Read your way around the South West

Why go abroad this summer, when you can go on a literary journey around the beautiful South West?

Plymouth City Council’s library service has teamed up with libraries from across the region to create the South West Reading Passport, a guide to some of the best books and authors from our fair corner of the country.

All of the authors featured in the passport have either lived in or written about locations around the South West – from Mary Shelley, who took inspiration from Bath for her classic horror ‘Frankenstein’, to Plymouth’s very own comedienne, actress and author Dawn French.

Each page of the passport lists six of the best known authors from a different library authority and longer booklists are available in local libraries.

Chris Goddard, Library Service Manager, said: “The idea of the passport is to promote the wide range of fiction and non-fiction that has come out of the South West and give people some new reading ideas. We’re really pleased to be working alongside other library authorities to celebrate the region’s writers and writing, as well as the fantastic locations on our doorstep.”

There is a tear-out page in the passport for readers to recommend their favourite books and everyone who hands in a review by 30 September will be entered into a draw to win a Nook e-reader.

Just pop into your local library to pick up a passport and start your reading journey.

For more information call 01752 305900, email library@plymouth.gov.uk or visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/readingpassport.