What is FridayReads? #fridayreads

If you happen to follow the Halifax Reader on Twitter (@halifaxreader) you may have noticed that last week we did a number of posts around FridayReads (or in Twitter talk #fridayreads). What is FridayReads you might ask? Well, ask no more!

FridayReads is a reading initiative started by Shelf Awareness editor Bethanne Patrick (@thebookmaven) under the byline "Because books are better when shared" and aims to use the power of social networking to promote reading and literacy. In their own words: "FridayReads is a global community of thousands of people who come together each week to share whatever they’re reading. Our goal is simple: to raise reading’s visibility and encourage more people to join in!"

FridayReads takes place in a variety of ways. On Twitter folks from all across North America and around the world post what they are currently reading (book, magazine, audio book, newspaper, whatever!) and tag it with the #fridayreads tag. That way other voracious readers can search Twitter for the tag and get ideas for books to read. If you're not on Twitter check out the FridayReads blog: post what you're reading and see what other folks are reading too. Oh, and FridayReads on Facebook too.

Each week there is a book giveaway, and (one of my favourite features) a list of the most popular books talked about that Friday.

Last week The Reader's bloggers collectively took part in FridayReads for the first time. Here's what we were reading:

Lynne's reading: A Small Death in the Great Glen by A.D. Scott: Excellent series debut!

Marlo's reading Generation X by Douglas Coupland (It's from her 5 summer reads list)

Maureen's reading: Young Romantics: the tangled lives of English poetry's greatest generation by Daisy Hay

Cynthia's reading: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (YA Steampunk WWI)

Dave's reading: City of God by E.L. Doctorow

Kristina's reading Ferran: the inside story of El Bulli & the man who reinvented food by Coleman Andrews

Rosemary is reading The Social Worker by Michael Ungar

Zoe's reading: Witches & Neighbours: the social and cultural context of European witchcraft by Robin Briggs

Julie's reading: Seabiscuit: an American legend by Laura Hillenbrand

Want to know what we're reading this week? See you on Friday!