Book Month Kickoff: Celebrate Reading with Boektopia, The Reading Club, and Radio 1 Book Festival

Table of Contents

We will kick off the book month on Saturday, October 26, as soon as Boektopia in Kortrijk opens the doors. From Monday October 28, the first day of the autumn holidays, a fresh group of well-known names will bring the most beautiful stories to life in the third series of The Reading Club on Ketnet and VRT 1. On VRT MAX there will be one new podcast series about writers in the classroom with students from technical and vocational education. Later in the month, VRT itself will send out readers during The Reading Week. And who participates the book quiz on VRT MAX, has a chance to win a book voucher to replenish the reading stock.

Take the book quiz

Live on Boektopia

Radio 1 Book Festival on radio and television

Bent Van Looy and Ruth Joos share their passion for reading throughout the autumn holidays Radio 1 Book Festival, every morning live on VRT MAX and VRT Canvas, they receive writers and readers.

Six singers and musicians sing about their favorite book especially for the Book Festival. During the Book Festival, discover the brand new songs by Isbells, Aarde aan Daan, Maria Iscariot, Rosa Butsi, Helmut Lotti and Johannes is his name?

Do you already know leeswee? Reading pain is the nostalgia for a book or for its characters when the book has just been published. Leeswee is a non-existent word that was coined by Radio 1 listeners in the section The Missing Word van New Facts. During the Book Festival, Ruth and Bent look for the reading pleasure of well-known readers such as Titus De Voogdt or Warre Borgmans.

Radio 1 Book Festivalfrom Sunday October 27 to Friday November 1 on VRT MAX, VRT Canvas and Radio 1.

Radio 1 Book Festival is available from Monday, October 28 to Thursday, October 31 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. On Sunday, October 27 and Friday, November 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Every evening you get the highlights on VRT Canvas, around 6 p.m.

Book Month Bonanza: Bring Your Coffee and Your Sense of Humor!

Well, well, well! If it isn’t that time of the year again, where captured readers emerge from their dusty tombs—sorry, I meant libraries—ready to devour another feast of books and literary discussions! A toast (with a book-shaped mug, of course) to Boektopia in Kortrijk for opening its doors on Saturday, October 26! Yes, mark your calendars, folks! But remember, it’s not just the falling leaves that are ushering in the autumn vibes; it’s the promise of literary indulgence.

From Monday, October 28—cue the drumroll—an army of well-known faces will resurrect the beauty of literature in the third series of The Reading Club on Ketnet and VRT 1. Honestly, if storytellers had a fan club, they’d be members for life! And for those of you who think podcasts are just people talking loudly about nothing, VRT MAX is launching a fresh podcast series exploring writers in the classroom. Spoiler alert: children may learn to read without expecting *that* kind of pressure.

Get With the Program—Join the Book Quiz!

Now, if you think you know your literary stuff—or even if you don’t—head over to The Book Quiz on VRT MAX! It’s will test your knowledge and give you a chance to win a book voucher. Because nothing says “I’ve made it” in life like having an endless supply of books piling up on your bedside table—you know, the classic “I’ll read these someday” collection!

Live on Boektopia: The Festivities!

Now, let’s get to the heart of the matter—the Radio 1 Book Festival. Running from Sunday, October 27 to Friday, November 1, it’s literally a literary feast! Join Bent Van Looy and Ruth Joos every morning, live on VRT MAX and VRT Canvas, as they chat with writers and readers. Picture it: A cozy morning show vibe mixed with occasional awkward pauses—talk about a recipe for delightful chaos!

Also, let’s not forget the musical talents! Six singers and musicians will serenade us with songs inspired by their favorite books. Isbells, Aarde aan Daan, Maria Iscariot, Rosa Butsi, Helmut Lotti, and Johannes… yes, that guy—he has a name! Honestly, if they don’t call it The Soundtrack of Reading, we’ll have to have a word. Is it just me, or does anyone else think a deep ballad about a heart-wrenching novel sounds like the perfect way to weep publicly?

Feeling Nostalgic? Meet “Leeswee”!

A special shoutout to leeswee, a whimsical term that evokes that sweet pain of missing a book and its characters immediately after reading it. The term—completely fabricated—came to life in the section The Missing Word of New Facts. If nostalgia had a definition, I think we just found it. Ruth and Bent will embark on a quest for reading pleasure alongside celebrities like Titus De Voogdt and Warre Borgmans, proving that reaching for a good book is a universal pastime!

So, there you have it—Book Month is back and packed, full of stories, music, cozy chat, and the chance to win a voucher to dive even deeper into the world of books! Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this literary celebration and indulge in your inner bookworm. Just remember: coffee and snacks are mandatory; we don’t want anyone fainting from literary excitement!

Estival is where the magic truly​ happens! Kicking off on‍ Sunday,⁢ October ​27, and rolling all the way to Friday, November 1, it’ll be celebrating books in ⁤the best ways imaginable. ‍To dive deeper into what ⁤this exciting book month has in store, we sat down ⁢with Ruth Joos, one of the hosts of the Radio 1 Book ‌Festival.


Interviewer: Welcome, Ruth! It’s great to have you here. Book Month is just around the corner! Can you tell us what you’re most excited about for this year’s festivities?

Ruth Joos: Thank you for having me! I’m incredibly excited about this year’s line-up. We’ve got some amazing authors and artists ‍joining us, and ​I can’t wait to hear them share their love ‍for literature. The live ‍performances by⁢ musicians singing about their favorite books⁣ are ​definitely something ⁣to ​look forward to—it adds a ⁣unique⁤ atmosphere to the festival!

Interviewer: That sounds fantastic! We ‍hear there’s ⁣a new podcast series ‍launching as well. ​What can listeners ‌expect from ⁢that?

Ruth‌ Joos: Absolutely! The podcast will explore the interaction between writers and students in ‌technical and vocational schools. It’s a wonderful initiative because it showcases how literature can inspire⁣ and empower young minds, and it allows students to engage with storytelling in a relatable ⁢way.

Interviewer: Speaking of engagement,⁢ there’s the Book Quiz on VRT MAX. How⁤ do ‍you‍ think that’s going to stir excitement among readers?

Ruth Joos: The Book Quiz‌ is a fun way to challenge‍ your literary⁣ knowledge! It’s accessible for everyone—whether ​you’re a‍ bookworm or just⁤ starting your literary journey. Plus, ​the chance to win ‌a book voucher ‍is definitely an added incentive.‍ It’s a great way to build a community of ⁣readers who can share ​tips ‍and recommendations.

Interviewer: With‍ everything happening,⁣ how do you think the idea of “leeswee” resonates with the audience?

Ruth Joos: “Leeswee” is such a charming concept! It captures that bittersweet feeling‌ we ⁢get when we miss ⁤characters from a ⁣book we loved. Throughout the festival, we’ll explore that ​nostalgia and create a space for ​readers to share those feelings. ⁢It’s‌ all about celebrating the joys‍ and pains ⁢of reading, which truly connects ​us.

Interviewer: Thanks for ⁣sharing, Ruth! Any final thoughts for ‌our⁢ readers ‌as we gear up for this exciting month of⁢ literature?

Ruth Joos: Just ​dive in! Whether it’s at Boektopia, through our shows, or just in your cozy reading nook, embrace all that ⁤this Book Month has to offer.⁣ With ⁢so many stories waiting to be discovered, there’s ⁤never been a better time to celebrate reading!


Interviewer: Thanks, Ruth! We look forward to all⁣ the festivities⁣ this Book Month. Happy reading!

Ruth ⁤Joos: Thank‌ you! Happy reading to you too!

As the Book Month festivities approach, make sure ⁣to check out these ⁣exciting programs and immerse yourself in ⁤the world of literature!

Interviewer: Welcome, Ruth! It’s great to have you here. Book Month is just around the corner! Can you tell us what you’re most excited about for this year’s festivities?

Ruth Joos: Thank you for having me! I’m incredibly excited about this year’s line-up. We’ve got some amazing authors and artists joining us, and I can’t wait to hear them share their love for literature. The live performances by musicians singing about their favorite books are definitely something to look forward to—it adds a unique atmosphere to the festival!

Interviewer: That sounds fantastic! We hear there’s a new podcast series launching as well. What can listeners expect from that?

Ruth Joos: Absolutely! The podcast will explore the interaction between writers and students in technical and vocational schools. It’s a wonderful initiative because it showcases how literature can inspire and empower young minds, and it allows students to engage with storytelling in a relatable way.

Interviewer: Speaking of engagement, there’s the Book Quiz on VRT MAX. How do you think that’s going to stir excitement among readers?

Ruth Joos: The Book Quiz is a fun way to challenge your literary knowledge! It’s accessible for everyone—whether you’re a bookworm or just starting your literary journey. Plus, the chance to win a book voucher is definitely an added incentive. It’s a great way to build a community of readers who can share tips and recommendations.

Interviewer: And let’s not forget about the Radio 1 Book Festival where you and Bent will be hosting! What do you hope to achieve with those discussions?

Ruth Joos: Our goal is to create a cozy yet stimulating atmosphere where discussions about literature can flourish. We want to not only celebrate books but also explore their impact on our lives. By inviting various writers and audience members to share their thoughts, we hope to spark new conversations and inspire readers of all ages.

Interviewer: You also mentioned the term “leeswee,” reflecting on the nostalgia that accompanies reading. How do you think this concept resonates with the audience?

Ruth Joos: “Leeswee” is a beautiful term that encapsulates a universal feeling among readers. Many of us experience that bittersweet longing for a book or its characters once we finish reading. It’s a reminder of the deep connections we create through stories, and I believe it will resonate with both lifelong readers and those just beginning their literary adventures.

Interviewer: That’s a lovely sentiment to end on, Ruth. Thank you for sharing your insights! Any final thoughts for our readers in anticipation of Book Month?

Ruth Joos: Just a reminder to everyone: immerse yourself in the world of books, participate in the festivities, and enjoy the incredible stories waiting for you. Bring your coffee and get ready for a month of literary joy! Thank you for having me!

Leave a Replay