Its World Book Day! If you love to read, as we do, you will know how addictive a good book can be, how it can take you away from your problems and immerse you in lives, places and cultures far beyond your own.

In 2017 a group of teenagers from Waterford organised “The Lit” the first literary festival for young readers and writers to celebrate literature, through their workshops and events.

A number of the organisers of the festival love reading so much that they have joined our youth council and started our first book club. The four founding members are keen to share their favourite books, and invite you to read along with them. Lets meet the Lit Ladies…

Joy, Daisy, Libby and Amber have chosen to read one book per month, staring in March with The Colour Purple, by Alice Walker. This is a classic. With over a million copies sold in the UK alone, it is hailed as one of the all-time ‘greats’ of literature, inspiring generations of readers.

Set in the deep American South between the wars, it is the tale of Celie, a young black girl born into poverty and segregation. Raped repeatedly by the man she calls ‘father’, she has two children taken away from her, is separated from her beloved sister Nettie and is trapped into an ugly marriage. But then she meets the glamorous Shug Avery, singer and magic-maker – a woman who has taken charge of her own destiny. Gradually, Celie discovers the power and joy of her own spirit, freeing her from her past and reuniting her with those she loves.

The book club is supported by The Waterford Library Service led by Loretta Kinsella. If you love reading, your local library can get you literally any book you want, for free. All you need to do is ask.

If you would like to suggest a book for us all to read, please email us info@shona.ie, otherwise, check back next month to see how we get on.