Waterstones Barnet celebrates World Book Night 2012 by torchlight

World Book Night 2012 By Torchlight begins at 6pm in the branch, with local volunteers giving out free copies of their chosen World Book Night titles. Then the lights are dimmed, the torches switched on and the storytelling begins.

"It's very easy to get bound up in technology these days,” says branch manager Jo Rowles, “but the simple power of telling stories and reading aloud have been mainstays for millennia. We're always introducing customers to our favourite books, but this is an opportunity for Barnet to share their favourite books with us!"

This year, the chosen titles include Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice, Barnet author Mark Billingham’s gritty crime thriller Sleepyhead, and Stephen’s Kings horror tale Misery.

Last year many titles were handed out by enthusiastic readers in less than an hour, so this year customers are also being offered a special discount in store on the night to help find their own next favourite read.

"Tickets are free but going fast," says Jo. "It's great to see Barnet's so excited about the reading. We've even had a few brave people saying they'll read out some Shakespeare as World Book Night is also Shakespeare's birthday."

World Book Night is a nationwide celebration of reading and books and will see one million free books given away by tens of thousands of passionate volunteers in their communities.

Members of the public applied to be one of the 20,000 book-givers who will each be given 24 copies of their favourite book from a list of 25 specially selected World Book Night titles. Givers are encouraged to pass the books on to those who may be reluctant readers or who are part of communities with less access to books, bookshops and libraries.

World Book Night By Torchlight is at Waterstones, The Spires Shopping Centre, High Street, Barnet on Monday, April 23, starting at 6pm. Details: contact Jo Rowles on 0843 290 8129 or manager@barnet.waterstones.com