Just the knowledge that a good book is
awaiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier.
Kathleen Norris (Poet
and Essayist)
As usual, Book
lovers gathered to share stories, laugh, recommend books and wander the endless
shelves of wonderful books at the Edmonds Bookshop. This day we were celebrating World Book Night.
April 23rd is William Shakespeare’s celebrated
birthday, and it’s World Book Night.
Each year on that night, World Book Givers across the country give away
books that are donated by the authors and publishers. The books are given to those who don’t
regularly read or don’t have access to printed books. In 2013 Givers across the country handed out
half a million printed books in 6,200 towns and cities, including Edmonds. And here we are again.
There were 22 Edmonds Givers who picked up a box of books to
give away. The plans for the Night were
as varied as the books. For example, Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean
Myers is a young adult book with mature themes about the war in Iraq. Our Giver is donating copies to the
Meadowdale Middle School Libraries, particularly to encourage reluctant reader
boys to pick up this powerful writing.
Do you like provocative short stories? Bobcat by
Rebecca Lee is a stirring collection, showing people at their most vulnerable
and compelled to make sense of their human condition. Our very own Edmonds Bookshop owner will be
looking to surprise some seldom readers who are riding the ferry with a copy. Last year she was Giving copies of Language of Flowers by Vanessa
Diffenbaugh, about a foster child who was turned out from her foster family at
18 with nothing. She was especially touched by a woman who had
commented that she was ready to turn out her son near that age. By the end of the ferry ride the woman ran up
excited that she was already on page 30, hadn’t read in so long, and was just
loving this book. A connection.
The Raven Warrior by
Vincent Pratchett was chosen by a teenager who is spending his 13th
birthday handing out this gift of reading in Edmonds with his dad. Happy Birthday Ryan Kennedy! Thank you for being a Giver. You’ve chosen a mystical Arthurian style
legend with a wizard and his witch in the Middle Kingdom.
Presumed Innocent by
Scott Turow will be enjoyed by commuters at the train station. This thriller is described as a real page
turner. Sounds like a hit for a
potential reader starved for a book in the hand.
Last year a Giver handed out David Sedaris’ book Me Talk Pretty One Day by the Market in
Seattle. She was so touched by a woman
who was an out of work French teacher.
The woman stayed in touch and said how she couldn’t put the book down
until she was done because it had really raised her spirit. This book developed a friendship. Now she’s back to Give again, this time The Zookeepers Wife by Diane
Ackerman. It’s an inspiring book during
World War II and helping with the resistance when Germany invaded Poland.
Another Giver is a hiking enthusiast who will be Giving Wild by Cheryl Strayed to potential
readers at Costco Gas and at the Edmonds Beach.
She is a person who loves the outdoors and the Pacific Crest Trail. She has fond memories of growing up hiking
parts of that trail in Washington with her Dad. She’s hiked 78 miles of the PCT in Washington
with her son. This year she’ll spend a
month solo hiking from Oregon to Canada.
She’s hoping this book will inspire people to do one thing, whatever
that thing is, to do that one thing they’ve always wanted to do.
The World Book Night Givers are excited to be out on the
streets again, sharing stories. And
don’t forget, “A book is a gift you can open again and again.” -Garrison Keillor
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