Media Release 14 Feb 2012
WA title Jasper Jones selected for Australia's Biggest Book Group
Craig Silvey’s tale of heartbreak and a dark secret, Jasper Jones, has been chosen as one of the eight books which Australians have decided will be the National Year of Reading 2012 collection.
Between November 2011 and January 2012, more than 16,200 readers voted online through the ABC Arts Gateway and at their local libraries to choose eight titles, one for each state and territory, which would provide the basis for Australia’s biggest book group in 2012. The winners were announced at the launch of the National Year of Reading on 14 February, 2012, at the National Library of Australia in Canberra.
Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey was selected as the title to represent Western Australia. The seven other winning titles are Smoke and Mirrors, by Kel Robertson (ACT); The Idea of Home, by John Hughes (NSW); Listening to Country, by Ros Moriarty (NT); The White Earth, by Andrew McGahan (QLD); Time’s Long Ruin, by Stephen Orr (SA); Wanting, by Richard Flanagan (TAS); Well Done, Those Men, by Barry Heard (VIC).
Margaret Allen, chair of the National Year of Reading founders and State Librarian of Western Australia, explained, “Readers have helped us create a collection of books which, read together, describe the Australian experience. We all know how very different it is if you’re living in the city or in a remote community; in the Northern Territory or New South Wales. We’re hoping that thousands of readers will take a journey around Australia through the pages of these eight books and come out of it with an even greater depth of understanding about what it means to be Australian.”
Author Craig Silvey commented, “I'm enormously proud and privileged to be involved with the National Year of Reading. It's a terrific opportunity to celebrate the gifts that literature can offer, to explore the depth of Australian writing, to encourage reluctant readers and to connect with those who have an existing passion. It's a truly exciting initiative, and I'm honoured to be a part of it.”
Existing book groups, new groups and individual readers can go online and register as a member of ‘Our Story’, joining in the discussion about the books the nation has chosen. For more information go to the website www.love2read.org.au or visit http://www.thereadingroom.com/book-club/national-year-of-reading/1921.
The announcement of the eight selected books marks the start of a year of activities and events in public libraries, schools, businesses and community organisations to celebrate reading in 2012.
For further details, please contact Doug George, Manager Public Programs.
Tel. (08) 9427 3150 email: doug.george@slwa.wa.gov.au
