The National Year of Reading ends with a look at the future of reading and writing. Are new technologies, like texting and blogging, bringing readers and writers closer together or is the future of the book in doubt?

Technology has certainly changed the way we read. Rainy City Stories uses the latest technology to publish new writing by using a Google map of Manchester to organise stories into places. Rainy City Stories publish pieces by well-known Manchester authors, as well as people who have just started writing. You can send in your own story too.

Why not tell your own story on a blog? Loads of people use blogs to publish their innermost thoughts and to publish poetry and fiction. Blog host services like Blogger and WordPress are completely free and it only takes a few minutes
to sign up and get online.

In Japan half of the Top 10 best-selling books are mobile phone novels. You buy a novel and receive a new chapter by text message every day. Perfect for the bus or packed tram! Corduroy Mansions, Alexander McCall Smiths’ latest novel, has been published completely online. A new chapter appears here each weekday. The best-selling author also welcomes your suggestions as the story unfolds.

Technology can also let other people see what you are reading and what type of books are on your bookshelves. Log on to  LibraryThing or BookJetty to connect with people with similar reading tastes or discover new authors. Even
libraries are getting in the act. Manchester Libraries has a blog – The  Manchester Lit List and you can also become a fan of libraries on  Facebook!

November 2008 is Screen Reads Month and this month we’re celebrating books that have been adapted for film and television.

We all know about some famous books that have been turned into great films, like The Golden Compass, but there are even more coming out soon!

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and Angels and Demons are just two that are due out soon. You can find out about books that are being turned into films here.

There is a great competition on the National Year of Reading website to win a copy of the new film, The Boy in Striped Pyjamas (which was, of course, a book!).

Loads of Shakespeare’s works have been turned into films, click here to find out which ones have had star treatment. You may be surprised – I bet you didn’t know The Lion King was based on Shakespeare!

It is not just books that have hit our screens – comics have formed the basis for many a popular film, like the Batman and HellBoy films. Why not have a go at making your own Dr Who comic here.

You can find out all about other comics that have been made into films here.

And whether you’re looking for Mr Darcy, Dr Who or Don Corleone libraries have the book or DVD for you. Visit your local library to choose from thousands of DVD titles, as well as a vast range of books with a cinematic flavour.

Do you love screen adaptations or do you hate it when your favourite book is turned into a film? Was the Da Vinci Code better as a book? Did Pride and Prejudice get your pulse racing or is The Godfather the daddy of all screen adaptations? Let us know what you think by posting your comments on the blog.

October’s National year of reading theme is Word of Mouth and we’re celebrating storytelling, reading together, reading out loud and live literature.

For live literature events you can’t beat the Manchester Literature Festival which runs from Oct 16 to October 26. There are over 50 events taking place during the coming two weeks including a question and answer session with Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies and an appearance by Carol Ann Duffy at the Manchester Poetry Prize Gala. The Northern, on Tib Street, is also hosting free gigs by novelists and poets every night of the week,

There’s a great free lunch-time line-up of writers, artists and poets at Central Library too – the perfect place to dip a toe into live literature scene waters and Levenshulme Library hosts award-winning crime writer Barbara Nadel on Monday 3 November.

You don’t even need to leave the house because you can listen to some poetry from the comfort of your own home with the Poetry Archive which also provides some tips on how to listen or you can download the Penguin Podcast, a fortnightly episode of book extracts, author interviews and features.

Are you planning on attending any Festival events? Have you seen any unforgettable writers or poets live? You can share your thoughts here…write a review for Manchester Reads and post it to our comments section. We’d love to hear from you.

And finally The National Year of Reading is on the lookout for the nation’s most enthusiastic amateur storytellers so I’ll leave you with comedian Jon Culshaw explaining how to enter the Telling Tales competition and giving you a few examples of voices you can do when you’re reading out loud (think Boris Johnson and David Beckham…)

]]> http://manchesterreads.wordpress.com/2008/10/14/word-of-mouth/feed/ 0 limey6 story time http://manchesterreads.wordpress.com/2008/09/04/you-are-what-you-read/ http://manchesterreads.wordpress.com/2008/09/04/you-are-what-you-read/#comments Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:28:54 +0000 limey6 http://manchesterreads.wordpress.com/?p=71 ]]> They say “you are what you eat” – but are you also what you read?

Readers, what are you reading? I just took a look at a stack of books on my desk, and here’s the title list:

The Allotment Book by Andi Clevely

The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester

The Killer’s Guide to Iceland by Zane Raddcliffe

Lost Oasis: Adventures In and Out of the Egyptian Desert by Robert Twigger

Depths by Henning Mankell ….and of course…

Library 2.0: A Guide to Participatory Library Service by Casey and Savastinuk

There are more within my reach - I work in a library! My point is if I am what I read, then I am a murderous frozen wanderer stuck in a spaceship blogging about deserts and potatoes.

So if you are what you read, how would you describe yourself?

It’s easy to add your own comments. Just click on the the title link at the top of the page.

Sport has always attracted great writers and 100 years ago at the first London Olympic Games even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was at the White City Stadium to cover the finish of the first ever Marathon.

Libraries have lots of great sports books and you can find some sporty reading lists at Manchester Libraries’ online catalogue. Reserve any title for free and we’ll deliver it to your nearest library.

Do you have a  favourite sports book? We want to know about it!

Write a review of your favourite sporting read or recommend a title to other readers. Just click on the comments tag at the top of the page to share your thoughts with other Manchester readers.

Manchester’s a great town for Open Mic poets. You turn up with your poem on the night, then stand up and read it to an audience of supportive and friendly poetry fans. The floor is yours.

Well, the floor’s yours here, too. 

July is Rhythm and Rhyme month, so we’re hosting Open Mic on the web!   WHY?  Perhaps it’s hard to read aloud in front of others? Some poems are definitely better on the page – seeing a poem written can add a whole new dimension.

Send us one poem, which must be your own, original work.  If we like it, we’ll post it here for others to enjoy. Submit your poem by clicking on the title at the top of this page – or click on the comments box.

The National Year of Reading theme for June is “reading escapes”. We don’t know where you’re headed this summer – it could be to the beach, the mountains, or your own backyard – but wherever you are you’ll need a good book.

Reading can help you plan your perfect holiday, it can help you relax, or it can let you escape into an entirely different world, even if you’re not leaving home this summer.

Pop into your local Manchester library this month to see our wide range of travel guides and holiday reading. Library staff can help you find your book choice – if you fancy reading a book set in your holiday destination, why not ask your local library staff if there are any available?

What are your reading escapes? We want to know what you think! Tell us about your reading escapes by clicking on the title at the top of this page – or click on the comments box.

But reading is also the perfect way to discover information on the widest possible range of health topics – whether you have serious health issues or whether you’d like to learn about the joys of aromatherapy – there is information available at your local library.

We’d like to know about books you have read that have brought you peace and harmony or have contributed to your physical well being.

Every library in Manchester has its own Health Information Point (look out for the Red Apple stickers). From Giggle & Jiggle sessions for parents & toddlers to Family Fun & Health Days, there’s something for everyone this month in Manchester Libraries!!

Check out events information on our main website – www.manchesterreads.org.uk

The book closest to your heart, the one you really remember & cherish?

The book that changed your life?

Most people have 1 or 2 books that have made a huge & lasting impression on them -

It could have made you laugh your head off or cry your eyes out (or both).

It may have revolutionised your thinking or challenged forever the way you view the world.

It could have had you on the edge of your seat or lost in another dimension.

TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL YEAR OF READING IN MANCHESTER -

we want to hear about your favourite ever books – why you love them so much and why those particular books have stayed with you forever.

Tell us about your life-changing books by clicking on the title at the top of this page – or click on the comments box. 

Reading is a powerful, life-changing activity – never underestimate what it can do!!

April’s theme is a celebration of reading and the challenge is to read something different than your usual, and to read it somewhere you don’t usually read. Let us know what you have read, why it was an unusual read for you, where you read it, why you chose to read it there and anything else special about reading this month.

Whatever and wherever, simply enjoy your reading this April.