WSwan LBC - The Eyre Affair - GUEST

White Swan LBC

Venue: White Swan Leeds

Date:  Sunday 12th of May 2012

Time:  6:00pm

Address: Swan Street, Leeds

Discussing:

THE EYRE AFFAIR

JASPER FFORDE

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Thanks to Helen for this epic write up! She's been contributing so much, I think we'll have to create her own book shelf page!  

About the book

By Lurazeda, found on Deviant Art.
Ain't it awesome?

Pirouetting on the boundaries between sci-fi, the crime thriller and intertextual whimsy, Jasper Fforde's outrageous The Eyre Affair puts you on the wrong footing even on its dedication page, which proudly announces that the book conforms to Crimean War economy standard.

Fforde's heroine, Thursday Next, lives in a world where time and reality are endlessly mutable--someone has ensured that the Crimean War never ended for example--a world policed by men like her disgraced father, whose name has been edited out of existence. She herself polices text--against men like the Moriarty-like Acheron Styx, whose current scam is to hold the minor characters of Dickens' novels to ransom, entering the manuscript and abducting them for execution and extinction one by one. When that caper goes sour, Styx moves on to the nation's most beloved novel--an oddly truncated version of Jane Eyre--and kidnaps its heroine. 

The phlegmatic and resourceful Thursday pursues Acheron across the border into a Leninist Wales and further to Mr Rochester's Thornfield Hall, where both books find their climax on the roof amid flames.

Meet Thursday Next, literary detective without equal, fear or boyfriend. There is another 1985, where London’s criminal gangs have moved into the lucrative literary market, and Thursday Next is on the trail of the new crime wave’s MR Big. Acheron Hades has been kidnapping certain characters from works of fiction and holding them to ransom. Jane Eyre is gone. Missing.

Thursday sets out to find a way into the book to repair the damage. But solving crimes against literature isn’t easy when you also have to find time to halt the Crimean War, persuade the man you love to marry you, and figure out who really wrote Shakespeare’s plays.

Perhaps today just isn’t going to be Thursday’s day. Join her on a truly breathtaking adventure, and find out for yourself. Fiction will never be the same again ...

About the Author

Jasper Fforde traded a varied career in the film industry for staring out of the window and chewing the end of a pencil. He lives and works in Wales and has a passion for aviation.

From the Author

Welcome to the inside of my head. Apart from a few panicked memories about getting lost in a department store aged five, my imagination is a pleasant enough place to be - if you’re me. If you’re not me then you can do the next best thing and order up 'The Eyre Affair’ and have a read. There should be something to appeal to most readers as the plot visits, at one time or another, most genres - thriller, crime, romance, humour, sci-fi, literary - a veritable Swiss army knife in fact; if you don’t like a subplot then wait awhile - another is sure to pop up soon. 

Over here at the Fforde Ffiction Ffactory we have many more novels bubbling away in our cauldron as well as a Thursday Next website and much else besides.

But for now I wish you health and happiness - and trust you have as much fun reading 'The Eyre Affair’ as I did

Helen's Review

It’s been a year since I went to my first LBC meeting and felt it would be fitting to write this review. However at the time I hadn’t read it. It took just over a day to finish it and, boy am I glad I did. This book blew me away and I didn’t know it was part of a series and can’t wait to get my hands on the next one. This was chosen by Alison to read and was LeedsBookClub's choice to give away at World Book night this year.

It was on a sunny Sunday evening sat in the cosy settings of The White Swan that our story begins, talk of Dodo’s as pets (actually happens in the book), Twitter identities, the story from monsters made of bubble wrap to a scary impression of Kate Bush and the fact that when you bite heads off jelly babies, they know!

To the book and here we meet Thursday Next, our heroine, Lover of books and a literary detective. Her job/role is to deal with illegal traders, fraudsters and copyright infringements. Living alone with only her regenerated pet dodo named Pickwick. An ambitious young lady wanting to further her career but unable to do so until she meets with Hades, A criminal ,mastermind out to bring characters into our world or banish them forever! 

From gothic fiction (Jane Eyre) to mention of Shakespeare and meeting characters from Charles Dickens this book dips in and out of different worlds yet keeping us firmly on our feet.  This book introduces us to so many worlds and with so much going on you would think the story and characters would be watered down, but they’re not. You’re sucked into another dimension without realising until you come back down with a thump on your sofa when the story ends.

I loved the fact that this book was based in England, there sometimes seem very few and the fact it used classic stories and twisted them into a sci-fi/ mystery adventure. It is probably only in books and in films where the impossible can become the possible. The fact that there is a magic machine which can extract characters from books into the real world, to be able to meet our heroes and heroines of our favourite stories, in Thursday Next’s case it was Rochester from Jane Eyre, who appears a few times to save her and in return she brings Jane back to him.

During the discussion a question was asked about the problem where we find what happens we fall in love with books, bringing the story to life in our minds is that sometimes we find to have someone else make it into a tv series or film may spoil the feeling of the book, spoil the journey you made with the characters like in the book, people were in uproar as the story changed in front of the eyes, demanding it be returned to it’s original form, however drab it was. Today TV & filmmakers do the same as it is their vision of the story, and especially if their 
idea comes from a book, sometimes they can make it how we see it or improve it, sometimes they can destroy it. But in the end stories are to be told and shared in whatever form.

And finally for people who have not read Jane Eyre but have read this would you go to the original now? Just food for thought. 

Best line - ‘Wotcha, Doofus!’

Reason to read it – The Dodo still exists and you can have it as a pet!

Score -  

8/10

For further details, please email me at leedsbookclub@gmail.com or tweet me @LeedsBookClub! 

The Pub can be contacted on @WhiteSwanLeeds

And feel free to let us know your thoughts using #WSwanLBC!

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WSwanLBC

17 - Jun - The Fire Gospel - Michel Faber
16 - May - The Eyre Affair - Jasper FForde
15 - Apr - The Waterproof Bible - Andrew Kaufman - GUEST
14 - Mar - The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak - GUEST
13 - Feb - Weight - Jeanette Winterson - GUEST
12 - Jan - Revolutionary Road - Richard Yates

11 - Nov - Lighthouse Keeping - Jeanette Winterson

10 - Oct - Winter's Bone Daniel Woodrell

09 - Sep - The Wind Up Bird Chronicles - Haruki Murakami 

08 - Aug - The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ - Philip Pullman

07 - Jul - American Gods - Neil Gaiman

06 - Jun - The Travelling Hornplayer - Barbara Trapido

05 - May - Atomised - Michel Houellebecq - GUEST

04 - Apr - Even the Dogs - Jon McGregor

03 - Mar - Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut

02 - Feb - The Swan Thieves - Elizabeth Kostova 

01 - Jan - Suttree - Cormac McCarthy

First Book Picked

I'm just full of good ideas...WSwanLBC  

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Book Club - Table of Contents

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Full Table of Contents 

World Book Night Prizes!

Leeds Book Club is thrilled to announce the following prizes for our World Book Night extravaganza!

Waterstones have very kindly provided us with vouchers - perfect for book lovers and emerging readers alike. The Leeds branch is choka-full of enthusiastic staff members who will help you find the ideal treat! Say hi @WaterstoneLeeds

Our friends at the West Yorkshire Playhouse are providing us with tickets to see Sherlock Holmes - The Best Kept Secret  - a new adventure for the redoubtable Holmes and his faithful Watson, written by Leeds playwrite Mark Catley. 
As we've actually read some Sherlock mysteries across the book clubs (and developed a near unhealthy obsession with Benedict Cumberbatch in the process), this is the perfect mix of literature and theatre and LEEDS for us!  

OK Comics - one of my must-visit haunts in Leeds - have also been following World Book Night with interest. However, Jared (@OKComics) and Ollie (@mysterypickles) aren't convinced that World Book Night pick Judge Dredd: The Dark Judges is the comic that they would have picked to share and distribute on the 23rd. So each have picked a title and are providing us with copies as prizes! Huzzah for OK Comics!

Harrogate Theatre has also been in touch. As literary minded sorts, they thought that tickets to their upcoming show - The Count of Monte Cristo - would be an appropriate way of celebrating World Book Night! 
You can find more details about the production on our Events page as well as free copies of the eBook behind the play HERE. 

Each of our venues will also be provided a 'bottle of something a bit nice' for a lucky WBN attendee - so huge thanks also to @MedusaBar and @WhiteSwanLeeds. Not only brilliant and generous hosts for our book clubs; they really do go that extra mile to make us feel at home!!

Not that we need booze to feel at home of course. 

Finally - though not a prize that anyone can take home with them on the night - I'd have gone totally scatty without Kirsty (@Gazpachodragon) - #WSwanLBC host on the 23rd and Quiz Maker extraordinaire. She has been an absolute gem throughout organising this and takes everything that I've thrown at her on board with a humour and grace that has been inspirational!

Three Cheers for our awesome #WBN gift givers and helper-outer!!!

Hope to see you at either White Swan Leeds or Medusa on the 23rd!

World Book Night 2013 - Our events!

On Tuesday the 23rd of April, we are going to be celebrating World Book Night.

We'd love to invite you to attend the following:

Leeds Book Club (and Maths Jam)

at the White Swan - City Centre

FB                                                                     Leeds Inspired                                             

Book swap - 7pm                                              Epic Book Based Quiz - 9pm

The rather spectacular @Gazpachodragon will be hosting our second WBN night in the heart of the city. There will be a variety of WBN titles to pick from, as well as other second hand books. Attendees are encouraged to bring along books to swap. Bags for swag are also strongly recommended!

After the resounding success of last years cake table, I'm delighted to confirm that there will be even more delicious treats available as both the pub and epic book clubbers will be bringing along buns, cakes and all manner of baked goodies. If you're a natural in the kitchen, don't hesitate to rustle up a batch yourself!

Believe it or not - there's more! Kirsty has been putting her legend- wait-for-it -dary Quiz creating skills to good use and has devised a fabulous book based quiz. We've been collecting some amazing prizes from some of the best - to be announced later this week!

Leeds Book Club

at Medusa Bar - Horsforth

FB                                                                     Leeds Inspired                                             

Book swap - 7pm                                              Epic Book Based Quiz - 9pm

For those not based in the city centre, why not join me in Horsforth. I'll be hosting a WBN swap from 7pm giving away Jasper FForde's The Eyre Affair (co-incidentally one of our upcoming White Swan book choices) - one of my favourite books - so as you can imagine I'm hugely excited to be able to share this with others.

Additionally, our general book swap is going to be big. How big? Well, apparently the pile we've already collected could quite happily facilitate the opening of a small book store so the chances of you finding your next perfect read is high!

I'll be hosting a massive book swap and WBN giveaway from 7pm in our regular book clubbing venue in Horsforth.

On top of that, we'll be holding the Epic Book Based Quiz with exciting prizes to win - yes it's the same quiz described above as I do *NOT* share Kirsty talent. But it's on at the exact same time - so unless you are actually Doctor Who - don't expect any advantages!!

Finally - though not technically an LBC event - I can't not mention the TSL event at Arcadia. It is after all how I was introduced to World Book Night and is always a huge success, a right laugh and tons of fun!

Travelling Suitcase Library

at Arcadia Bar - Headingley

FB                                                                     Leeds Inspired                                         

Join the TSL for it's third annual WBN celebration at the fabulous Arcadia Bar in Headingley. I think it's safe to say this will be an AWESOME night as there are a huge range of books on offer.

Also, the TS Librarian has special superpowers and can tell what you NEED to read just by looking at you. 

Seriously, it's like a gift. You should totally see it in action. Uncanny.

To join in our celebration on Twitter, feel free to use the following: #WBN2013 #WBN #MedusaLBC #WSwanLBC #LiteraryLeeds

WBN 2013-The Books BookElf's Verdict

Once again, World Book Night managed to send me my 'apply to be a giver!' email a whole days after I had already done so, but apart from that this year I'd like to say BLOODY WELL DONE. From a reading for pleasure promoter's (working on the job title...) point of view this is a fantastic list, one I can definitely work with and it shows that they are listening, and have learnt. Two biographies, an accessible classic, more YA, and a Graphic Novel (that's also about to be a film), this is a list that might not get already avid reader's hearts singing, but as a way of introducing people to reading for pleasure as a socially acceptable activity, or enticing people back into reading this is perfect.
What to do
1) look at the list of books below, try not to make my massive ranting cloud your judgement.

2) choose your top three
3) go to the World Book Night website and register yourself as a giver.
4) join me and some other book lovers, as well as the regulars and not-so-regulars of my local, Arcadia, on the 23 April to a celebration of reading for pleasure!

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

The 50th Anniversary of the first James Bond film, this book is a timely inclusion that should be quite popular. I've never actually read a James Bond book, but it is a good choice.

Damage by Josephine Hart

To be honest, I've never heard of it and know nothing about it. Anyone read it? Any good?

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

Jasper Fforde's fans are legendary in their commitment to this series, and their love for his quirky style of writing. Myself personally I couldn't get into this and abandoned half way through, but I know of a LOT of book lovers who I know will be applying for this book and enthusiasm is always the best way to promote so go go gadget fans!

Girl with a Pearl Earring-Tracy Chevalier

I went through a really big Travy Chevalier stage in my Youth, and loved her historical fiction, and this is by far her best. A nice plot, lovely writing and also handily links to an alright film, this should be popular.

The Knife of Never Letting Go-Patrick Ness

My love of Patrick Ness knows no bounds-he supports libraries, he is tireless in his promotion of reading with younger people and is a multiple winner of the Carnegie Prize and other various prizes-this one won the Guardian's Children's Prize, which I REALLY hope they don't put on the cover of the WBN version. This is the first in a spectacularly epic trilogy which, to be honest, I haven't read because they are all about 400 pages long and never stay on my work library long enough. Dystopia fans should get into this.

Last Night Another Solider-Andy McNab

There's a Quick Read!!!!!!!!!! This is fantastic news, and yes it might be Andy McGuns, but this is the sort of thing that gets especially older people reading-I know this from experience. This isn't the best of the Quick Reads and I'd have much rather seen Chris Ryan's war one but anyone living in squaddie towns would be well off thinking about using this.

Little Face-Sophie Hannah

I've read one Sophie Hannah (The Point of Rescue) and it scared the bejaysus out of me. Her books, psychological police thrillers, are very accomplished but also accessible, and fans of Scando Noir would enjoy her. This is her debut and I should look out for it.

A Little History of the World-E.H. Gombrich

I've never heard of this book but upon some investigation I'm now fascinated by it. A best seller in Vienna in 1935, written in six weeks by the then 26 year old Gombrich who had been commissioned to write a history of the world for younger readers, this tells the story of mankind from the stone age to the modern age.  The reviews of it are consistently wonderful, I've already ordered a copy for work and it just sounds lovely. If I had already read it, I would probably go for this as I like this sort of book quite a lot!

Me Before You-Jojo Moyles

Oh how much do I hate this book! I got so cross with it, I had to stop reading it and throw it at the wall a couple of times. However. This book has been borrowed more from my work library than any other book this year. I've had a million conversations with students recommending it to their friends and it never ever stays on the shelf. I put it on display and it's out in half an hour. It was a massive bestseller, was in every single shop window for about six months and people love it. I strongly suspect, however, that the reason they've said 'yes' to putting it on is that they've already made as much money as humanly possible from this book and she's got a new one out next year and a re-release of her back-catalogue, but that's me being cynical...

The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency-Alexander McCall Smith

This book is yet another example of why I don't have a soul. I don't get the obsession people have with this series at all. My mum loved them, my boss eats them. I find them boring and twee and completely lacking in substance, but not crap enough to constitute a guilty pleasure. BUT again, they are incredibly popular, and I've seen a lot of people take them as their first book on the various reading challenges I do, and the Travelling Suitcase Library never keeps them in for the same session. Will be a popular choice, so get in there quick.

Noughts and Crosses-Malorie Blackman

The World Book Night people should receive a massive big up for including this one, which I've chosen in my application. A brilliantly written, intense book about race in a dystopia which makes you think and cry and fall in love. The characters are two young people from opposite sides, but they are real teenagers, not this glittery feisty vampire nonsense, and their problems are so well described, whilst being totally accessible. I love this series of books, and again this never ever stays on the shelf and every single young person I recommend it to loves it. Not sure how it'll go down in a pub but hey ho, I don't care, it's ace.

Red Dust Road-Jackie Kay

One of the two memoirs included, I've never read this but ForBooksSake love it, so I'm guessing it is going to be pretty good. It also won Scottish Book of the Year, so guess where this is going to be popular...

The Secret Scripture-Sebastian Barry

My second choice, because I loved this book. The story of a woman labelled 'mad' in a world that hates mental illness, this is beautiful a sad story and anyone who loves Maggie O'Farrell's The Vanishing of Esme Lennox, or historical fiction in general, should read this. Again, it was a huge bestseller, and deserves its fame, and I would recommend it, more to people who already read a bit for pleasure but aren't 'avid' readers.

The Dark Judges

It's a graphic novel, which is amazing, but I'd love to see how they publish this in the current World Book Night paperback format. I'm not a graphic novel expert but I know a lot of people who are and are excited by this one's inclusion. Plus, film's out this year.

The Island-Victoria Hislop

I am so surprised this hasn't been included before now, I think I already sort of presumed that it had. We read this Back In The Day when the book club was just the three of us in my kitchen, and all of us loved it. It was huge, and again might have already made as much money as it can-I see this a LOT in my charity shop hawls and book swaps so maybe it has already had its moment, hence the inclusion, but if you were giving your books out round the office say, this would be a lovely one. Great beach read.

The Reader-Bernhard Schlink

Never read it, heard only good things about it.

The Road Home-Rose Tremain

I've had this book on my TBR pile for the past five years or so and really really should read it because it looks ace! Shall bump up to the top of the pile and review asap.

Treasure Island-Robert Louis Stevenson

I love this book, Robert Louis Stevenson's writing is extraordinary, he really sucks you into the adventure. Yes, it is slightly old fashioned, but it is also 130 years old and if they had to choose a classic, they couldn't have picked a better one. I really now wnat to re-read this and I hope that people give it a chance.

The White Queen-Philippa Gregory

There had to be a Philippa Gregory at some point, and whilst this isn't the one I'd have chosen (The Queen's Fool is her best one), it is the start of a series they are still promoting so, like the Bernard Cornwell one last year, is probably a tactical choice on behalf of the publisher. It is good, but I can imagine a lot of historical fiction fans will be diasappointed.

Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal?-Jeanette Winterson

This one will be huge, as I know a lot of people who love this book and Jeanette Winterson in general. I read it last Easter and enjoyed it for the most part, though I did skim parts as it (sorry) goes on a bit in places.

World Book Night 2012 - Podcast!

Where LeedsBookClub and BookElfLeeds take a closer look at the World Book Night book choices. 

We sing, we dance, we have a giggle!

And might highlight a few World Book Night options In Leeds for you tomorrow night!

***LANGUAGE WARNING ***

- We're actually very restrained. For us. So... the usual warning applies!

***SPOILERS WARNING ***

- Not so spoiler-tastic, just our thoughts on the World Book Club books!

To assess the podcast on your mobile phone, 
please use the following:

World Book Night 2012

Mobile Link WBN 

The Travelling Suitcase Library - World Book Night Event!
The Leeds Book Club - Books, Booze and Buns!

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Table of Contents - Podcasts!

Our Podcast Page 

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World Book Night 2012 - fun for everyone!

Last year, BookElfLeeds and the Travelling Suitcase Library organised for a massive book swap and World Book Night giveaway at Arcadia (the LBC Mothership).

It was the BEST CRAIC EVER!!

And did I mention the FREE BOOKS!!

Back by popular demand...

The Travelling Suitcase Library Presents…

A World Book Night Party!

At Arcadia

Monday 23 April from 7 pm

We will be giving away books from the World Book Night selection, as well as the HUGE Travelling Suitcase Library.

Got books to donate/swap?

Registered as a book giver?

Please feel free to join us!

Email: bookelfleeds@gmaildotcom 

Tweet: @BookElfLeeds
#WBN #worldbooknight #ArcadiaWBN

Meanwhile at the White Swan (Leeds City Centre), LeedsBookClub and friends will be organising a night of...

BOOKS, BOOZE AND BUNS

Fancy a free book? Or two?
Like cakes?

Join us at 

the White Swan

Monday, 23rd April from 7 pm

World Book Night titles can be yours for nowt!

A night of chatting
and drinking...possibly singing...

(relax, I'm kidding on that last one...

though there is a piano for the musically inclined!)

And as you've all asked so nicely,
there will be a BOOK SWAP!

Feel free to bring any books to
swap, share, lent, borrow

Registered as a World Book Night book giver?

We'd love to see you there!

Email: leedsbookclub@gmaildotcom 
Tweet: @LeedsBookClub
#WBN #worldbooknight #WSwanWBN

And Now It's Not World Book Night...

The fall out from what is basically a good idea continues, with writer Susan Hill (who wrote The Woman In Black, which is absolutely terrifying, if you're looking for a scare this Halloween) creating her Not World Book Night list, which you can win a copy of by tweeting her a rhyme of your views on WBN.
Her objection to World Book Night is that it takes money away from publishers that could be spent on new authors, so I can't really be angry about this, as it's not like we have the same aims; she wants to create more books, I want to create more readers.
So using a format used functionally by a minority to promote a book list that is classic-heavy, and doesn't include one title accessible to an emerging reader at Level 3 shouldn't anger me, but it does. Because this is the argument that has got in the papers.
Yesterday Deborah Orr wrote an excellent piece in The Guardian about the "shameful" literacy crisis in this country, albeit in the context of the bloody riots. The focus of the government and education may be making people functionally literate, but why must 'literacy' and 'literary' be mutually exclusive concepts? Why must ne'er readers, nor rioters meet? Why hasn't The Guardian linked the two things?
I'll tell you why I think the rioters didn't touch a book shop; because book shops are not 'for' normal people who don't have that high a reading level, like a third of the adults in the UK. Oh no.
Book shops are for people like me, who complain World Book Night selections as not accessible enough whilst embracing the concept of normalising reading for pleasure. I didn't riot, just like I haven't Occupied anything or been in a Kettle, because I will loose my job if I am arrested.
Reading the classics doesn't make you a reader, reading something that engages you, that makes you want to read more, that you can empathise with, that evokes an emotion, a memory, or a feeling, that is what makes you a reader. If you have grown up without books, then it is bloody hard to engage as an adult because there is such a limited range of books that will do this that are available at an appropriate reading level. And the books that are within this range are belittled as 'populist'. And then you have someone saying 'I'll give away this list of classics that people should have read', and then you have people who work in The Guardian feeling sheepish because they've 'only' read 12 (I've read four and a half and couldn't give a toss).
Until the literary world stops scorning the reading choices of the newly literate then we are never going to have a culture where books that are genuinely brilliant, and enjoyable, can win prizes, and be read comfortably and with pleasure by the masses.
I'm not going to buy a copy of the Not World Book Night list, I'm going to buy this years selection of Quick Reads, and give them out as well as (if I'm chosen as a giver) I Capture The Castle. Because both of these sets of books are worthy of reading, and of publicising in The Guardian.

Oh, and here is my poem. Sorry it's not 140 characters...

Oh to be a reader, now World Book Night's near,

When reading books you're 'supposed' to goes well with drinking beer.

So come on down to Book Club, in Arcadia,

We don't just do World Book Night,

But all reading for pleasure!

WBN-The Books... BookElf Rants Again

Twenty five books, but which to pick? Well, I've done mine, AR's done her's. The more Leeds' Readers we have applying to be givers, the greater chance of us having a cracking night in April with shed loads of Arcadians finding the book that will make them a reader...
1) look at the list of books below, try not to make my massive ranting cloud your judgement.
2) choose your top three
3) go to the World Book Night website and register yourself as a giver.
4) join me and some other book lovers, as well as the regulars and not-so-regulars of my local, Arcadia, on the 23 April to a celebration of reading for pleasure!

The Books

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Persuasion is better. However, this is one of my favourite books, and has been since I was 12 so if you fancy being submerged in Darcy, could this be in your three?

The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks

I've never read it but am reassured it is extraordinary. SF fans didn't really get a look-in last year, unless you count Cloud Atlas, so this could be a popular choice.

Sleepyhead by Mark Billingham

Never read. Never even heard of. Bad BookElf. No points for you. *requests from library immediately*.

Notes From A Small Island by Bill Bryson

Hilarious book, part of Bill Bryson's series of travel books. Like Nigel Slater's Toast from last year, though, I suspect (and I know this is massively judgemental and stereotypical of me) this may be 'one for the Dad's'... (actually, Toast was given out last year! And was snapped up! But my dad also read and enjoyed it so I stand by original point).

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

One of them 'this book changes your life' ones, I read this when I was about 18 and cannot remember one thing about it. Must have left a massive impression then... This one is going to be really popular as I've had loads of conversations with women at work over the years about how this is one of their favourites. We've got four copies at work, so I have a feeling they'd be hard to shift...

The Take by Martina Cole

I've read one Martina Cole and it scared the living crap out of me. Tulisa Contostavlos' favourite author, FYI. If she ends up as a WBN giver I will change profession as My Work Here Is Done, as everyone flocks to read crime cos it's cool, yeah?

Harlequin by Bernard Cornwell

Last year there was so much historical fiction you might have been forgiven for thinking I chose the longlist. So this year they've toned it down by only including this one, which seems a really strange choice. Cornwell is amazing, but this isn't him at his best. It's the start of a series, so like Dissolution did last year will probably get more people reading the author, but I'd have far sooner preferred to see The Winter King, or Stonehenge here instead.

Someone Like You by Roald Dahl

Now this is clever. Everyone loved Roald Dahl as a kid, and the whole 'shed' controversy has been in the news recently, so this is an excellent time to plug his writing for adults. This collection of short stories shows the craft of writing at full tilt. My favourite is the one with the leg of lamb, but this is going to be a popular choice. I really hope they choose a better front cover on the night thought as the one they've got is flipping horrible!

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

What do you mean you haven't read every single classic ever written ever? You utter utter utter thickie. Here, have a free book. A free, long, tiny fonted book. Thickie.

Room by Emma Donoghue

Again, I don't get this one. Surely ever person who has access to a train station with a WHSmith in it owns a copy of this by now? It was in the top ten for longer than I Will Always Love You FFS. And WHY is this so popular? BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT SOMETHING HORRIBLE. But it's got a fancy cover and was nominated for a shit load of prizes so it's acceptable on your shelves. Put a picture of a crying child on a stark white cover and rename it 'Daddy's Little Secret' with a hand-written font and see it do half as well as it has.

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

Stunning book. Excellent choice. I'd stick it in my top three but I know at least two other people who have. Not that giving out 64 copies of Rebecca and nothing else would be That Bad A Thing...

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Incredible book, and one of my top three. I've chosen it because it isn't clearly defined as appealing to either "gender", its well written, poignant, and I was having a conversation about it at my last book swap, in a cafe, with a bloke who hadn't read it, who then did. And seeing as I'm going to be doing this in a pub it made sense to do it again.

Misery by Stephen King

I'm currently ploughing my way through Under The Dome (keep getting distracted by romantic fiction...) but the more I read by him the more I realise how good a writer Stephen King really is. I've never read this one, but I kind of wish they'd have chosen Different Seasons, as it's got three film adaptations to it's name, so would be a lot easier to plug.

The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Genius choice. There are so many things you could do with this book. Maybe not in the pub, but good luck to the health care workers doing their rounds, giving a copy of this to each of their service users.

Small Island by Andrea Levy

Again, great choice, really enjoyed this book.

Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Loved it, and ranted heavily about it. However, I wouldn't feel massively comfortable about handing this book out willy nilly on the street. Part of the subject matter could be quite uncomfortable, and considering how alcoholism is a major theme, I'm not sure how well it would go down with the regulars. However, it is so well written, and so current, and so I'd def have this as my fourth. Just donate with caution, that's all I'd say!

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

My second choice, which I know is an odd one for me given my usual 'give me accessible writing or give me death' policy. However, this story is something that is very 'now'; the world is collapsing around us, people are choosing between heating and food, and this story of a man and his son's survival in a post-apocalyptic world is so moving, and has so much potential for marketing as a 'warning tale' that I think it would work. Plus, I loved it.

The Time Travellor's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Blah. Going to be massive. Choose away. You know you want to.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell

I LOVE O'Farrell, but this isn't After You'd Gone, the book that made me (and continues to make me) cry more than any other book ever written ever. I'm really quite glad they chose this one then, and not After You'd Gone, because I'd have had a hard time choosing, tbh.

The Damned Utd by David Peace

Leeds! Leeds! LEEDS! I reeeeeeally hope someone chooses this, as would be ace to be giving out a Leeds-based book. David Peace should also come over and do some promotion of this at Elland Road as that would be incredible.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

I love Pratchett. I love Gaiman. A book a piece next year, who could ask for anything more, who could ask for anything more?

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

I take back completely what I said about no YA. Meg Rosoff is reeeeeally popular at work, although I'm not her biggest fan. This book is freaky as hell, but gets people reading, so hey ho.

Touching The Void by Joe Simpson

I'm not saying ANYTHING. I'll let our book club analysis do the talking... Have to say though, this is the sort of thing that gets people reading, so I do hope it gets picked.

I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith

Know what, I'm just going to re-read this and have a proper swoon later. Hearts. So many hearts.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Everyone loves it apart from me. I HAVE NO SOOOOOUUUUUL!!!!

So there you go. I know my top three. What are yours?