I released my first book as a bookcrossing book last week. I have always wanted to do this although it was strange leaving something in public...I was more concerned someone would see me. I don't think anyone did.
The book in question was Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels, and I left it in Abercrombie Square in Liverpool, right in the middle of University land. Its a really nice place to sit when it is sunny. Feeling a kind of surrogate maternalism towards the book, I responsibly left it on the seat in the pagoda in the middle for someone to find. It has gone, so someone has picked it up and I hope they enjoy it.
Psychologically I found it a bit strange, preferring to donate books to Oxfam, inside and out of the weather, to be bought by a fellow book lover. This felt reckless, irresponsible. I worried about the book (it was in a plastic bag from BookCrossing), would someone take it? Would a thug tear it up for fun? The whole reason I released this book was because, although appreciated, I did not love it. Someone else might! It was the only way I could leave it. Anyway, someone has it, a reader who visited Abercrombie Square.
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4 comments:
Yay! Wild releases get easier. And more fun, I think. I've also found that books left on U. campuses have a pretty good chance of being journaled through the site later on. (Be patient--you know it can take years, right?)
I've done wild releases by donating registered books to Goodwill and Salvation Army, but I've only ever had one of those get journaled as found (so far).
I thought about leaving one of my finished vacation books in the Houston airport with a post-it saying, "Want it? Take it and enjoy!" or something to that effect. But, I chickened out. I just worried that it wouldn't find the right reader. Now, I'm stuck with the book, but I guess I'll donate it or list it to swap.
Jena - thankyou for your encouragement. Now I've done my first I think the next will be easier.
Bookfool - it certainly was a bit weird but I'm glad I did it.
Thankyou both for stopping by.
I've "released" a couple of books through bookcrossing last year. I was very happy to find that my book (Labyrinth by Cate Mosse) from York ended up in a remote place in Cornwall....Believe me, it works! Ciao.
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