World Book Night is an annual celebration of reading and books during which tens of thousands of people share books with others in their communities. Held on April 23, the anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth and death, the purpose of World Book Night is to spread the joy and love of reading.
2012 marked the first World Book Night celebrated in the United States. It also celebrated the first World Book Night in which the POP Project participated.
Malaprop’s bookstore in downtown Asheville delivered our 20 copies of the “The History of Love,” and we could not have been more excited! We regularly get the chance to deliver books to people, but this was our first opportunity to participate in a global campaign!
The weather on World Book Night was not all we hoped it could be. The temperature dipped to 15 degrees below average, and excessive wind gusts brought a wind chill another 10 degrees below that. But we didn’t let that get us down! Two POP staff and one intrepid volunteer (thanks, Chris!) set up near the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, home of Asheville’s greatest native author.
We hope that this year’s book recipients enjoy their novel, and that the book inspires them to give back next year!