City Reads Festival

As you are all well aware by now Brighton & Hove is a city of festivals with an event happening pretty much every week of the year. And one of my favourite festivals will be launching next week - City Reads.

For those of you who are not familiar with it the basic concept behind the festival is to turn the city into one giant book club, so one book is selected and everyone - residents and visitors - are encouraged to read the book and join in with the events.

This year I'm very excited as the book that has been selected is From Russia With Love. Considering I love reading and adore the James Bond films it is odd that I've never actually read any of the books so this is the perfect opportunity to change that!

The festival will be running from 4th March - 28th May and events will include free film screenings of classic spy films including some of Sean Connery's Bond films (as everyone knows he was the best!) and the fantastic North by Northwest. Plus the Duke of York's Picturehouse will be screening From Russia with Love on Sunday 25th April.

But of course this is City Reads and not CineCity (our annual film festival) so there are plenty of events that don't involve a screen such as Bedroom Bond which gives you the chance to get up close and personal with Bond in myhotel's luxury penthouse. You'll get an exclusive audience with Damian Barr, the world's first 'reader in residence' and your own barman will mix you a complimentary vodka martini - 'shaken not stirred' - while Damian reads extracts from From Russia with Love. There will also be a range of talks and debates about the novel including one entitled Sex, Snobbery and Sadism? The Bond Controversy - intriguing stuff! Check the City Reads website for the full list of events.

So pick up a copy of the book and join in! Oh and don't forget to look out for copies of the novel across the city...

Charlotte