Readers' Group Prize 2005
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The Penguin & Orange Readers' Group Prize 2005 - The Winners!
High Down Prison Reading Group won the Penguin & Orange Reading Group Prize 2005 in association with Ottakar’s. As part of their prize, the group received a visit from Author Nick Hornby who led a reading group session on his new book, A Long Way Down.
A member of the prison group said "winning is not really one of our strong points so we are pleased that the judges saw something appealing in our reading group. The chance to meet Nick Hornby is incredible, especially for the Arsenal fans amongst us."
Kay Hadwick, Librarian at High Down Prison and Founder of High Down Prison Reading Group, commented: "The all male reading group based at High Down Prison operates in a trusting environment where disagreement in reading choices never results in confrontation as there is too much confrontation elsewhere in the prison. The reading group offers members a relaxed forum to discuss books and enables prisoners to escape the daily irritations of prison life."
One member has written a rhyme which represents the views of the reading group:
"Reading group comes as a breath of fresh air A monthly release when close to despair a freewheeling forum for expression of thought, analysis, criticism, witty retorts Reading group means the distinct absence of rule A nice coffee and biscuits with other book loving fools"
Second place was awarded to The Port Ellen, Isle of Islay Book Group who read books that hold relevance to their daily lives, current affairs and contemporary Scottish literature. Due to the unusual circumstances, the first prize, a trip to the Edinburgh Book Festival, went to the Isle of Islay Book Group. They attended a celebrity panel event in Edinburgh and met authors Bill Duncan, Joan Bakewell and Ali Smith.
Joanna Prior, Marketing and Publicity Director of Penguin, commented: "High Down Prison Reading Group is an inspiration. Their description of the benefits their members derive from reading and discussing books together is a great testimony to the power of books to transport us all from our everyday lives to new and enriching experiences."
Find out more about the Readers' Group Prize here www.readersgroupprize.com
From the quiet shores of Islay to the vibrant atmosphere of the Edinburgh International Book Festival... Click here to find out how the runners up of the Penguin & Orange Reading group prize got in in Edinburgh when they met authors Bill Duncan, Joan Bakewell and Ali Smith.
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