10,000 free books being given away this weekend at Indigo stores - including St. Catharines

Bookworms rejoice - Canada's Indigo bookstore chain will be giving away 10,000 free books nationwide at their stores across the country for one day only this weekend.

While supplies last, anyone who wants to take home a free book can simply walk in and take one home. No questions asked.

When all 160 Indigo, Chapters and Coles stores across Canada open tomorrow morning, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, readers can go inside and choose one of four select titles and take home a copy for themselves.

In St. Catharines, that means books will be available beginning at Coles in The Pen Centre, and at Chapters at Fairview Mall.

"For as long as I can remember, I have loved sharing book recommendations with friends and family," writes Indigo Founder and CEO Heather Reisman. "It is a passion that led to my decision, 27 years ago, to launch Heather’s Picks."

Reisman says sharing her "excitement about a meaningful book" was part of what led her and Indigo to their decision of hosting a one-day book giveaway.

"Recently, I have been thinking a lot about the power of sharing a favourite book with, or gifting it to, a friend. It is akin to magically relieving stress and adding hours of joyful escape. I have also been thinking that right now we are all in need of a little more of this very feeling."

Four popular novels, with aging age recommendations and subjects, will be available for visitors to choose from. All titles range in price from $22-30 CDN, but for tomorrow

Readers will be able to choose between:

• The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd, normally $24.95
• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, normally $29.95
• The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, normally $25.99
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, normally $22

"Nothing has the power to inspire us like a book, and the books we love most have often been recommended to us by a friend or loved one,” according to an Indigo press release. "Inspiring a love of reading has always been at the core of Indigo’s mission."

"By giving every Canadian the chance to pick up a free book, they aim to ignite a passion for reading in more and more people, encouraging them to not only dive into an instant classic, but share their favourite titles with the people that matter to them."

In total, the total 10,000 books divided by 160 stores average to 62.5 free books to give away per store. That means there's expected to be 15-16 copies of each title per store to give away.

As for the reading this will hopefully spur, Reisman ended her announcement by encouraging Canadian readers: "Let's inspire each other."

Full details about the book giveaway can be read online here. A list of all stores nationwide can be seen on Indigo's online store directory.