National Book Month

October showcases National Book Month, a fantastic celebration for readers, writers, and literature.

Books and reading have long been a favorite pastime. Books became available to the ordinary person after Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1439: the first press with mechanical movable type. This development allowed the rapid spread of ideas and knowledge.

Palmer Putnam and John Wiley established the first major US publishing house, Harper & Brothers, in 1817 in New York City. Harper’s printed books and magazines, which further increased reading material availability.

The annual recognition of books began twenty years ago by the National Book Foundation. Each year, the foundation honors the country’s top authors.

Reading is generally a solitary occupation. However, sometimes people form Book Clubs to meet and discuss books; there are even online reading groups. National and local organizations promote book club recommendations with different topical themes.

My end table is stacked high with books. What are you reading today? What’s your favorite genre? Do you read one book at a time, or do you read a few simultaneously?

You can follow the Author on her Website or X (formerly Twitter).


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