Kingsbridge Library Reading group were given one of the 6 places as a Man Booker Prize Reading Group Partner. The groups are:

Kidsgrove Library - Staffordshire Bath Library - Bath and North East Somerset Altofts Library - Wakefield Pimlico Library - Westminster Cardiff Library, Cardiff Kingsbridge Library, Devon

The library received 3 free copies of each of the 6 shortlisted titles (announced early September) and argued amongst themselves to choose their own winner, entering their views on the blog set aside for this on the Man Booker website. They were also given invitations to meet the publishers and authors at the shortlist party.

Entries were received from across the country, so this was a real accolade -

Here's the entry that won…..

Kingsbridge Library Reading Group spans a wide age range - from early to late middle age - some very late. The group was formed with the arrival of a new and extremely energetic new librarian. Kingsbridge library serves the people of Kingsbridge - an idyllic small town at the head of the Salcombe Estuary - and the people of the surrounding villages of the South Hams. We are enthusiastic, tolerant and open-minded about books - except when we strongly disagree with each other. Our discussions get pretty lively at times! We read a wide range of books from Charles Dickens to Joseph Heller and have developed a macabre obsession with We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. We talk about Kevin at every meeting!

The group is interested in this project because:

We always find the Man Booker Lists fascinating and always want to read them all! We would love to be one of the groups involved and have the opportunity to get our hot little hands on the titles as soon as possible. Our group always has a wide range of views on what we read - we seldom all agree about a book. Because of the quality of the Man Booker titles we anticipate hot and healthy debate.

Very few of the group are familiar with the internet but know there's a wealth of stuff online about books. Contributing to the Blog would be a great way of taking the first steps towards getting involved with the online reading community - it will open up a whole new side to our reading experience.

Last and by no means least - we love a good party!

Well done to Wendy and her group. Carol Ackroyd (Reader Development Officer).