*Who is Viv Groskop?

*Where is she originally from?

*What did she think about Bath when she was

growing up?

*Who is she most looking forward to seeing and

why?

*When does the Bath Literature Festival start,

and when does it finish?

*What is the theme of the 2014 festival?

The Independent Bath Literature Festival is at the centre of local,

national and international debate featuring some of the most intelligent,

creative, and cutting edge thinkers alive today.

‘There were passionate questions and comments from the audience who

were clearly engaged and buzzing. This was live!’

Artistic Director Viv Groskop, is an acclaimed critic, columnist and

broadcaster. She will be delivering her first Literature Festival in 2014.

In its seventeen year history the Literature Festival has hosted Nobel and

Booker Prize winners, leading political thinkers, poets and humourists.

The Festival is strongly connected to the city and its people. With events

taking place in historic buildings throughout the town, we have a special

opportunity to match architecture and theme.

The 2014 Bath Literature Festival takes place from 28 February to 9

March.

Mr. and Mrs. ________, of number four, _________, were proud to say

that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a

good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

When shall we three meet again

In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

When Mr. _______________of Bag End announced that he would shortly be

celebrating his eleventy first birthday with a party of special

magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in _________."

It was a bright day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.

Once there were four children whose names were ______,_______, _____

and _______. This story is about something that happened to them when

they were sent away from London during the war because of the air-raids.

What a lot of hairy-faced men there are around nowadays.

Are they good/memorable/intriguing opening lines? Which is the best?

‘To be, or not to be: that is the question’

‘Please, sir, I want some more’

‘Reader, I married him’

‘Call me Ishmael’

‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’

‘Fifteen men on the Dead Man's Chest Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!’

‘Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall

through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy.’

‘All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others’

‘If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else

remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger’

‘If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I

never have to live without you.’

Do you use the public library?

What was the last book you

took out from the library?

When was this?! What was it?

Do you think that libraries are

still relevant or useful today?

Consider:

accessibility and affordability

of books in shops

e-books and kindles

Do you think that the

government should spend

more or less on public libraries

(taking into account the

current public spending cuts)?

WITHOUT REVEALING THE TITLE

Describe the plot (try not to give away the ending!) without naming

the main characters – aim to cover at least what would be on the blurb

If your partner can’t guess your book, you can reveal character names

and facts about the author, when the book was published etc.

To discuss….

o Has your classmate also read the book, or heard of it? What do they

think of it?

o Why is it your favourite book?

o When did you first read it?

o Who would you recommend it to and why?