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Ben Aaronovitch’s novel Rivers of London (Gollancz) has been chosen as the focus of Cityread London’s 2015 campaign.
The title will be at the centre of a celebration of reading in the capital, starting on 30th March and running throughout April, which aims to engage Londoners with reading for pleasure, focused around the shared reading experience of a single book.
Andy Ryan, director of Cityread London, said Rivers of London is “the perfect Cityread title” because of the “magical but very real modern-day capital” portrayed in the book.
She added: “We’re thrilled to be working with Ben and the team at Gollancz on our 2015 programme as the book presents so many exciting opportunities to bring reading to life for Londoners.”
A programme of events linked to the book will take place across all 33 London boroughs in libraries, bookshops, museums and other venues. It will include a series of interactive theatrical performances by theatre company Look Left Look Right, as well as a tour by Aaronovitch that will include a library visit or event in every London borough.
Cityread 2015 will also include a specially produced Quick Reads title aimed at engaging Londoners who struggle with reading and will be supported by a partnership with BBC London.
Aaronovitch said: “As a native Londoner it's hard to imagine a more exciting honour than having my book selected to be the London Cityread for 2015. Added to that is the sheer pleasure of working with and helping support the public libraries of London.”
He added that his own love of reading began in his local library and that he still uses libraries to conduct research for his books, calling them “a resource beyond price, with a contribution to the intellectual and cultural capital of London beyond measure.” He also said that his hope for Cityread 2015 it is that “many other people, young, old and those travelling in between, who have yet to fall in love with books will find that same first love”.
This year’s Cityread London programme marked the centenary of the First World War, with Louisa Young’s My Dear I Wanted to Tell You (Harper) and Michael Morpurgo’s Private Peaceful (HarperCollins Children’s Books), the first children’s book to be featured in the scheme, chosen.