Cathy's Talking About World Book Night

World Book Night is an annual celebration designed to spread a love of reading and books, to be held in the U.S. as well as the U.K. and Ireland on April 23, 2012. It will see tens of thousands of people go out into their communities to spread the joy and love of reading by giving out free World Book Night paperbacks.This is the first time the U.S will be joining in the celebration.

U.S. World Book Night facts:
500,000 specially printed free books
25,000 Givers
5,800 Towns and cities participating

The list is very contemporary because  the books are all by living authors who generously agreed to forgo their royalties.  The publishers gave the rights to special editions of each book.  The 30 titles represent a diverse selection that will appeal to a broad range of  interests and experiences.  (See the whole list HERE.)

April 23 is the UNESCO International Day of the Book, chosen in honor of Shakespeare and Cervantes, who both died on April 23 1616. (It is also the anniversary of Shakespeare's birthday.) In the Catalan region of Spain, the day is celebrated by giving a book and a flower to a loved one. We also hope that it's a lovely spring day perfect for spreading the love of reading in your community. (Click here to learn about Tattered Cover's celebration of Book and Lovers Day)

Cathy's Pick for her WBN Giveaway Book:

"I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice--not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because
of Owen Meany."

In the summer of 1953, two eleven-year-old boys--best friends--are playing in a Little League baseball game in Gravesend, New Hampshire. One of the boys hits a foul ball that kills the other boy's mother. The boy who hits the ball doesn't believe in accidents; Owen Meany believes he is God's instrument. What happens to Owen, after that 1953 foul ball, is extraordinary.