World Book Night 2012 in Texas

World Book Night 2012 is being celebrated today with some 500,000 books to be handed out to readers across the U.S. (another 2 million books are being shared with readers in the U.K., Ireland, and Germany).  I was one of the 25,000 U.S. "Givers" - and I have found a perfect home for all but four of my copies of A Prayer for Owen Meany.  The remaining four copies will be shared with a few reluctant readers I know at the office because I figure if this John Irving masterpiece can't convert them into regular readers it will never happen for them.

The picture below is of some of the book recipients at The Conservatory, a Senior Living complex located near my home; this has, in fact, been my father's home for the last two years.  These ladies, plus George, showed up to talk books and grab their copy of Owen Meany.  They were also kind enough to pick up copies for four book club members who did not make it to the giveaway (there's a lot going on at The Conservatory, sometimes causing conflicts).  As always, click on the pictures in order to see larger images.

This one is a shot of the main entrance to The Conservatory.

And this is a shot of the loot I started with this afternoon - thanks to Barnes & Noble's (Champions)  flawlessly organized pick-up WBN books for a number of us.  Special thanks, also, to Tessie Carter, Lifestyle Director, for helping coordinate everything for me.

I love the idea of World Book Night and hope that arrangements can be made to give away a full million books next year.  After all, the U.K. has only 20% of the population of the U.S. but managed to produce and give away that many.  This was all great fun but the best part was my "book chat" with the ladies...maybe, they will make me an honorary resident.