World Book Night 2013

A large part of World Book Night's festivities is the giving. For those not in the know, the process involves 20 books being chosen by an independent editorial committee; the authors waive their royalties and the publishers produce 500,000 special World Book Night editions. A person can apply to be a giver around the start of the year, with the intention being they pick their favourite of the 20 and distribute a stack to people in their community who may not usually have the opportunity, or natural inclination, to pick up Tracy Chevalier's Girl With a Pearl Earring.

This year's list features classics like Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, dystopian fiction in Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses and, for the first time, a graphic novel – John Wagner’s Judge Dredd: The Dark Judges. It's a strong offering – perhaps the broadest yet in terms of interest – but if none of these are likely to make your Goodreads profile there's also the option to tailor World Book Night to your own ends. Don’t like any of this year’s books? Aren’t registered as a giver? Instead, why not give copies of your own favourite title to someone? How about arranging a book event in your own area? Something more niche, something that interests you.

World Book Night has plenty to offer besides literary altruism. The huge variety of events across the UK and Ireland present innovative ways to engage with fellow readers and appreciate literature. For those of us in the Northwest, the place to be is surely Liverpool, which has been chosen as this year's flagship city and, along with London, will host a number of contributing authors. The World Book Night event at St George's Hall on 23 April features – the organisers say – ‘readings, discussions, debates, a literary cafe and marketplace, and the chance to get up close and personal with some superstar authors.’ It also serves as kick-off for Liverpool's inaugural literary festival, In Other Words, which you can read more about below.

Greater Manchester is also set for some interesting events. Altrincham Library is hosting a murder mystery night, while five other libraries in the Hyde area are screening adaptations of this year’s books and giving away 40 copies of the originals. At the time of writing, the World Book Night events map has been live on the site for less than a week and already a number of fun happenings are popping up.

There's also the option to add your own events, including categories such as ‘quiz’ and ‘party,’ in addition to the usual author readings, library and bookshop events. So you've really no excuse not to throw your own dystopian party, perhaps quizzing your friends on the second half of Atlas Shrugged no one bothered to read; everyone donning 1984-esque grey overalls and drinking gin. Or, you know, something better than that.