When I first read about World Book Night a few weeks ago, I'd read 8 of the 30 books on the list. At that time my favorites were Because of Winn-Dixie, The Glass Castle, Kindred, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Right now I'm really enjoying Wintergirls. I'd want to apply to receive a box of 20 books to give away, but I can't decide what I want my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place titles to be.

I hope to be chosen as one of the givers.
I'm really psyched about it!

Me too! When I was younger, I had a hard time reading because I was born with a speech impairment (which consequently my brothers have as well) as well as spelling issues. To this day (and I am 22) I still can't spell most words, and have to memorize the way they are spelled to remember them. I just can't do it. But my mom was adamant I learn to read, even after me screaming and whining and throwing fits night after night. She introduced me to classics like "The Secret Garden" and the "Anne of Green Gables" series that I devoured in middle school. Ever since, I've been a fanatical reader and I hope to help another child like me be one as well.

This is such a great thing! Thank you Goodreads for making me aware of it! I really hope to be chosen as a "giver."

I've never heard of this before, what a brilliant idea! I love this concept and I hope that I can participate in my community.

I signed up today...fingers crossed I will be picked!

What a great list of books. I have read all but 5 and I would love to hand some of those titles out. wow!

Great idea! Just sad that it´s only in the UK and America.
Hope the idea will come to Europe too.
I really would have loved to do it here in Denmark

What a great list of books! Book Thief and Peace Like A River are a couple of my absolute favorites. I may have to participate.

Sounds like a great idea. Wish this is applicable in India too. Anyway "Best of Luck" to everyone.

Best idea I have heard of in a long time.....I only wish I knew more about it before I applied. Good Luck.

well, i'm from Indonesia, can I join with this event and be a volunteer??

Sorry to be a bit of a wet blanket, and no doubt this is a great idea for some people in some places, but when I read the following from the blurb above

"this nonprofit event is looking for enthusiastic readers who want to encourage their communities to read more. World Book Night needs 50,000 volunteers to help distribute 1 million books nationwide, especially in underserved communities that may not have easy access to books."

I just felt it would be a bit insulting to people in my area to go along like some kind of patronising wannabe Lady Bountiful handing out books cos they 'can't afford it' (we have free libraries which everyone can get to cos we live in a remote rural area and everyone has to have a car) or have a problem with literacy (they need encouragement to get help with literacy from properly trained people).

Now if the blurb had just said "a chance to get a book for free which looks like it could be a great read" I'd have felt differently.

You can probably see now why I chose my username!

Excellent initiative! A good book is definitely one of man’s best friends!

This is so fantastic! I hope World Book Night makes it's way to Canada very soon. :)

very nice idea

Is this event constrained only to UK and USA? Or anybody worldwide can apply?

Also, 'A' does have a point there.

would have loved to participate...when is this coming to France?

Natasha wrote: "Me too! When I was younger, I had a hard time reading because I was born with a speech impairment (which consequently my brothers have as well) as well as spelling issues. To this day (and I am 22)..."

What an awesome story. It makes stuff like this even more meaningful. Reading is so wonderful for everyone.

even better, would be for the publisher to allow folks to pass along their e-books.

This is a brilliant idea...now if only it was happening in Australia. I would have loved to volunteer.

Hello, this is a good initiative and very helpful too. How can I volunteer in India.

I'm all for any event that gets great books into people's hands. I hope I get chosen to give away books.

What a splendid idea! And that on my birthday!

Too bad I'm from Belgium, Europe so I can't be a volunteer.
But I try my best in my own library to keep the people of my town reading :-)

Wendy, Urvashi, I also wanted to participate, so I've just appointed an American friend as the volunteer, we'll decide on the community and he'll do a Skype call so I can experience the handing over of the books, live!

An Excellent initiative that I would love to have participated.

Natasha wrote: "Me too! When I was younger, I had a hard time reading because I was born with a speech impairment (which consequently my brothers have as well) as well as spelling issues. To this day (and I am 22)..."

i was born with a speech disorder too and i can not spell to save my life. none of my family members are like me, but i started readin when i was in the 3rd grade and now i can not put down any book

I finally applied tonight. I hope to be chosen as one of the givers.

I hope the Philippines is one of the next countries in line!

This is a fantastic idea. I have been reading from a very young age and was always fascinated by books. In my area there are two local libraries but yet many of the teenagers in my school don't read. It would be brilliant if they could experience the euphoria, sadness fear and other range of emotions that books can evoke in us. Whenever I was sad, lonely and felt like I had no one to talk to books were my constant companions. I have suffered with low self esteem for years due to my appearance and through books like " Before I Die " by Jenny Downham and the true story of " A Diary of a Young Girl " by Anne Frank you realise that you are lucky with the cards that you have been dealt. Books are eye openers to the world around us. Please choose me to be a volunteer as I really feel I can be of help to " World Book Night ".

I got my email today!! So excited to do this!!

I got my confirmation too! Yay!

I'd be curious to hear what book you ended up getting. I only remember putting Hunger Games as my #1 because i wanted to donate copies to a few classes my friends teach at. What were yours?

I got my confirmation email yesterday too! I can't wait to give my books away :)

My email came today!!! This is amazing! Kindred was my #1 pick.

Kindred is a great book!

I may move that one up on my "to read" list.

I get to give away Because of Winn-Dixie I am sooooo excited.

I get to give away The Hunger Games on April 23rd. This will be a great choice for the teens I want to share it with.

Wish I had known about this sooner! Next year I am for sure signing up. http://onthesamechapter.blogspot.com/...

I took my nine year old son to our local grocery store to hand out copies of Q is for Quarry and was surprised how many people thought I was the author (I don't remotely look like Sue Grafton). Others imagined I was some cult member handing out Kool-Aid. My son was a bit surprised at how some people reacted but after hearing my World Book Night pitch he wanted to approach people as well. We both were thrilled at how happy some people were to get a free book without a catch. My son would ask people if we gave them a book would they promise to read it? My son and I had some discussion about the power of reading to transform lives which made the effort well worth it.

All in all this was a great experience. Next year I will get my wife to pitch World Book Night at her bookclub so 20 of us are handing out books at the same time.

Kevin wrote: "I took my nine year old son to our local grocery store to hand out copies of Q is for Quarry and was surprised how many people thought I was the author (I don't remotely look like Sue Grafton). Oth..."

So awesome! I love that you got your son involved.