The Summer Read is Launched!

Reading Victoria's second annual summer reading program, The Summer Read, was launched today by Rosemary McKenzie, the wife of Victorian Premier John Brumby. She announced the shortlist of 20 recently published Victorian books and formally declared the program launched.

Guests at the launch event were welcomed to the Library by the Hon John Cain, Chair of the Library Board of Victoria, and were treated to readings from the shortlist by authors Max Barry and Diana Georgeff.

Those in attendance included Cr David Wilson of the City of Melbourne, a range of The Summer Read authors, the State Library's CEO Anne-Marie Schwirtlich and guests from the Victorian Public Library Network.

Among the comments heard from guests were: 

'The best reading of the year often happens during those rare and lovely days between Christmas and New Year when the world seems to go quiet and still and you can just immerse yourself in a wonderful book.'

'...I love that I can read more than one book over the summer holidays. It is great to have a selection... Like an assorted box of chocolates (there is excitement just anticipating them).

Read the shortlist now >