This wall is a growing portrait of reading in Bolton.

Throughout the National Year of Reading, we have invited people to share the books, stories, writers and characters that have stayed with them. These responses have become an evolving artwork, shaped by hundreds of memories, recommendations and reflections from readers across the borough and beyond.

So far, we have explored:

• The First Book I Fell in Love With – the stories that sparked a lifelong relationship with reading.
• Bolton in Books – the places, streets and landmarks that connect our town to literature.
• Memorable Characters – the fictional people who continue to live in our imaginations long after we’ve turned the final page.
• Women Who Write – the writers whose words have changed how we feel, think or see the world.

These contributions reveal something important. Reading is not simply something we do alone. The books we love become part of our identities, our conversations, our communities and our shared cultural life. They help us remember, imagine, question, connect and make sense of the world around us.

This wall celebrates those connections.

Every word displayed here began with someone taking a moment to share a reading memory. Each response adds another piece to a much larger story: a story about what reading means to people, how it shapes our lives, and why it continues to matter.

As Reading Bolton grows, so will this wall. We hope you’ll find something that reminds you of a book you’ve loved, discover a writer you’ve never read before, or simply recognise a little of your own reading journey in the experiences of others.

Thank you for helping us build it.