They can turn a dull commute into a fight of fantasy, help foster friendship or deepen the bond between parent and child. Books pack an undeniably mighty transformative punch, one that is bringing a positive plot twist to a narrative more commonly associated with hardship.
Bookbanks is a new charity founded by London-based writer Emily Rhodes, who hit on the idea of gifting books to guests at her local food bank. Now, after a tentative start, she’s aiming to nourish community connection and feed conversations by branching out across the UK. “Books for me have been a signpost to think for myself and give me the impunity to imagine, and to face my inner anger and fear,” says David, one of the people to have made use of the service so far. “But also, they give me a hope, and an understanding that I’m not alone.”
Rhodes has been immersed in books all her life. Reading avidly as a child, she went on to study English at university and worked in publishing and bookselling before breaking into journalism. She set up Emily’s Walking Book Club over a decade ago, and still runs the monthly meetup on Hampstead Heath in London, as well as freelancing as a book critic for the likes of The Guardian and The Spectator.
