World Book Night 2013

World Book Night is a celebration of books and reading.

We are passionate about books, bookshops and libraries but above all else about encouraging everyone to read.

We recruit passionate volunteers to help us spread a love of reading in communities across the country.

Each one of 20,000 volunteers gives 20 copies of one of 20 books which WBN has hand-picked and specially produced to people who don't regularly read to encourage them to do so. Volunteer givers collect the specially printed copies of their books from their local bookshop or library. WBN is free to participate in for all.

I received my email last night to say that I have been picked as a giver for World Book Night 2013. This year I have picked Me Before You by JoJo Moyes as it was a book I thoroughly enjoyed last year.

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

On April 23rd I will have 20 copies to give away to people who maybe aren't quite as passionate a reader as I am. Last year I picked The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and still have a couple of copies left if anyone local would like one.