Brighton City Reads 2009
Published 17th Feb 2009 by Max Crisfield

For 2009 Brighton & Hove City Reads invites you to join in the city-wide read of Markus Zusak’s international bestseller The Book Thief. From the launch on 12 March to the final event on 23 May, there’s a huge range of special events, workshops, reading groups and film showings devoted to The Book Thief and surrounding themes. Including an exclusive City Reads visit to Brighton Festival by Australian author Markus Zusak. To join in, simply pick up a copy and start reading.

The book - It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier. Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with her foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. The story of a girl, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter and quite a lot of thievery, The Book Thief is a multilayered story about the power of words and reading to nourish the soul and change lives.

Some background
• The Book Thief was published in Australia in 2005 as an adult novel and then in the USA in 2006 as a teen read, where it went to number one on the New York Times bestseller list.
• The Book Thief is available in two editions, one for teenagers and one for adults.
• The Book Thief won the 2006 Kathleen Mitchell Award and 2007 Michel L. Printz Honor book prize.
• As of November 2008 it has been on the New York Times Children's Bestseller List for over 60 weeks.
• It was number 14 in The Observer's top 100 best-sellers of 2008.

The author
Markus Zusak is the award-winning author of four previous books for young readers: The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, Getting the Girl and I Am the Messenger. He lives in Sydney with his wife and young daughter.

‘For a whole community like Brighton to adopt my book in this way is exciting, humbling, and at least slightly terrifying. I can’t wait to get up there – I’m honoured.’ Markus Zusak

The events

With Markus Zusak:

Markus Zusak at Brighton Festival
In conversation with Kate Mosse
Join Markus as he discusses The Book Thief in his first ever UK event. In conversation with broadcaster and best-selling author Kate Mosse (Labyrinth, Sepulchre). A compelling conclusion to City Reads 2009.
Sat 23 May, 3pm, Corn Exchange, Brighton Dome, £7.50
Tickets from Brighton Dome Ticket Office (01273) 709709
www.brightonfestival.org

Markus Zusak Workshop (Age 13+)
Join Markus to pick up some writing tips and hear how he thought up the storyline for his best-selling novel The Book Thief. Limited spaces.
Sat 23 May, 11am, Jubilee Library, £5
Tickets from Brighton Dome Ticket Office (01273) 709709
www.brightonfestival.org

The Stuff of Nightmares – Michael Morpurgo and Markus Zusak
Chaired by William Nicholson
Can books, aimed at a young readership, help make sense of shocking events in recent history? Markus Zusak and Michael Morpurgo (War Horse) talk to William Nicholson (The Wind Singer).
Sat 23 May, 7.30pm, Charleston Festival, £10
Tickets from Brighton Dome Ticket Office (01273) 709709
www.brightonfestival.org

Other events:

Free City Reads Film Screenings at Jubilee Library
Sat 4 April, 1pm – The Diary of Anne Frank
Sun 19 April, 1pm – The Pianist
Sun 26 April, 1pm – Sophie Scholl
Thu 30 April, 6pm – The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas
Sun 3 May, 1pm – The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas
City Readings – Library Coffee Mornings
FREE library readings/discussions on The Book Thief with actress Peta Taylor
Sat 28 March, 11.30am – Hove Library
Sat 4 April, 11.30am – Rottingdean Library
Sat 18 April, 11.30am – Whitehawk Library
Sat 25 April, 11.30am – Westdene Library
Sat 2 May, 11.30am – Hangleton Library

Wartime Britain Through the Diaries of Mass Observation
Mass Observation – a unique survey of everyday life in Britain – commenced on the cusp of the Second World War and is today archived at University of Sussex. This event focuses on the lives and times of British people during WWII. Speakers include Dorothy Sheridan MBE and Fiona Courage.
Thu 16 April, Jubilee Library, 6.30pm–7.45pm (Free)
Tickets from Jubilee Library Booklover Store (01273) 294071


Brighton Behind the Front – City Reads History Walk
In association with QueenSpark Books
A fascinating exploration of Brighton's wartime settings with local historian Jackie Marsh-Hobbs. Meet on the west side of the Volks Railway Ticket Kiosk, Madeira Drive.
Sat 18 April, 11am–12.30pm, £6 (includes refreshments)
Tickets from Brighton Dome Ticket Office (01273) 709709
www.brightonticketshop.com

City Reads Book Quiz at Jubilee Library
Back by popular demand, the City Reads Book Quiz returns to test your literary mettle. With a special round on this year’s City Reads book The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Join a team or bring your own.
Thu 23 April, 6.45pm, £3.50
Tickets from Jubilee Library Booklover Store (01273) 294071

Writing with History (City Reads Writing Workshop)
Learn the art of writing fiction in a historical setting with Penguin novelist and creative writing tutor Alison MacLeod (The Wave Theory of Angels, Fifteen Modern Tales of Attraction).
Sat 25 April, 9.30am–1.30pm, Cornerstone Community Café (Hove), £20/£15 concessions
Tickets from Brighton Dome Ticket Office (01273) 709709
www.brightonticketshop.com

NOTE – ALL EVENTS GO ON SALE ON LAUNCH DATE – 12 MARCH
EXCEPT MARKUS ZUSAK EVENTS, WHICH GO ON PUBLIC SALE 27 FEBRUARY

For what's on where, when and how to get involved visit: www.cityreads.co.uk
And look out for comprehensive City Reads guides across Brighton & Hove

Brighton & Hove City Reads 2009
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
March 12 – May 23
www.cityreads.co.uk

Including the first ever UK event by Australian author Markus Zusak

'Unsettling, thought-provoking, life-affirming, triumphant and tragic, this is a novel of breathtaking scope, masterfully told.’ The Guardian

One City. One Book. A Thousand Conclusions
Imagine sharing a book with your neighbour, with your hairdresser, with your bus driver and with your friends. Having one book for one city brings readers together.

The background
Last year Brighton & Hove celebrated Val McDermid’s A Place of Execution with three packed months of events, debates, discussions and, of course, reading.

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