Glynneath in the Neath Valley is to represent South Wales in this year’s Reading Community project.
Thanks to £20,000 funding from the Welsh Books Council and supported by the Welsh Assembly, Neath Port Talbot Council’s library service fought off strong competition to create a community project called ‘Big Read 10’.
The campaign gives the community of Glynneath a chance to take part in a project that will shortlist ten books and eventually vote for a winner.
The books are: Resistance by Owen Sheers, Dead Pretty by Roger Granelli, Blue Sky July by Nia Wyn, Sweets from Morocco by Jo Verity and Dial M for Merthyr by Rachel Trezise.
The Welsh books are Y Llyfrgell by Fflur Dafydd, Y Gemydd by Caryl Lewis, Yr Ergyd Olaf by Llwyd Owen, Grav yn Ei Eiriau Ei Hun, Straeon o’r Strade by Alun Wyn Bevan.
The books can be found at Glynneath library, Vale of Neath Leisure Centre and Java Bean Cafe at the Glynneath Training Centre.
People can vote for their favourite read, one English and one Welsh, the result to be announced next March. Voting cards and ballot boxes are in the library or readers can vote online www.cymunedau09communities.cllc.org.uk
An opening event will beheld shortly to officially launch the campaign. It will be a Murder Mystery Whodunnit, performed by professional theatre company React, where the audience has to solve the crime.
The reading community idea in Wales began last year during the National year of Reading. This year, Glynneath is representing South Wales while Wrexham won the Northern bid.
Leader of Council, Ali Thomas, said, “The Big Read 10 campaign is an ambitious and exciting project.
“It gives the community of Glynneath a chance to become involved and put the town on the national map.
“Readers can take pride in what their community is achieving both culturally and educationally.”
