World Book Day UK winner announced – World Book Day in the UK came and went, and it was recognised better in some places than in others 
). However, one of the most important events taking place yesterday if you remember, was the announcement of the winner of the Spread the Word 2009 campaign. That winner, the one chosen to proudly bear the title of The Book to Talk About 2009 was….[drum roll]…The Season of the Witch by Natasha Mostert. So, great big heart congratulations to Natasha, and commiserations to all of the worthy ‘shortlisters‘ who ‘fell’ at the last hurdle (although the fact that you made it to the shortlist means you didn’t ‘fall’ at all)!
65% of people lie about reading classics – Talking of World Book Day, the Guardian are reporting on a bookish poll that tied in with the event, which revealed some startling facts about UK readers. I’ve already mentioned the 65% in the ‘bite’ headline but did you also know that many readers skip right to the end of the book to find out what happens, missing out a massive chunk of the middle through impatience? Oh the shame of it! If I ever start lying about reading a book which I haven’t read, or skip any of a book to get to the end, then you have full permission to drag me out into the street and bludgeon me to death with copies of Vikrem Seth’s A Suitable Boy, whose size and weight will ensure a thorough job.
Happy 82nd Birthday Gabo! – You read right! It’s Columbian writer Gabriel García Márquez’s birthday today and he’s celebrating his 82nd year on this planet (although some sources put his birth at 1928). Whatever his true age, it’s a great achievement!
About Rob