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As someone who doesn't read a huge number of books, I am genuinely nervous about this event:

Dear All,

Thanks a million for agreeing to speak at the Bookshop Barnie New Year's Balloon Debate at Foyles on Tuesday January 19th.

This email is simply to keep you up to speed and remind you of the event details.

The format is this:

At 6.30 we take to the stage and sit in a line. I will give a long-winded introduction about you all, and remind the audience of your book choices.

Then, in turn, each of you have two and a half minutes to present your case for the Best Book in the World (basically, the one book that you believe should be saved in a fire, for instance). You should simply stand where you sit to present your argument (microphones will be provided).

I recommend that you pitch your choice to the audience in the way that the public will be best convinced: think of it as selling the book. It is a literary debate with a serious intent but of course it is light-hearted.

After you have all finished, we will accept the rollicking applause and take about 10 minutes of Q&A.

Then, sadly, four will be voted off ... and the remaining three contestant have a further ONE minute to deliver the killer punch.

Then we have a final vote and the winner is announced.

This year's contestants:

Jonathan Beckman, deputy director, 1843, on The Babylonian Talmud
Rob Killick, director, Clerkswell Ltd, on Philip Roth’s American Pastoral
Pamela Dow, director of Strategy, Ministry of Justice, on Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre
Patrik Schumacher, director, Zaha Hadid Architects, on Ludwig von Mises’ Human Action
Simon Clark, director, Forest, on Enid Blyton’s Mr Galliano’s Circus
Dr Gillian Dow, director, Chawton House Library, on Jane Austen’s Emma
Louis Savy, director, Sci-Fi London Festival, on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Venue: The Auditorium, 6th Floor, Foyles Bookshop,
107 Charing Cross Road, London
Time: 6.00pm for a drink and a 6.30pm prompt start
Date: January 19th 2016

By all means, bring friends and family for moral support or simply to enjoy the debate.

Austin Williams
Bookshop Barnies

So there it is. Goodness knows why I agreed to take part.

What was I thinking?

Comments

[Bucko]

Will it be on the BBC?

[Pat Nurse]

Good luck