Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

World Book Day poll of reading public reveals top ten Books to Talk About

Spreading the word about books worth reading

A World Book Day poll today reveals the top ten contemporary novels with genuine word-of-mouth appeal in a search to find the best book to talk about. Since the campaign was launched last November, over 3,000 book lovers have discussed and debated online the “talkability” merits of a list of 100 titles, including several hidden gems. World Book Day’s shortlist − which includes seven first novels − reveals the qualities of what really makes a discussion-worthy book in contemporary Britain: serious issues, character-led drama, and often a splash of humour.

Judging by the books featured on the Books to Talk About shortlist, readers relish hard-hitting themes and challenging plots. Moreover, the strong showing of the independent publishing sector on the list confirms that it is currently in excellent health.

Ideal for reading groups, the ten Books to Talk About are:

• Steve Aylett, Lint (SnowBooks)
• Priya Basil, Ishq & Mushq (Transworld)
• Jenny Downham, Before I Die (RHCB)
• Eliza Graham, Playing with the Moon (Pan Macmillan)
• Joshilyn Jackson, Gods In Alabama (Hodder)
• Candi Miller, Salt & Honey (Legend Press)
• Pauline Rowson, In Cold Daylight (Rowmark)
• Rupert Thomson, Death of a Murderer (Bloomsbury)
• Jonathan Trigell, Boy A (Serpent's Tail)
• Angela Young, Speaking of Love (Beautiful Books)

The shortlist compiled by World Book Day includes novels set during Apartheid-era South Africa, wartime England and the Partition of India and Pakistan, revealing an appetite for powerful stories told against the backdrop of the drama of recent history. Featuring subjects that include racially-motivated murder, mental breakdown, terminal illness, juvenile delinquency and the Moors murderer Myra Hindley, the shortlist of Books to Talk About indicates that readers relish gritty and emotional subjects, and enjoy talking about the social and personal issues that arise from a good story.

Gods in Alabama, Joshilyn Jackson’s gothic coming-of-age novel, emerged as the book clubs’ favourite novel. Thirty five per cent of its votes came from members of reading groups.

The most popular book amongst female readers was Jenny Downham’s moving portrait of a 16-year-old battling leukaemia, Before I Die.

Seven of the ten titles are first novels, proving that tough ideas and ambitious, evocative settings are alive and well in today’s fictional debuts.

The shortlist also shows that booklovers and reading groups are adept at uncovering hidden gems, as the shortlist comprises an even mix of small and large publishing houses. With titles from publishing giants Macmillan and Bloomsbury nestling alongside books from small independent presses like Legend and Beautiful Books, the passion and support for these novels from readers has clearly been spread by word of mouth as well as through World Book Day channels.

The impact that the shortlisted books had on the readers who supported them in the campaign is evident from the comments left on the message boards online.

One reader said of Boy A, Jonathan Trigell’s searing and controversial study of a former child offender, “I couldn't put the book down, a fantastic read which makes you go against your normal human instincts and love the so called bad guy. I loved every page.” Reactions to Gods in Alabama illustrate the complexity of readers’ emotional responses to these books, which often bring together light and dark elements, and elicit laughs and tears in equal measure: “This book made me feel good. Yes, it's about murder and lies and racism and the hard way to enter the world of sexuality that is the fate of many girls. But it's also about feistiness and principles (okay, so the principles are a little unusual) and loyalty and strength. It's funny! It's sad. It's serious. It's a hopeful book.” Reviews like this will have members of reading groups queuing up to buy these and other previously hidden gems featured on World Book Day’s shortlist of Books to Talk About.

Voting continues throughout February for the title which readers think will best spark discussion in reading and book groups and amongst friends. The winning author of The Book to Talk About 2008 will be announced on World Book Day, Thursday 6th March, and will receive a prize of £5000.

As part of the campaign, book groups will be held on or around World Book Day 2008, offering a great opportunity for anyone new to book clubs to get involved, with ‘taster’ groups as well as appearances from some of the short-listed authors.

Further details on the featured authors, downloadable book group toolkits, discussion topics, and the chance to win books and £100 worth of National Book Tokens can be found at the dedicated Spread the Word: Books to Talk About website www.worldbookday.com/spreadtheword. This invaluable resource for new and existing reading groups allows readers to join the discussion and cast their vote online.

- Ends -

For more info about World Book Day, contact:

Truda Spruyt, Philip Abraham or Kate Wright-Morris at Colman Getty
Tel: 020 7631 2666
Fax: 020 7631 2699
Email: truda@colmangetty.co.uk / kate@colmangetty.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

The Books to Talk About shortlist was compiled by World Book Day from a longlist of one hundred books selected by a panel of industry experts. Over 3,000 people took part in the online survey at www.worldbookday.com/spreadtheword

World Book Day is the biggest annual celebration of books and reading in the UK. World Book Day will be on Thursday March 6 2008.

The World Book Day tradition began in Catalonia, Spain, where people celebrate St George’s Day by giving a book and a rose to loved ones (St George is also the patron saint of Catalonia). Since then the World Book Day concept has gained international acclaim, with this year’s Books to Talk About list just the latest in a series of promotional events.

£1 World Book Day Book Tokens are given to all primary school children, and offered to secondary schools and pre-school organisations (while stocks last). Pre-school organisations and secondary schools are asked to register online at www.worldbookday.com. Over the past decade, over 130 million £1 World Book Day Book Tokens have been distributed to schools.

The £1 World Book Day Book Token can be redeemed between 3 March and 30 March (minimum redemption £2.99, one transaction per token, can be put towards any book or audio book of the purchaser’s choice). In the Republic of Ireland, the World Book Day Token will be to the value of €1.50 and the minimum redemption will be €3.99.

Nine specially produced World Book Day £1 books are published for World Book Day. Further details available at www.worldbookday.com. Eight million £1 books have been published since World Book Day began. These books are highly popular with reading groups and often throw up the odd hidden gem.

National Book Tokens has been the main sponsor of World Book Day for eight years, playing a significant role in spreading the word about Books to Talk About.

National Book Tokens are the only book vouchers to be sold and exchanged in over 3,000 bookshops across the country. This includes all the major chains such as Blackwell's, Books etc, Borders, British Bookshops, Waterstones and W H Smith, as well as local independents.

Over £30 million worth of National Book Tokens are sold every year.

National Book Tokens is committed to promoting literacy and the enjoyment of reading through its work with World Book Day. They welcome the phenomenal increase in the number of reading and book groups which help to spread the word about new books.

Book Aid International (BAI) is the nominated charity for funds raised on World Book Day. BAI believes in people’s potential for self-development through education, the escape route from poverty. BAI supports literacy, education, training and publishing in the developing world, through relationships with partner organisations which include libraries, schools, hospitals and refugee camps. BAI provides over half a million books and journals each year to its partner organisations, and focuses most of its resources on sub-Saharan Africa where half the people live on less than a dollar a day.

More information about World Book Day is also available from the WBD website www.worldbookday.com, sponsored by The Booksellers Association of the UK and Ireland.

For the third year, a number of Quick Reads books will be published on World Book Day. Aimed at the 13 million adults who have lost the reading habit or have difficulty reading, 2008’s Quick Reads will include books by Josephine Cox and Gordon Ramsey. More information on www.quickreads.org.uk

Spokespeople for the World Book Day campaign and authors are available for interview through Colman Getty.

World Book Day logos, photographs and book visuals - including Emily Gravett specially commissioned World Book Day 2008 illustrations - are available from Colman Getty.