The titles for this year’s World Book Night (the UK version) were announced today. I’m rather underwhelmed by the selection to the point that for the first time in 5 years I’m probably not going to volunteer to be a giver. It’s disappointing because the objectives of this event are so worthwhile.
Of the 15 featured titles on the World Book Night site I have read precisely zero. I’ve heard of just two: S.J. Parris’ historical fiction work Treachery and Carol Ann Duffy’s collection Love Poems. Both sound perfectly fine though clearly they can’t have interested me that much since I’ve not bought them or borrowed from the library. There is a third (Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose) which I know is a film but didn’t realise was first a book.
It’s making it very difficult to decide which book I’d want to donate.
I’ve never had this problem before. Some years I’ve felt spoiled for choice. But some of these books are in genres I never read. If I’ve never read the book I don’t feel comfortable recommending it to other people.
Are any of you planning to be volunteers this year? What do you think of the choices?