World Book Night 2014

I had the greatest time with World Book Night 2014. I participated in 2012.  I don't remember having as much fun as this year.  When I first started this afternoon. I was disappointed. I should have known better to contact the supervisor of the assisted living facility first. Working in the health field, there is a privacy law.  But, things work out for the best. 

Because the book, is chick lit. One bad thing, you are limited on who to ask, if they would like to have a book.

In this area, there isn't much publicity. I was surprised this month though, that Barnes and Noble in Myrtle Beach had a sign up for WBN. But, most people still don't know what it is. I am hoping in the next few years it will eventually catch on. 

I had my pink book giver shirt on, so that helped right from the start.  That is a plus from two years ago. At least people can recognize that you are from a organization.  Most of the people had no idea what World Book Night was.  Most people gave you the strangest faces, thought I was a stalker, or killer, etc.  Thought I was nuts, and didn't know what to make of me. 

At times I felt like I was stalking people, "There is my next victim".  As I am looking for people to ask if they would like a book. Some of them thought I was nuts, others didn't know what to make of me, and the book.  Some people probably thought what's the catch.  I live in the south. I am sure some thought I was trying to give them a bible or some religious book.  It is so funny, their reactions. 

 Oh, I forgot to say what book, I had given, Where Did You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple, which happens to be a great book for the beach, and if you like chick lit.  I happen to love this book.

A couple days earlier, I had decided to give books to my fellow employees. Most of them don't have time to read, or the finances to buy a book. They have more important thing to do with their money.  Like raise their families.

The bottom pix are my bosses.

Now I will tell you the places I went to and why, and the people I approached. I had decided after the experience with the assisted living facility, I was going to think out of the box. Such as people that work in retail, restaurants, people that can't or don't have the time to read a book. 

 I saw someone walking with her ear buds, and her back pack in her restaurant uniform. I approached her, off the street. She looked at me like I was crazy.  Didn't look like she wanted to talk, and just took the book. 

 At the grocery store, I found a young mother and her husband. She was a new mother and told me she missed reading. She promised she was going to read it, and pass it on.  Then on I went, thought of the mall. But, too crazy and crowded with tourist season.  I then got a brain storm. Never thought of this, the beach.

Most of the people I approached thanked me for participating. I even approached a librarian.  We started talking about World Book Night.  I think the beach was the best experience.  People have the time to listen, and talk. At the store people are too rushed and don't appreciate it.  They are less suspicious of you when you are walking the beach and approach you. But at the stores they think something is up. 

I would like to thank World Book Night for a wonderful time today. Being a book giver is wonderful. If they ask me again, I will. But next time I am going to give more thought to the soup kitchen, women in crisis, etc.  

I would like to thank the Hickman Library in Calabash for participating. Being the pick up point for the books.  They were wonderful. The last time I did this was at a book store in N. Myrtle Beach. They were very unfriendly. You would think they would be outgoing and give advise. I am so glad I did not have to pick up there.

I would like to add, perhaps next year try to find books that are more easy to read for people that are hesitant readers.  Books that are mainstream, and grab people's attention at the very first page, such as Mary Higgins Clark, James Patterson, Danielle Steele. This is just my observation.   You may need to find books that catch people from the start that are easy to read. This is just my observation.