Close Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
  • Competition
  • Home New
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Sunday, May 18
Facebook X (Twitter)
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Home New
Breaking News
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»Entertainment»New club reads between the lines
Entertainment

New club reads between the lines

By Liz BellNovember 7, 2016Updated:November 9, 2016No Comments2 Mins Read
Bookspotting: Ali Berg, left, and Michelle Kalus to launch an innovative Frankston line book club.
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
Bookspotting: Ali Berg, left, and Michelle Kalus to launch an innovative Frankston line book club.
Bookspotting: Ali Berg, left, and Michelle Kalus to launch an innovative Frankston line book club.

HAVE you ever felt like discussing the finer points of literature with fellow passengers while sitting on a train on the Frankston line?

Well now is your chance, with the Books on the Rail project coming to a train near you in December.

The idea is the brainchild of copywriter Ali Berg and primary school teacher Michelle Kalus, who have been leaving free novels aboard Melbourne trains for months in an attempt to share their love of literature and get commuters reading again.

Frankston commuters can look forward to their turn to read in the last carriage of the 11.14am Frankston line train – final destination Flinders Street – on the first Saturday of December.

Ms Berg said the Frankston line has been chosen to launch the ‘book club’ version of Books on the Rail, where subscribers who have received the book in the mail can meet up with a facilitator and join in the train chat anywhere along the line.

Judging by comments on social media, the success of the project speaks for itself.

“We have been tracking comments and it seems that it has really been embraced by Melburnians,” said Ms Berg, who came up with the idea after a friend started a similar project on the London Underground.

Since launching the initiative for bookworms in April, Ms Berg and Ms Kalus now have more than 500 ‘book ninja’ volunteers who leave books on trains, with stickers attached encouraging others to read and share. In fact, the idea has taken off so well that publishers are scrambling to get involved and the organisers no longer have to leave their own books to share.

“The response has been overwhelming and it’s great to see people reading and getting involved in books discussion,” Ms Berg said.

“It’s got to be better than listening to other people’s music.”

See booksontherail.com for more information.

First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 8 November 2016

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Lights, Art, Action! South Side Festival returns

May 5, 2025

Skywhales set to take flight over Mornington – Event postponed

April 10, 2025

A celebration of country life

February 24, 2025

Rachael Beck brings her story to life

February 18, 2025
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Peninsula Essence Magazine – Click to Read
Peninsula Kids Magazine – Click to Read
Letters to the Editor
Property of the Week

21 Knott Street, Safety Beach

May 12, 2025
Council Watch

Council adopts ‘fresh vision’ with ‘stronger community ties’

May 6, 2025

Council hubs to stay open despite $389 per visit

April 30, 2025
100 Years Ago This Week

Strong action necessary to secure Frankston High School building

May 12, 2025
Interview

Firefighter shows skills from sea to snow

February 5, 2024
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Home New
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook X (Twitter)
© 2025 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.