Great Reading Adventure

The Great Reading Adventure was introduced in 2003 as part of Bristol's bid to be European Capital of Culture 2008. It was inspired by an equivalent scheme in Chicago, where they were reading Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. In its first year in excess of 15,000 people read Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson as part of the scheme. At the time the 2004 scheme launched Bristol was the only city in Britain to have such a project, but plans were underway for London to introduce one. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2004/feb/17/johnwyndham Bristol Plants a Reading Seed - from the Guardian Online]

As part of the 2005 celebarations of the 70th Anniversiary of sponsers Penguin Publishing, they selected "The Siege" by Helen Dunmore as that year's book. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2005/01/10/bobris10.xml&sSheet=/arts/2005/01/10/ixartleft.html "The book they're all reading in Bristol" from the Telegraph website] Dunmore had moved to Bristol 29 years previously, and launched that years events. It was also split up into roughly three age categories, with The Siege being suggested for adults, teenagers being recommended Carrie's War by Nina Bawden and younger children Tara's Treehouse which was also by Dunmore. Penguin also planned to get other British cities reading relevant books of their choice.

From 2006 the scheme extended to the whole of South West England, involving the distribution of about 40,000 copies of the Jules Verne novel Around the World in 80 Days. They involved around 70 Swindon schools, 80 Bristol schools and all 15 library authorities in the South West. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4290636.stm "Reading Adventure for the South West" from BBC Bristol Website]

List of books by Year

2003 - Treasure Island
2004 - Day of the Triffids
2005 - The Siege by Helen Dunmore
2006 - Around the World in 80 Days
2007 - Small Island by Andrea Levy
2008 - The Bristol Story - a specially commissioned graphic novel

Reference