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5 March 2011
Last updated at 14:00 ET
One million books, including works by Alan Bennett and John le Carre, have been given away in the UK and Ireland to mark the inaugural World Book Night.
They have been distributed at venues including homeless centres, pubs and hospitals in a bid to boost reading.
Some 20,000 people were asked to pick their favourite from 25 titles and were then given 48 copies to pass on to friends with their recommendation.
BBC Two is screening an evening of special programmes to mark the event.
The idea has had widespread support from authors, although some independent booksellers have raised concerns the event could damage future sales.
Writer Philip Pullman, whose book Northern Lights is among those being given away, told the BBC he was "thrilled" by the event.
"It's a wonderful idea," he said. "It's a very original and yet it seems so obvious. Give books to people and they enjoy them and go and buy more books."
Asked which book he would particularly recommend, he said the Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid.
"It's a wonderful book. Everybody should read that."
The BBC Two schedule includes three Culture Show Specials and a premiere of BBC Films' adaptation of Brideshead Revisited.
Live broadcasts from World Book Night events in Glasgow, Manchester and London will be broadcast in between the TV programmes.
Library closures On Friday some of the most celebrated artists from stage, screen, literature and art took part in a launch event compered by Graham Norton in London's Trafalgar Square.
Margaret Atwood, Alan Bennett and Nick Cave were just some of the names that participated.
Talking Heads writer Bennett drew applause from the crowd when he criticised library closures, calling it tantamount to child abuse, according to the BBC's art correspondent David Sillito
The author said that as a child he had been taken to libraries when he had not had books himself.
Author Edna O'Brien, who also gave a reading to the thousands who gathered there, said it had felt "like the big time".
"Musicians draw great crowds, but usually authors don't," she said, adding she thought the event would "revive interest in reading".
She warned: "If young people stopped reading banality would spread like a plague."
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They have been distributed at venues including homeless centres, pubs and hospitals in a bid to boost reading.
Some 20,000 people were asked to pick their favourite from 25 titles and were then given 48 copies to pass on to friends with their recommendation.
BBC Two is screening an evening of special programmes to mark the event.
The idea has had widespread support from authors, although some independent booksellers have raised concerns the event could damage future sales.
Writer Philip Pullman, whose book Northern Lights is among those being given away, told the BBC he was "thrilled" by the event.
"It's a wonderful idea," he said. "It's a very original and yet it seems so obvious. Give books to people and they enjoy them and go and buy more books."
Asked which book he would particularly recommend, he said the Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid.
"It's a wonderful book. Everybody should read that."
The BBC Two schedule includes three Culture Show Specials and a premiere of BBC Films' adaptation of Brideshead Revisited.
Live broadcasts from World Book Night events in Glasgow, Manchester and London will be broadcast in between the TV programmes.
Library closures On Friday some of the most celebrated artists from stage, screen, literature and art took part in a launch event compered by Graham Norton in London's Trafalgar Square.
Margaret Atwood, Alan Bennett and Nick Cave were just some of the names that participated.
Talking Heads writer Bennett drew applause from the crowd when he criticised library closures, calling it tantamount to child abuse, according to the BBC's art correspondent David Sillito
The author said that as a child he had been taken to libraries when he had not had books himself.
Author Edna O'Brien, who also gave a reading to the thousands who gathered there, said it had felt "like the big time".
"Musicians draw great crowds, but usually authors don't," she said, adding she thought the event would "revive interest in reading".
She warned: "If young people stopped reading banality would spread like a plague."
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This entry is now closed for comments
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- All Comments (57)
- 41. none
5 Hours Ago I've been offered one of these books and I'm delighted. I don't use the library mainly because I like to keep the books I read.
I'm not an avid reader but when I do read I usually enjoy it a lot.
I think this is a fantastic idea and it's a shame others don't agree.
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- 35. cathy
6 Hours Ago As a recipient of some of these books im my workplace yesterday, I would like to say that it was an absolute delight to see people pick them up and look, and take them home, and to listen to them talking about books with each other as they did so.
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- 28. bartonhouse
7 Hours Ago I'm a book giver for World Book Night and have chosen the recipients of my book very carefully. I want people to enjoy reading as much as I do and think this is a brilliant way to get the ball rolling.
It's a shame that not everyone can see the good in this project. It's not about money, it's about books and the enjoyment they can bring into your life.
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- 23. dragonfly1957
7 Hours Ago No - people either read or they don't. What a waste of time and money and I have to say, whilst I am an avid reader - I would not read any of the books on offer - sorry!
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- 11. gemsev
8 Hours Ago This shouldn't be happening on one day a year? Surely to keep the ball rolling it needs to be happening constantly. And if this idea gives people joy and accomplishment that reading can offer then I willingly hand over my taxes to get people to open the book they are given. We are living in a world full of greed and self-importance, so hopefully sharing books overcomes selfishness for one day.
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