Quite interesting and refreshing - I like it:)
By arkaf61
@arkaf61 (10881)
Canada
January 23, 2008 8:37pm CST
Public transportation was the source of some very happy thoughts for me today. First the courtesy of being allowed first in the streetcar since I was first in line.
THen as I sat down I noticed a book on the seat next to me. THere was no one there so I thought somebody had lost it.
WHen I left I gave it to the driver and explained that someone probably forgot it.
WHen he looked at the book he pointed to something in the cover. It was a lable, I hadn't noticed it. It said " I am not lost. Please read me! Details inside"
We opened the cover and read together.
:Free book" it said.
" I am a very special book. You see, I am traveling the world making new friends. I hope I made a new one in you. if so, please go to www.bookcrossing.com where you can make a brief journal entry with my BCID number (below ) You will see where I've been and my old friends will be happy to know I"m safe here in your hands. Read me and then help me keep my dream alive. Release me, so I can make new friends."
This was written on a stick label inside the cover. In the end I brought it with me.
When I got home I went to the website. I read it and I like the idea. I have quite a few books that I will register and release, it will be nice to see where they end up and also to know that some other people might enjoy them.
I really like this idea. WHat do you guys think?
Check the website and then tell me what you think about it.
5 people like this
17 responses
@kriszelunka (557)
• Australia
24 Jan 08
I've been a member of bookcrossing for several years, and love the whole concept. And you aren't limited to leaving books on public transport either.
Leave them in restaurants, in parks, shops - just about anywhere. One cheeky member awhile ago actually put a few in people's letterboxes, and had quite a high success rate with people 'journalling' the books (ie. going to the website and saying that the book had been found).
I'm a huge reader, and I do keep most of my books, but any that I know I won't read again, I send out into the world in the hope that they'll find a good home with someone else.
3 people like this
@blueunicorn (2401)
• United States
24 Jan 08
Just a word of caution... In the U.S. it is illegal to put something in mail boxes, other than what the postal carry had delivered. Please be sure to check your countrie's laws before leaving books in postal boxes. I wouldn't want anyone to get in trouble for Book Crossing!
2 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan 08
Hey there Twin that is a great Idea
I love reading and I normally pas my books onto Friends or to my Landlady who will then give them to the Charity Shop but some books I will not let go lol
Love you have missed you and a big hug to you
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
24 Jan 08
I like the idea. We do not have public transportation, though, so I would have to think really hard about safe places to release the books. Maybe at truck stops or rest areas, or doctor's offices. I will have to ponder a bit. I do have a lot of books that could move on down the road. Maybe even McDonald's would be a place it could hitch a ride. Kind of like Flat Stanley.
2 people like this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
24 Jan 08
barber shops are good, any place where people have to wait and they have nothing to do........
2 people like this
@blueunicorn (2401)
• United States
24 Jan 08
Don't let not using public transportation be a downer for you for BookCrossing. I have been a member for 4 years, and I just LOVE it! I release books pretty much anywhere I go. I have had some really fun catches. Anywhere people go that might see the book is a good release spot!
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
24 Jan 08
I think it is brilliant idea. It can make me feel like agent 007 on the mission...lol
I like to read and share, so I do like the idea of letting others know that books are still alive and readable...:)
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
24 Jan 08
I have so many books that I can send on my mission....:)
I have some books that I will no longer read, because I know it by heart already...lol
2 people like this
@LightninStrike (5915)
• Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
24 Jan 08
It sounds like a great idea, frankly. Nice discovery that you made, arka, and thank you for letting the rest of us know. Anything that benefits reading habits and books in general is good, i believe.
3 people like this
@patgalca (18481)
• Orangeville, Ontario
24 Jan 08
I have been a member of bookcrossing for a few years now. Unfortunately not everyone reports when they pick your book up. This kind of slowed down my participation. Then I found a book and decided to do what I WOULD HAVE LIKED someone had done for me. I went home and registered having picked up the book. I told the releaser that it was not my genre and wouldn't read it but they messaged me back insisting I read it, that I would like it, that it is funny. I read it and she was right. I get notices in my email when books are released in the wild in my town. They get picked up pretty quickly though. I messaged a person about a book and she told me exactly where and when to find it so I could read it.
It can be fun if others participate. As yet I have no idea where the books are that I released.
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
25 Jan 08
It is nice that books can be tracked and even that people can write about them when they read it, but it's not the most important thing about it.
I"m sure that everyone has times where they are more active and times when they are less active but the idea is still sound and books are still being read, and that's what I like about it:)
1 person likes this
@blueunicorn (2401)
• United States
24 Jan 08
Don't give up, pat! I have been a BookCrossing member for 4 years now. I go through periods where I am really active, and then periods that I slow down. But, BookCrossing is like an old friend, and I can never stay away too long. If you are looking to have more Journal Entries, try starting a bookring. This is a fun way to watch your book travel.
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
26 Apr 08
My stepsister sent me one of these and for now it's still sitting on my shelf...one of these days I'll have to get it going again. It's a nice thing to do and makes for a great conversation piece not to mention all the ppl that get to enjoy the book. I wonder who thought it up.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
24 Jan 08
I have had a few audio books that actually ASK to have this done - not part of this. I think its interesting, I kind of guessed that something like this must exist because of those audio requests. I hadn't heard of the actual website before. Personally if I like a book enough, its hard to set it free....
2 people like this
@blueunicorn (2401)
• United States
25 Jan 08
There are different "bookshelves" on your profile page that you can put books into. One of them is your "Permanent Collection". That way you can keep track of your books personally, if you choose, but people will know that you have no intention of trading, lending, or releasing those books.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
24 Jan 08
I have found this sort of book before and think it is a lovely idea, but did not know about the website. Actually, the internet had not yet been invented, nor computers either when I first found one of these "free books." Thanks for the link and the good reminder. I have a few books I could release in this way rather than dropping them off at the GoodWill store.
2 people like this
@blueunicorn (2401)
• United States
24 Jan 08
What a great story, ark! And welcome to Book Crossing! I have been a member there for four years now, and I just love it. I joined a challenge to release 366 books into the wild this year. So far I have released 45. I have had about 4 journaled, and that is pretty much my average catch rate. I have to admit, releasing books into the wild is more of a karma thing and for the fun of doing it than for the journal entries. It is always exciting to hear about someone who finds a book, though, and gets involved. Make sure to check out the forums if you haven't already. There's a good group of people there!
2 people like this
@vera5d (4004)
• United States
24 Jan 08
it is a very neat idea...i found it a few months ago...not sure what i was looking for that brought me to that site...i have never seen any, but i did look around my area and noticed there were quite a few closeby.
@SukiSmiles (1991)
• United States
24 Jan 08
Wow, this is a really neat idea. I never knew it existed. I am going to figure out what books I am going to release. Thanks for sharing.
@keepermykitty (2573)
• Canada
24 Jan 08
That does sound neat only I don`t read books so I can`t join but I will pass it on to those that do ...
2 people like this
@keepermykitty (2573)
• Canada
24 Jan 08
Thats sounds neat , did you check out the site , I will after I post this ...
That would make an interesting day for your truck home ..
Cool
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
24 Jan 08
I did check the site and liked it too.
They do have a store where they sell more sofisticated labels, but they also offer a template for regular ones that we can print ourselves or suggest that if we don't want to do that we can just write the info in the book itself.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
27 Apr 08
that is anice idea for anyone who wants to get rid of their books but I have built up a nice library and no I do not want to give my books away. I bought them, and wor ked hard to be ableto do so, I reread them, they are friends and not to be thrown away. I have a cousin whom I met on the internet and she gave my address to another friend who sent me a propostion of mailing a book to a person she had listed and also to send five letters to myfriends enlisting them to send a book to whom I chose well I want no part of this.first Iam on a very limited budget and postage and parcel postage is a big deal for me, second I have no idea what my friends tastes are in paper backs and thirdly I do not like being pushed into some sort of round robin at all.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
27 Apr 08
Well often ideas can flop even when they are good. Not everyone appreciates the same things.
Personally I find that reading is so important that being able to help others to read even in a small way is great:)
I do have my own "library" that I wouldn't get rid of, but I also have those books that I bought and even if I enjoyed them, I don't really want to keep. I can start with those :)
