Spreading the Love of Reading Person to Person

Editor's Note: Our colleagues in Northern California are sharing this story and one of the participating book stores is Small World Books in Venice.

Anyone who knows Michael Barnard, the long time owner of the Danville independent bookstore, Rakestraw Books, appreciates his passion for books. He’s shared that love with locals for years, inspiring and introducing them to great local and national authors.

Today’s he’s joining thousands of bookstores and libraries that are participating in World Book Night 2012 in the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland. An estimated 50,000 book givers in the United States alone are expected to hand out half a million books donated by publishers for needy groups and organizations. Barnard recruited more than 50 people, mostly customers, and others who volunteered by signing up as Givers on the World Book Night 2012 web site, so-called because on that evening they will be giving away a big box of new paperbacks donated by publishers. Each Giver chose the book to give away from a list of 25, which includes everything from Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games to Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried.” 

 “It’s a great way to spread the love of books,” Barnard said as he handed out boxes of books to local Givers at an informal meet-up at his cozy downtown store on April 16. “And it’s fun.

Local Givers include Marilyn Marquis, an instructor of English as a second language at Las Positas College in Livermore who promised 100 books to the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. At the Rakestraw Books meet-up the Danville resident connected with others who opted to pool their books and join her at the jail. “I came tonight hoping I’d connect with others who would donate their books to the jail,” said Marquis, who is giving out “The Namesake,” by Jhumpa Lahiri, a best seller about an immigrant family from India.

 For William “Andy” Blick, Senior Vice President for Wealth Management at MorganStanley SmithBarney in Pleasanton, it’s all about inspiring others to find the joy in reading.

 “My family has been coming here to Rakestraw for years,” said Blick, who will be giving away “A Prayer for Owen Meaney,” by John Irving.  “We are a reading family. This is a way to share that.”

 World Book Night is an annual celebration designed to spread a love of reading and books. Launched in the U.K. in 2011, this is the first time U.S. book lovers have participated. April 23 is also UNESCO’s World Book Day, chosen to coincide with the anniversary of Miguel de Cervantes’ death, as well as William Shakespeare’s birth and death.

THE BOOKS 

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian Author: Sherman Alexie

Wintergirls Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Author: Maya Angelou

Friday Night Lights Author: H.G. Bissinger

Kindred Author: Octavia Butler

Ender's Game Author: Orson Scott Card

Little Bee Author: Chris Cleave

The Hunger Games Author: Suzanne Collins

Blood Work Author: Michael Connelly

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Author: Junot Diaz

Because of Winn Dixie Author: Kate DiCamillo

Zeitoun Author: Dave Eggers

Peace Like a River Author: Leif Enger

A Reliable Wife Author: Robert Goolrick

Q is for Quarry Author: Sue Grafton

The Kite Runner Author: Khaled Hosseini

A Prayer for Owen Meany Author: John Irving

The Stand Author: Stephen King

The Poisonwood Bible Author: Barbara Kingsolver

The History of Love Author: Nicole Krauss

The Namesake Author: Jhumpa Lahiri

The Things They Carried Author: Tim O'Brien

Bel Canto Author: Ann Patchett

My Sister's Keeper Author: Jodi Picoult

Housekeeping Author: Marilynne Robinson

Lovely Bones Author: Alice Sebold

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Author: Rebecca Skloot

Just Kids Author: Patti Smith

The Glass Castle Author: Jeannette Walls

The Book Thief Author: Markus Zusak


Marcia Parker is the West Coast Editorial Director Patch. She participated as a Giver at the Santa Rita Jail for World Book Night.