That’s World Book Night.

What is World Book Night?

World Book Night is an annual celebration designed to spread a love of reading and books. To be held in the U.S. as well as the U.K. and Ireland on April 23, 2012. It will see tens of thousands of people go out into their communities to spread the joy and love of reading by giving out free World Book Night paperbacks.

I discovered this on GoodReads and signed up. Tonight I’ll go to my library to pick up 30 copies of Peace Like a River. I’ll hand out some at the library and then walk through town giving them out till they’re gone. If this were the summer tourist season, it would be easier. But I should be able to drum up 29 people who’d like a free book.

When I signed up to receive the World Book Night books and distribute them on Monday April 23, 2012, I was given a choice of several titles. I chose this one because it sounded like a book that I’d be happy to give anyone.

Here’s a review of it:
August 20, 2002
Hailed as one of the year’s top five novels by Time, and selected as one of the best books of the year by nearly all major newspapers, national bestseller Peace Like a River captured the hearts of a nation in need of comfort. “A rich mixture of adventure, tragedy, and healing, ” Peace Like a River is “a collage of legends from sources sacred and profane — from the Old Testament to the Old West, from the Gospels to police dramas” (Ron Charles, The Christian Science Monitor). In “lyrical, openhearted prose” (Michael Glitz, The New York Post), Enger tells the story of eleven-year-old Reuben Land, an asthmatic boy who has reason to believe in miracles. Along with his sister and father, Reuben finds himself on a cross-country search for his outlaw older brother who has been controversially charged with murder. Their journey is touched by serendipity and the kindness of strangers, and its remarkable conclusion shows how family, love, and faith can stand up to the most terrifying of enemies, the most tragic of fates. Leif Enger’s “miraculous” (Valerie Ryan, The Seattle Times) novel is a “perfect book for an anxious time … of great literary merit that nonetheless restores readers’ faith in the kindness of stories” (Marta Salij, Detroit Free Press).

I am going to hold one copy of the 30 I received to give away here on this blog.

Please leave a comment:
Here are a few questions to reply to:

What famous person’s birthday is April 23rd?
Have you ever heard of this book, Peace Like a River before?
Would you be interested in volunteering to be a book hander-outer next year?

Leave a comment and I’ll enter your name into the drawing for the 30th copy!–Lyn