Quick Reads Initiative
Encyclopedia
Quick Reads are a series of short books by bestselling authors and celebrities. With no more than 128 pages, they are designed to encourage adults who do not read often, or find reading tough, to discover the joy of books.
They were launched in the UK and Ireland by the then Prime Minister
Tony Blair
on World Book Day
2006. Since then, over 60 titles have been published, over 3 million copies have been sold and 2 million copies have been loaned through libraries.
Quick Reads are a collaboration amongst leading publishers, supermarkets, bookshops, libraries, government departments, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE
), Arts Council England
, the BBC
, World Book Day
, National Book Tokens and more.
They are used as a resource for adult literacy teaching and have been used in Skills for Life
and ESOL classes in colleges, community centres, libraries, prisons and workplaces across the country. They have also been used in hospitals, stroke recovery units, dyslexia centres, care homes, family learning groups, pre-schools, organisations working with homeless people and traveller communities, and Army and RAF bases.
Quick Reads have helped hundreds of thousands to pick up books and enjoy reading again.
In a survey covering 50,000 new readers in 2010, 98% said that Quick Reads had made a positive impact on their lives. Quick Reads have:
• Improved new readers' confidence
• Increased morale at work
• Improved family life, as readers feel more able to help their children learn
Featured authors have included Gordon Ramsay
, Chris Ryan
, Danny Wallace, Andy McNab
, Ricky Tomlinson
, John Simpson, Colin Jackson
, Scott Quinnell
, Adele Parks, Kerry Katona
, Minette Walters
, Joanna Trollope
, Alvin Hall
, and Rolf Harris
. The initiative also features six books based on the popular Doctor Who
series. An incomplete list of titles can be found on the Quick Reads website.
The ten new Quick Reads for 2011 include stories from the world Number One James Patterson, l Irish novelist Sheila O'Flanagan, rising star Linwood Barclay
and ex-Python Terry Jones. The other new Quick Reads include a comedy by Mike Gayle, a tale of childhood by Lucy Cavendish, a novel about a train journey going awry by Priya Basil
, a martial arts adventure by Benjamin Zephaniah, a story of adoption gone wrong by Cathy Glass
and a true story of a footballing bad-lad-made-good by Brighton & Hove Albion's Charlie Oatway.
Quick Reads are available from supermarkets, bookshops and online retailers for £1.99. They can also be ordered direct from publishers and wholesalers.
There are special offers for employers and for family reading breakfast organisers, and in 2010 the new titles were available as eBooks for the first time.
is also known as Quick Reads or Stori Sydyn in Welsh
. Each year four books are published in Welsh, and four in English, by Welsh authors or celebrities. The campaign in Wales uses the same branding as the campaign in England, but it is bilingual. Funding for this comes from the Welsh National Assembly via Basic Skills Cymru, part of the National Basic Skills Strategy.
English:
English:
English:
English:
English:
They were launched in the UK and Ireland by the then Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
on World Book Day
World Book and Copyright Day
World Book and Copyright Day is a yearly event on 23 April, organized by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright...
2006. Since then, over 60 titles have been published, over 3 million copies have been sold and 2 million copies have been loaned through libraries.
Quick Reads are a collaboration amongst leading publishers, supermarkets, bookshops, libraries, government departments, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE
NIACE
The NIACE is an educational charity in England and Wales, with headquarters in Leicester and Cardiff plus a subsidiary offices in London. The organisation is dedicated to promoting adult learning and was founded in 1921...
), Arts Council England
Arts Council England
Arts Council England was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three separate bodies for England, Scotland and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport...
, the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, World Book Day
World Book and Copyright Day
World Book and Copyright Day is a yearly event on 23 April, organized by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright...
, National Book Tokens and more.
They are used as a resource for adult literacy teaching and have been used in Skills for Life
Skills for life
Skills for Life is the national strategy in England for improving adult literacy, language and numeracy skills. The strategy was launched by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in March 2001....
and ESOL classes in colleges, community centres, libraries, prisons and workplaces across the country. They have also been used in hospitals, stroke recovery units, dyslexia centres, care homes, family learning groups, pre-schools, organisations working with homeless people and traveller communities, and Army and RAF bases.
Quick Reads have helped hundreds of thousands to pick up books and enjoy reading again.
In a survey covering 50,000 new readers in 2010, 98% said that Quick Reads had made a positive impact on their lives. Quick Reads have:
• Improved new readers' confidence
• Increased morale at work
• Improved family life, as readers feel more able to help their children learn
Featured authors have included Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay
Gordon James Ramsay, OBE is a Scottish chef, television personality and restaurateur. He has been awarded 13 Michelin stars....
, Chris Ryan
Chris Ryan
Sergeant ‘Chris Ryan’ MM is the pseudonym of a former British Special Forces operative and soldier turned novelist...
, Danny Wallace, Andy McNab
Andy McNab
Sergeant ‘Andy McNab’ DCM MM is the pseudonym of an English novelist and former SAS operative and soldier.McNab came into public prominence in 1993, when he published his account of the failed Special Air Service patrol, Bravo Two Zero for which he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in...
, Ricky Tomlinson
Ricky Tomlinson
Eric Tomlinson , known by his stage name Ricky Tomlinson, is an English actor and comedian, best known for his roles as Bobby Grant in Brookside, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and James "Jim" Royle in The Royle Family....
, John Simpson, Colin Jackson
Colin Jackson
Colin Ray Jackson CBE is a British former sprint and hurdling athlete who specialised in the 110 metres hurdles. Over his career representing Great Britain and Wales he won an Olympic silver medal, became world champion three times, went undefeated at the European Championships for 12 years and...
, Scott Quinnell
Scott Quinnell
Scott Quinnell is a former Welsh international rugby league and rugby union player, who was a number 8 for Wales, Llanelli RFC, the Llanelli Scarlets and the Lions. He scored 11 tries for Wales and captained his country on 7 occasions in rugby union.-Biography:Scott is the son of former Welsh...
, Adele Parks, Kerry Katona
Kerry Katona
Kerry Jayne Elizabeth Katona is an English media personality and singer best known for her television work, predominantly in light entertainment and reality shows. She has also been a pop singer with girl group Atomic Kitten, a magazine columnist, an actress, and the author of ghostwritten books...
, Minette Walters
Minette Walters
Minette Walters is an English crime writer.- Life and work :After her birth in Bishop’s Stortford to a serving army officer, Capt Samuel Jebb and his wife Colleen, the first 10 years of Minette’s life were spent moving between army bases in the north and south of England...
, Joanna Trollope
Joanna Trollope
Joanna Trollope OBE , is an English novelist.-Life:Joanna Trollope was educated at Reigate County School for Girls followed by St Hugh's College, Oxford. From 1965 to 1967, she worked at the Foreign Office...
, Alvin Hall
Alvin Hall
Alvin D. Hall is an American financial adviser, author and media personality.-Early life:Hall was born in Tallahassee, Florida, one of seven children to a family of farmers, day workers and fishermen. He grew up in severe poverty...
, and Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris, CBE, AM is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter and television personality.Born in Perth, Western Australia, Harris was a champion swimmer before studying art. He moved to England in 1952, where he started to appear on television programmes on which he drew the...
. The initiative also features six books based on the popular Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
series. An incomplete list of titles can be found on the Quick Reads website.
The ten new Quick Reads for 2011 include stories from the world Number One James Patterson, l Irish novelist Sheila O'Flanagan, rising star Linwood Barclay
Linwood Barclay
Linwood Barclay is a Canadian-American humourist, author and former columnist. He has published books of autobiography and both humorous and dramatic detective fiction, and he formerly wrote the thrice-weekly humour column in the Toronto Star, as well as releasing a podcast with his articles. He...
and ex-Python Terry Jones. The other new Quick Reads include a comedy by Mike Gayle, a tale of childhood by Lucy Cavendish, a novel about a train journey going awry by Priya Basil
Priya Basil
Priya Basil is a British author.Her first novel, Ishq and Mushq, was published in 2007. Ishq and Mushq is a family saga which illuminates the problem of cultural identity for immigrants over several generations, and raises questions of memory, exile and self-rediscovery...
, a martial arts adventure by Benjamin Zephaniah, a story of adoption gone wrong by Cathy Glass
Cathy Glass (author)
Cathy Glass is a British author, freelance writer and foster carer.Her work is strongly identified with both the True Life Stories and Inspirational Memoirs genres...
and a true story of a footballing bad-lad-made-good by Brighton & Hove Albion's Charlie Oatway.
Quick Reads are available from supermarkets, bookshops and online retailers for £1.99. They can also be ordered direct from publishers and wholesalers.
There are special offers for employers and for family reading breakfast organisers, and in 2010 the new titles were available as eBooks for the first time.
Wales
The project in WalesWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
is also known as Quick Reads or Stori Sydyn in Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
. Each year four books are published in Welsh, and four in English, by Welsh authors or celebrities. The campaign in Wales uses the same branding as the campaign in England, but it is bilingual. Funding for this comes from the Welsh National Assembly via Basic Skills Cymru, part of the National Basic Skills Strategy.
2006
Welsh:- Brân i Bob Brân..., Rowan Coleman, Gwasg Gomer, ISBN 978-1-84323-721-1
- Dŵr Dwfn, Conn IgguldenConn IgguldenConn Iggulden is a British author who mainly writes historical fiction. He also co-authored The Dangerous Book for Boys.-Background:...
, Gwasg Gomer, ISBN 978-1-84323-683-2 - Jake, Geraint V. Jones, Gwasg Gomer, ISBN 978-1-84323-689-4
- Parti Ann Haf, Meleri Wyn James, Gwasg Gomer, ISBN 978-1-84323-684-9
English:
- The Corpse's Tale, Katherine John, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-905170-31-9
- Secrets, Lynne Barrett-Lee, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-905170-30-2
2007
Welsh:- Os Mêts..., Bethan GwanasBethan GwanasBethan Gwanas is a popular contemporary Welsh author, who publishes exclusively in the Welsh language. A prolific writer, she has had 17 titles published in the last decade...
, Y LolfaY LolfaY Lolfa is a Welsh printing and publishing company based in Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion in Mid-Wales. It publishes a wide variety of books in Welsh and English. It also provides a commercial print service. Y Lolfa was established in 1967 by Robat Gruffudd...
, ISBN 978-0-86243-940-8 - Tacsi i’r Tywyllwch, Gareth F. Williams, Y Lolfa, ISBN 978-0-86243-943-9
- Y Jobyn Gorau Yn y Byd, Gary Slaymaker, Y Lolfa, ISBN 978-0-86243-941-5
- Y Rhwyd, Caryl Lewis, Y Lolfa, ISBN 978-0-86243-942-2
English:
- Aim High, Tanni Grey-ThompsonTanni Grey-ThompsonCarys Davina "Tanni" Grey-Thompson, Baroness Grey-Thompson, DBE is a Welsh athlete and TV presenter.Grey-Thompson was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair. She is considered to be one of the most successful disabled athletes in the UK...
, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-905170-89-0 - The Rubber Woman, Lindsay AshfordLindsay Ashford (author)Lindsay Ashford is a British crime novelist and journalist. Her style writing has been compared to that of Vivien Armstrong, Linda Fairstein and Frances Fyfield. Many of her books follow the character of Megan Rhys, an investigative psychologist....
, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-905170-88-3 - A Day To Remember, Fiona PhillipsFiona PhillipsFiona Phillips is an English journalist, broadcaster and television presenter.-Early life:Phillips was born in Kent and Canterbury Hospital in 1961. Her grandparents ran the Duke's Head pub in Church Street St. Paul's. Phillips attended Kingsmead Primary School...
, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-905170-90-6 - Bringing It Back Home, Niall GriffithsNiall GriffithsNiall Griffiths is an author, who has published six books to date. He has also written travel pieces, restaurant and book reviews, and radio plays...
, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-905170-91-3
2008
Welsh:- Operation Julie, Lyn Ebenezer, Y Lolfa, ISBN 978-1-84771-025-3
- Jackie Jones, Caryl Lewis, Y Lolfa, ISBN 978-1-84771-040-6
- Dyn y Syrcas, Derfel Williams, Y Lolfa, ISBN 978-1-84771-035-2
- Y Gwledydd Bychain, Bethan GwanasBethan GwanasBethan Gwanas is a popular contemporary Welsh author, who publishes exclusively in the Welsh language. A prolific writer, she has had 17 titles published in the last decade...
, Y Lolfa, ISBN 978-1-84771-036-9
English:
- Life’s New Hurdles, Colin JacksonColin JacksonColin Ray Jackson CBE is a British former sprint and hurdling athlete who specialised in the 110 metres hurdles. Over his career representing Great Britain and Wales he won an Olympic silver medal, became world champion three times, went undefeated at the European Championships for 12 years and...
, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-906125-93-6 - The Hardest Test, Scott QuinnellScott QuinnellScott Quinnell is a former Welsh international rugby league and rugby union player, who was a number 8 for Wales, Llanelli RFC, the Llanelli Scarlets and the Lions. He scored 11 tries for Wales and captained his country on 7 occasions in rugby union.-Biography:Scott is the son of former Welsh...
, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-906125-95-0 - Vinyl Demand, Hayley LongHayley LongHayley Long is an English author of adult and teen fiction.She studied English at Aberystwyth University before travelling abroad and then working in London and Cardiff as an English teacher. Hayley now teaches English at Paston College in Norfolk...
, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-906125-94-3 - Losing It, Roger Granelli, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-906125-94-3
2009
Welsh:- Bywyd yn y Coalhouse: Y Teulu Griffiths, Brenda Griffiths and Cerdin Griffiths with Alun Gibbard, Y Lolfa, ISBN 978-1-84771-112-0
- Fyny Gyda’r Swans, Owain Tudur JonesOwain Tudur JonesOwain Tudur Jones is a Welsh international footballer who plays for Inverness Caledonian Thistle as a midfielder.-Club career:...
with Alun Gibbard, Y Lolfa, ISBN 978-1-84771-115-1 - Peter Moore: y gwaethaf o’r gwaethaf, Dyfed Edwards, Y Lolfa, ISBN 978-1-84771-114-4
- Shane Williams: ar ben y byd, Shane WilliamsShane WilliamsShane Mark Williams is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Ospreys and who can also play scrum-half. Williams is the record try scorer for the Wales national team and he is third on the international list of leading Rugby union Test try scorers behind Daisuke Ohata...
with Lynn DaviesLynn DaviesLynn Davies CBE was a member of the Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club and captain of the British Olympic long jump team in 1964....
, Y Lolfa, ISBN 978-1-84771-113-7
English:
- Alive and Kicking, Andy LeggAndy LeggAndrew "Andy" Legg is a Welsh footballer and Wales international who is currently player-manager of Welsh Premier League side Llanelli. He has previously played for Swansea City, Notts County, Birmingham City, Ipswich Town, Reading, Peterborough United, Cardiff City and Newport County...
, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-906373-74-0 - Black-Eyed Devils, Catrin Collier, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-906373-61-0
- In At The Deep End: from Barry to Beijing, David DaviesDavid Davies (swimmer)David Davies is a Welsh Commonwealth Games and Olympic distance swimmer. Born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Davies swam for Wales at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games and represented Great Britain at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics...
, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-906373-76-4 - Inside Out, Parc Prisoners, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-906373-75-7
2010
Welsh:- Ali Yassine, Ali Yassine with Alun Gibbard, Y Lolfa, ISBN 978-1-84771-173-1
- Cymru Howard Marks, Howard MarksHoward MarksDennis Howard Marks is a Welsh author and former drug smuggler who achieved notoriety as an international cannabis smuggler through high-profile court cases, supposed connections with groups such as the CIA, the IRA, MI6, and the Mafia, and his eventual conviction at the hands of the American Drug...
with Alun Gibbard, Y Lolfa, ISBN 978-1-84771-174-8 - Hiwmor Nigel, Nigel OwensNigel OwensNigel Owens is a Welsh international rugby union referee. He is an international and Heineken Cup referee and was the only Welsh referee at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France....
, Y Lolfa, ISBN 978-1-84771-175-5 - Jamie Roberts, Jamie RobertsJamie RobertsJamie Roberts is a Welsh international rugby union footballer currently playing for Cardiff Blues in the RaboDirect Pro12. He also plays for the Wales and the British and Irish lions.Roberts' position of choice is as a centre....
with Lynn DaviesLynn DaviesLynn Davies CBE was a member of the Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club and captain of the British Olympic long jump team in 1964....
, Y Lolfa, ISBN 978-1-84771-172-4
English:
- Loose Connections, Rachel TreziseRachel TreziseRachel Trezise is a Welsh author, born in Cwmparc, Rhondda.-Background and career:Trezise studied at the University of Glamorgan in Wales and University of Limerick in Ireland. Her first novel, In and Out of the Goldfish Bowl, released in 2002 while she was still as a student, received broad...
, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-907016-39-4 - Random Thoughts, Chris CorcoranChris CorcoranChris 'Korkey' Corcoran is a Welsh comedian and broadcaster. Originally a History teacher at Barry Comprehensive school. His recent TV credits include Easy Ryder - Chris Corcoran's Guide To The Ryder Cup , Wales and The Other Five Nations - The England Game, Wales and The Other Five Nations - The...
, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-907016-38-7 - Team Calzaghe, Michael PearlmanMichael PearlmanMichael Pearlman , was an actor who appeared in Charles in Charge with Scott Baio. He also appeared in One Trick Pony, a feature film starring Paul Simon that was released in 1980. He now lives in Sheridan, Wyoming, where he works as a freelance writer and maintains a personal blog covering sports...
, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-907016-37-0 - We Won the Lottery! - Real Life Winner Stories, Danny Buckland, Accent Press, ISBN 978-1-907016-11-0