Today is World Book Night. This is my second year of signing up for the event. Last year I gave away 25 copies of The Time Traveler’s Wife. This year I am giving away 20 copies of Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson, in which you can read my review here.
My review contains some minor spoiler but I have rated five stars on an emotional read of Jeanette Winterson’s life and for a year or so, I have wanted to share this book with everyone. My entry to participate in this World Book Night was this:
“I put my name on the bag early this year hoping that I will be a better in publicising my news on giving away the books, given that I do love giving away books especially to people that hardly reads or couldn’t find the motivation to read.
I will endeavour to reach out to people who find it hard to read or has never read a good book and to show them how a good book would potentially change a person’s life. Books have changed Jeanette Winterson’s life.
In Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?, Jeanette recalled her sad childrenhood, growing up with a domineering and religiously stoic mother who watch over what Jeanette reads and make a bonfire out of books that are deemed unsuitable, Jeanette was driven to despair and emotional deprivation. Through her later adult life disappointment and experience, I read with pain and familiarity of how one never entirely forget a painful childhood and a traumatic adolescence and it was with books and writing that Jeanette restore her faith in life and keep herself from living and loving.
This is one of my favourite book last year and Jeanette Winterson is one of my favourite authors. I look forward to receiving my 20 copies from World Book Night this April and a big thanks for selecting me as a giver.”
I have sent half of the stack of the book to my colleague, Lauren, in the Housing Association I work for. Lauren works with underprivileged young people and help them get back to work. Lauren has 10 youth under her wings. I requested Lauren to give them each a copy of this book. I would have like to take a photo of the giveaway but due to confidentiality issue, I can’t.
Lauren is a committed Opportunity Plus Officer who cares about the young people that she works with and often Yammers (A corporate Facebooky type of social network we have at work) about the her good work in our company’s intranet. So I hope the young people find their life inspiration through this book.
The other 10 copies I will be giving it away to my colleagues and people around my neighbourhood, which I think would not normally read. A good thing about giving the books to my colleagues is that every so often when I see them every few months, I will follow up and ask if they have read the book or not! 😉
So open to UK residents only, one copy is up for draw for my blog readers. If you want to win a copy please leave a comment in this blog post and tell me why you want to read this. I am sticking to the giver’s principle. As most of you who are readers of my blog are voracious readers, you will enter my draw on one condition: that is to pass it on to someone who do not normally read after you have finished reading it.
Deal? If so, you have till end of the month on the 30th of April to put your name in the hat!
See other titles in World Book Night 2013 UK and events around the UK.
“The more I read the more I fought against the assumption that literature is for the minority – of a particular education or class. Books were my birthright too.” Jeanette Winterson, Why be happy when you could be normal?
Why 23rd April?
April 23 is a symbolic date for world literature. It is both the birth and death day of Shakespeare, as well as the death day of Cervantes, the great Spanish novelist. It is in their honour that UNESCO appointed it the international day of the book and that we choose it to celebrate World Book Night. April 23rd also marks the city of Barcelona’s celebration of St George’s Day. St George is the patron saint of Catalonia as well as England and traditionally, to celebrate this day, Spanish gentlemen gave their ladies roses and the ladies returned the favour with a book. Considering the rich literary history of this day, it seemed more than fitting that April 23rd should be chosen as the day of celebrating reading and the giving of books!
JoV's Book Pyramid 
I love the idea of World Book Day. For us, it is tomorrow in the US. I am giving out 20 copies of Looking for Alaska by John Green and am really looking forward to it. I’ll post tomorrow
Posted by Helen Murdoch | April 23, 2013, 12:33 amHelen,
That’s awesome! I would love to read one of John Green too. Have fun at World Book Night!
Posted by JoV | April 23, 2013, 9:11 amToo bad I’m not residing in the UK 🙂
Posted by Marvin | April 23, 2013, 1:08 amMarvin,
There is always a next time!
Posted by JoV | April 23, 2013, 9:19 amI’m giving away copies of Vanessa Diffenbaugh’s The Language of Flowers tomorrow night, which is World Book Night in the states. I’m giving them away at a nursing home facility for the elderly called Manor Care, and I hope it will bless the people who receive it. Isn’t this a marvelous event in which to be involved?
Posted by Bellezza | April 23, 2013, 1:27 amBellezza,
It is truly amazing Bellezza. I hope you have great fun giving away the books! 🙂
Posted by JoV | April 23, 2013, 9:15 amI love that you gave away half of your stack to your colleague who has handed them out to vulnerable and under-privileged youth. I think that is a beautiful idea. I aim to bring drama to the same group with the charity theatre group I work for.
I haven’t read Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal but I would like too because I have only heard and read great things about it.
Posted by jessicabookworm | April 23, 2013, 6:40 amJessica,
Ok then I will put your name in the bag for the draw!
Posted by JoV | April 23, 2013, 9:15 amThank you 🙂
Posted by jessicabookworm | April 24, 2013, 10:30 amI’ll also be giving away Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? Hope you enjoying giving this wonderful book away!
Posted by Jennifer Wallace | April 23, 2013, 7:37 amJennifer,
What a coincidence! I love the book to bits. I hope you enjoy giving away the book too! Nothing beats the smile on the person’s face. 🙂
Posted by JoV | April 23, 2013, 9:16 amIt was certainly an experience. I had a mixed bag of reactions but the smiles and bookish chats made the knock-backs bearable. Hope all goes well for you!
Posted by Jennifer Wallace | April 23, 2013, 7:06 pmJennifer,
I usually hand out books to people I know. I haven’t tried giving out to strangers before but I’ll try this weekend! lol 🙂
Posted by JoV | April 23, 2013, 7:53 pmThis is a wonderful thing you are doing, Jo! So proud of you and admire you so much! It is wonderful to spread the joy of reading around, especially to young people who can’t get the books themselves. It is wonderful what your colleague Lauren is doing – she is such an inspiration.
Posted by Vishy | April 23, 2013, 11:12 amVishy,
Yes she is. I told her she can earn a lot by being a recruitment consultant. She said she doesn’t want to work for the recruitment firms, what she does is more rewarding. I do agree with her!
Posted by JoV | April 23, 2013, 1:13 pmThis seems like it would be so fun! (I am too shy to do such a thing myself!) I hope you have fun and let us know how it went!
Posted by rhapsodyinbooks | April 23, 2013, 12:05 pmJill,
Awww Jill… why would you be? I think you would make a GREAT giver! Sign-up next year please! 🙂
Posted by JoV | April 23, 2013, 1:13 pmThis is an excellent choice for Wolrd Book Night. I’ve started it three times and put it aside every time because I like it so much and want to savour it. A bit silly but I do that sometimes.
Posted by Caroline | April 23, 2013, 12:09 pmCaroline,
I am glad you love this book. Did you eventually finish it? 😉 It is a book that is meant to be savoured.
Posted by JoV | April 23, 2013, 1:18 pmNot yet. It’s a painful read for me. My mother was very similar. 😦
Posted by Caroline | April 24, 2013, 5:11 amYou thought well about distributing the books – sounds like they are all ending up with deserving people. I should read the book sometime – but since I’m not in the UK, i won’t enter this giveaway. Happpy Book Night!
Posted by Leeswammes | April 23, 2013, 2:24 pmJudith,
I hope you do read the book. It is very touching.
I’m still waiting for your green light on “It’s Fine By Me.” hint hint. 😉
Posted by JoV | April 23, 2013, 7:56 pmHmm, yeah, I should read that sometime soon. It’s a good thing you’re hinting – it MAY work! 🙂
Posted by Leeswammes | April 23, 2013, 8:20 pmJudith,
No pressure Judith. lol 🙂
Posted by JoV | April 23, 2013, 9:12 pmHave fun passing out the loot!
Posted by Ti | April 23, 2013, 4:56 pmThanks Ti! Always good to give books away….!
Posted by JoV | April 23, 2013, 7:56 pmSounds like your books are going out to some excellent and well deserving places and people. I haven’t read this one but have heard many good things about it. I am giving The Reader by Bernhard Schlink. Enjoy your WBN.
Posted by Lindsay @ The Little Reader Library | April 23, 2013, 6:08 pmLindsay,
Wow! Lindsay. The Reader is one of my favourite books of all time. Moves me to tears that one. Hope to hear of your experience. Enjoy your WBN too. 😉
Posted by JoV | April 23, 2013, 7:54 pmVery inspiring. Sometimes when I am through with a book rather than just have it gather dust I leave it in a food court in a Manila mall with a note saying free book.
Posted by Mel u | April 24, 2013, 9:06 amMel U,
I hope the locals find joy in reading through your kindness.
Thanks for stopping by.
Posted by JoV | April 24, 2013, 10:06 amWhat a great book to celebrate our differences. Congrats on being a WBN host.
Posted by Diane@BibliophilebytheSea | April 25, 2013, 12:41 amDiane,
Thank you. Winterson writes with raw honesty that really move me.
Posted by JoV | April 25, 2013, 9:58 amI gave away the reader ,all bar two at work ,all the best stu
Posted by winstonsdad | April 25, 2013, 4:59 pmStu,
That’s a great book. A favourite of mine. I hope your colleagues enjoy it.
Posted by JoV | April 25, 2013, 7:24 pm