World Book Night

Yes today is World Book Night.

World Book Night is a  book give-away will comprise 40,000 copies of each of the 25 titles, to be given away by 20,000 ‘givers’, who will each distribute 48 copies of their chosen title to whomever they choose on World Book Night.

For more information you can visit worldbooknight.org

I am a ‘giver’ and I have chosen to give away Stuart A Life Backwards.

“Stuart, A Life Backwards, is the story of a remarkable friendship between a reclusive writer and illustrator ('a middle class scum ponce, if you want to be honest about it, Alexander) and a chaotic, knife-wielding beggar whom he gets to know during a campaign to release two charity workers from prison. Interwoven into this is Stuart's confession: the story of his life, told backwards. With humor, compassion (and exasperation) Masters slowly works back through post-office heists, prison riots and the exact day Stuart discovered violence, to unfold the reasons why he changed from a happy-go-lucky little boy into a polydrug-addicted-alcoholic Jekyll and Hyde personality, with a fondness for what he called 'little strips of silver' (knives to you and me). Funny, despairing, brilliantly written and full of surprises: this is the most original and moving biography of recent years." - Waterstones.com

I wanted to be a giver because books are a huge part of my life. I read and write everyday and I hope that in the future my love of reading and writing will help me in my chosen career. It hasn’t always been this way. I am dyslexic I’ve struggled with spelling, punctuation and grasping things like word patterns all my life. However because I’m not severely dyslexic, I’ve always had a good vocabulary and my reading age is average my dyslexia wasn’t noticed till college and it wasn’t confirmed till I had started my English and Creative writing degree. (I know a dyslexic doing an English degree!)

Anyway I have chosen to distribute my books to college students and my books are being split between a pupil referral centre and a local collage where I am going in to give a talk about dyslexia. I want to show the students that dyslexia or and learning disability doesn’t have to mean you’re not good at something; I don’t want people to just give up like I nearly did so many times.

All of the books given away where meant to be issued with identification numbers so the books can be tracked on their journey however due to overwhelming interest and what I assume has been technical difficulties the second batch of books to be sent to givers have no numbers. I was in the second batch but I have decided that I will do it myself and register all the books at bookcrossing.com so that if the students decide to they are not missing out and can still track their book.

So that’s what ill be doing this weekend. Registering and labelling 48 novels. Despite the technical difficulties I’m very excited honoured and proud to take part in such a worthwhile event. If I can make just one person who wouldn’t normally pick up a book give reading another chance it will be worth it.

So I urge you all to pick up a book this weekend and enjoy the printed word. What are you reading at the moment?

xx