Reading the World 2008 Website

The Reading the World website for 2008 is now online, complete with info about all 25 titles (from 15 different presses), info about participating bookstores, how to sign up, how to get on the mailing list, etc.

In case you’re not already familiar with this, RTW is an innovative collaboration between publishers and independent booksellers to promote literature in translation throughout the month of June. Last year over 230 bookstores across the States displayed works from these select presses, along with brochures and posters featuring artwork from the Czech artist Peter Sis.

We’re planning on reviewing most (if not all) of the titles in the program before June, and as of the moment, we’ve reviewed five:

Knowledge of Hell by Antonio Lobo Antunes
Nazi Literature in the Americas Roberto Bolano
Yalo by Elias Khoury
Serve the People! by Yan Lianke
The Diving Pool by Yoko Ogawa

Speaking of reviews and related RTW promotions, if anyone out there would like to help promote RTW (maybe interviewing authors/translators for your blog, reviewing some of these titles, arranging RTW events, getting more press for the participating bookstores), please e-mail me at chad.post at rochester dot edu, or post something in the comments. This program was conceived of as a grassroots sort of project that readers, reviewers, translators, booksellers, can all engage in and spread the word about in various ways. (For example, in years past the blogging community has done an amazing job helping to generate interest in the program.)

Anyway, I hope everyone finds a book or two from the list to enjoy, and I also hope all your local independent stores are participating . . .