World Book Night

This week Monday was World Book Night.  A charitable event created by publishers and the book industry to encourage reading.  They aim to give away 1m books.  Some direct and some via "givers" who nominate themselves online and say which of 25 titles they would like to give away.  If successful the giver has 24 copies of the chosen book delivered to a library or bookshop, they pick them up and then give them away.  Last year I had The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark - a crucial book as it was reading it and being so amazed by its structure that I decided to study English at university.  This year I have Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.  While it has no claims as lofty as Jean Brodie in its impact on my life, it is a terrific book and one I have always loved, partly because of its reflections and links to Jane Eyre - my all time favourite book.  I hope Jane Eyre is on the list one day!

For more information about World Book Night go to www.worldbooknight.org