Have you read the 30 World Book Night books?

Today, or make that tonight, the U.S. celebrates its first World Book Night. Even Dahlonega is throwing a World Book Night party, hosted by the Lumpkin County Literacy Coalition, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Dahlonega Chick-Fil-A.

On the official World Book Night web site, 30 books are listed as must-reads. After a quick look at the list, to my surprise, the list wasn't filled with books by Shakespeare or Tolstoy. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Michael Connelly's Blood Games were on the list, but so were Maya Angelous' I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany (which just happens to be a D&B all-time favorite read.)

One thing for sure. We've got a lot of reading to do to check off all the books on the World Book Night list. How many have you read?

Where will you be on World Book Night?

If you love reading, then you'll want to be part of World Book Night, a celebration of reading and books taking place across the U.S. on April 23, the official World Book Night.

This is the first year that World Book Night, which originated in the U.K., will be celebrated in the U.S. Supporting this event are such corporate entities as Barnes and Noble, Ingram, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Random House, UPS, International Paper, Scholastic and more.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to celebrate reading on this night of books, according to organizers. Here in Dahlonega, the celebration is sponsored by the Lumpkin County Literacy Coalition and local Chick-Fil-A restaurant.

Part of Chick-Fil-A's Family Night Series, the Dahlonega World Book Night will be an opportunity to showcase the work the LCLC does to promote literacy and the importance of reading. The Dahlonega World Book event runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Chick-Fil-A on Morrison Moore Parkway.

FYI... April 23 is not just any random date for book lovers. That day just happens to be the date of William Shakespeare’s and famed Spanish writer Cervantes' deaths.