Calling all bibliophiles, France’s Nuit de la Lecture “night of reading” is back. Now in its third year, this year’s edition takes place on January 19 and will boast a rich line-up of bookish new activities. Jointly supported by France’s Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, its 2019 program is said to feature over 4,000 events globally, including several thousand in France and over 200 in the Paris region.
As for this year’s theme, Tous Lecteurs! (All Readers!) has bookstores, libraries, schools and universities hosting talks, screenings, readings, exhibitions, concerts and reading-related activities of all types. Think: Escape Room antics at the Centre National du Livre and at Versailles’ historical central library; author meet and greets at Paris’ Maison de la Poésie, where Emma de Caunes, François-Henri Désérable and Adélaïde Bon will talk about their favorite books; classic poetry readings in the red salon of Victor Hugo’s house in Paris; and a slam poetry and rap marathon at Ici bookstore which is set to run into the wee hours of the morning.
Elsewhere, a kids’ reading competition at Bibliothèque Andrée Chedid in the 15th arrondissement, an opportunity to ace your very own #bookface image at Vincenne’s Mediathèque and plenty of kids’ pajama party readings will take place.
Residents of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Chicago, Illinois, can head to Librairie Des Livres et Des Délices on January 19 for an evening treasure hunt, or to the Lycée Français de Chicago on January 18, to enjoy readings, meet authors and participate in activities for readers of all ages.
To find out more, visit the event’s website or head to the event’s Facebook page where you can complete a special quiz and be matched with your perfect classic read. Better yet, join the French Ministry of Culture’s Instagram competition and share your ultimate #bookstagram photo with the #TousLecteurs or #NuitLecture hashtags. Bonne lecture!
