Community Corner

Read This Book: April 23 is World Book Night

Local author Diane Kinman is one of 50,000 book givers across the U.S. and eight on the Eastside participating in World Book Night 2012.

Anyone who knows local author Diane Kinman appreciates her passion for books. She’s shared that love with locals for years, visiting local schools and presenting her memoir, "Franca's Story: Survival in World War II Italy" about fellow Islander Franca Martin.

Today, April 23, she’s joining thousands of literary enthusiasts, bookstores and libraries that are all participating in World Book Night 2012 in the U.S., the U.K. and Ireland. An estimated 50,000 book givers in the U.S. along are expected to hand out half a million books donated by publishers for needy groups and organizations. Kinman is part of a group of eight volunteers who signed 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.”  

Kinman's selection, "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie, will be given out on the north end of Mercer Island, where she will wander through , , .

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“The purpose (is) to spread the love of reading and books in our community and around the globe,” she said.

Kinman, whose award-winning memoir "Franca's Story" is still available at Island Books, said she's given presentations on her book at Islander Middle School and at Holy Names Academy among others (more information about her and her books can be found at her website by clicking here).

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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


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