For more information about World Book Night and to get an application to be a book giver next year, go to
www.worldbooknight.org
Katrina Stanfield loves to read — mysteries, memoirs, historical fiction — just about any book she can get her hands on.
On Tuesday, she will devote her evening to sharing her affinity for reading, book by book, with people who don’t read much, if at all.
Stanfield will join 408 volunteers in metro Atlanta in a special books giveaway known as “World Book Night.” Originally started in England three years ago, this marks its second year in the United States, falling on April 23 — William Shakespeare’s birthday. On this one night, 500,000 books will be handed out across the country. In metro Atlanta alone, more than 8,000 books will be given away in an evening designed to inspire reading.
“This is not an on-the-street-corner mass giveaway of free gum or water,” said Carl Lennertz, executive director of World Book Night U.S., a nonprofit based in New York City. “This is a focused, targeted, interactive undertaking. This is person to person, face to face. We ask people if they have read a book lately, and if they say no, we give them a book.”
The books, selected by a panel of booksellers and librarians, are aimed at appealing to adults of all ages and include a mix of mysteries, memoirs and non-fiction. This year’s list also includes a book of poetry.
While the annual book-loving event is designed to reach adults who are light or non-readers, the books include a few for teens and middle-schoolers. This year’s selection includes Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451,” Tracy Chevalier’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” — just in time for metro Atlanta, as the famous painting by that name is coming to the High Museum of Art in June — and Lisa Genova’s “Still Alice.” The publishing houses pay for a special printing of the books selected, and authors waive the royalties.
Each volunteer, or “giver,” as they are called, receives 20 copies of the same book to dole out. The givers obtain the books at bookstores and libraries, which have agreed to be pickup places. The books are then given away at a wide variety of spots — everywhere from nursing homes and prisons to Little League games and diners. (For those interested in participating next year, go to www.worldbooknight.org for information.)
Stanfield plans to hand out books at a Starbucks near her home in Covington.
“I am thinking about the younger crowd, those in their 20s and 30s, who may be tech-savvy and on their computer, but maybe they haven’t picked up a book in a long time,” she said.
Stanfield secured 20 copies of her first choice book — John Grisham’s “Playing for Pizza.”
“I love everything about books,” said Stanfield, 35, an education and technology specialist. “I even love the feel of a book and the feel of flipping the pages. I love how books can take you away from the stress of your everyday life, and it can take you to another place.”
Stanfield said she can’t wait to surprise 20 strangers with the gift of reading. “I can’t wait to tell them that they will love this book. And I can’t wait to see their faces, because I think a book is really a great gift.”
Andrea Salwen, an Atlanta retiree, plans to pass out books at two places where she volunteers — a shelter and the Midtown Assistance Center, a nonprofit organization that helps the working poor by paying utility bills or rent, or assisting with basic needs during a medical or other emergency.
“For you or me, if we want a book, it’s nothing to go to a bookstore and get it. But they cannot afford a book,” said Salwen.
She will be handing out Walter Mosley’s “Devil in a Blue Dress.”
“It’s a great read,” she said. “It’s a mystery and it’s about civil rights. I will tell them, ‘Read 30 pages, and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to read it anymore. But after you read 10 pages, you will not be able to put it down.’ ”
In Marietta, Cathy Blanco, owner of the Book Exchange, happily signed up her bookstore to be a pickup place for givers.
Blanco said the treat is not just for those receiving a book, but for book givers as well, who are bursting with enthusiasm to share their passion for reading.
“I remember a person who went to the Marietta Square last year, and she talked about how great it made her feel to give a person a book. She said the person would say, ‘You would do this for me with no stipulations and no strings attached?’ and she would say, ‘No. This is just a pleasure to give you this book. I read it in the past and loved it.’”
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