is World Book Night on St George's day?
Because it is the birth (and death) day of William Shakespeare.
That's one of the 67.5 questions The Hillsiders got right. Barry, Clive, Lisa, Sarah and Sue (with interloper Adrian) came 3rd overall (2nd of non library teams) out of 8 or 9 teams so we improved quite considerably after the first 6 or 7 questions that none of us had a clue about. It was a bit touch and go to begin with and we started to wonder if we might have to slope off at the interval.
We learned that crime is where it's at in the world of literary quiz fodder and that we didn't read enough of it.
We recklessly answered 'Sense and Sensibility' to one of the questions because that's the book we are reading this month, rather than Pride and Prejudice which was clearly the right answer. Fortunately that lost point was redeemed by knowing Miss Marple's first name.
Other teams seemed to be drinking home made lemon squash and took up the offer of cups of tea at the interval enjoyed their evening rather demurely. By contrast the Hillsiders, who each brought their own bottle of wine gradually got louder as the evening progressed with a crescendo of exuberance when Michael Frayn turned out to be Claire Tomalin's husband.
Thanks to Horsham Library for organising the event. Last year's cuddle from Peter James was lovely but this year's quiz included the opportunity to eat greasy food and make a noise inside the library, it was great fun and we all got a book to take home.
Tip for the movie round in a literary quiz - watch the credits at the end of a film and take note of who wrote the book.
As a WBN giver I have 24 copies of Red Dust Road to give away this year to 24 lucky readers so look out for me in the next week or so, it could be you.
I hope they let us enter next year - we might need to use an assumed name though.
