar Square on Friday 4th March, featuring Margaret Atwood, Nick Cave, Rupert Everett, Hanif Kureishi, Alan Bennett, Sarah Waters and many more.
Then on World Book Night itself, the Southbank Centre will be playing host to a night of readings, bookswaps and appearances by authors including Margaret Atwood, Mark Haddon, Stuart Evers and Rebecca Hunt.
And of course we couldn’t let all this excitement commence without getting in on the action ourselves. For Books’ Sake has been selected as a World Book Night Giver, and we’ll be handing out 48 copies of The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood.
Our plan so far is to hit up the Million Women Rise March during the day, then investigate the shindig at the Southbank Centre later on. Let us know if you’re likely to be around and we’ll make sure we save you a copy!
Elsewhere, other festivities include a Southern Gothic event at East London’s Luminous Books, who’ll be giving away copies of Toni Morrison‘s Beloved to the first fifty people to arrive at their deep South themed evening of films, food, music and booze.
Over in Leeds, our very own Jess Haigh will be spending World Book Night at the Arcadia Bar, dispensing copies of Stuart: A Life Backwards by Alexander Masters and an assortment of other books from her Travelling Suitcase Library.
Are you playing out on World Book Night? Where will you be? Or, if you’ve been chosen as a book giver, what’s your plan of action?
We’ll be reporting back with photos and an update of how it went, so watch this space for more!
Jane Bradley
Its nice to hear something is happening in leeds I have books to give out but dont think I will get to Leeds centre with them. What time is it happening.?
Whereabouts are you based, Carol? Arcadia is in Headingley so if you’re out that way you should hopefully make it!
I am way over in Belle Isle but am hoping to get into Waterstones as they are doing something but if I can get a lift I will turn up at Arcadia as it seems a friendly place.
Hey Carol,
I’m doing a book swap 6-8 at Left Bank Centre on Cardigan Road, then heading to Arcadia for 8.30 ish. DO COME, more than welcome, the more the merrier! Think they’re are four of us at the moment so we can have a proper little book party!
xxxx
that’s four book givers, not four people! That would be more of a gathering than a party!
Thanks I might just turn up. I am giving my books out at the college where I go for a day but keeping some for other things.
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I am taking poetry to Arsenal fans at the match so I should be able to make it to the South Bank in time for some of the festivities. Would LOVE a copy of The Blind Assassin
We’ll save you one, Alex! Our Deputy-Ed will be wearing a For Books’ Sake t-shirt (have a nosey at our shop page to see what they look like), so keep an eye out for us and come and say hello! Have fun at the match…
The World Book Night event will now be starting at 7 pm….