World Book Night is an annual initiative run every 23 April by charity The Reading Agency.
Working with care homes, youth centres, colleges, prisons, public libraries and mental health groups, The Reading Agency aims to get books to adults who have low literacy levels or who do not read for pleasure, isolated and vulnerable people, and similar groups.
The books chosen to be given away tonight are listed at World Book Night – Books. Events are taking place across the country all day.
I asked for suggestions from some of my friends and followers for their favourite books.
Here’s a small selection:
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
The Far Pavilions – MM Kaye
A Prayer for Owen Meany – John Irving
Cooking in a Bedsitter – Katherine Whitehorn
Trumpet – Jackie Kay
Cider With Rosie – Laurie Lee
How To Be a Woman – Caitlin Moran
The Aeneid – Virgil
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy
The Reader – Bernhard Schlink
Wild Swans – Jung Chang
The Patron Saint of Liars – Ann Patchett
Do you have a favourite book, a comfort blanket or something that has influenced or inspired you?