World Book Day and a Giveaway

It's World Book Day on Thursday, 4 March 2010 and it is a day to promote, share and enjoy the pleasure of reading books.  This year sees events taking place in various areas around the UK.  You can visit the World Book Day website for a list of events or check out your library, favourite bookstore and local newspaper for additional events, promotions and talks.

To celebrate World Book Day, and in anticipation of the next book in this series to be published in July, I am giving away a brand new, unread hardback by one of my favourite writers, Alexander McCall Smith.  The book is The Unbearable Lightness of Scones and is the fifth instalment in the 44 Scotland Street series.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this series, it was originally published in The Scotsman newspaper in daily instalments and follows the comings and goings of a group of people who share an address in Scotland Street.  It bears McCall Smith's characteristic humour and charm with a dash of philosophical musings (usually witty) and each chapter is a self-contained gem, making it easy to read in small bites if required. 

Edinburgh is a beautiful character in this series and many places are featured in the book.  Check out this link for a free location guide to 44 Scotland Street - a handy little guide (which opens in pdf format) for when you're next in Edinburgh and hoping to place the book in context.

Whether you're a McCall Smith fan, or McCall Smith curious, please feel free to enter your name in the draw by leaving a comment on this post.  I am happy to post anywhere in the world.  This draw is open until the end of Friday, 5 March 2010 (UK time).  The winner will be drawn from a hat and announced on Saturday, 6 March 2010.  Good luck!