Still bookcrossing after all these years...

Books A few years ago I had a life laundry -- I was moving house and I didn't want to have to move quite so much of it. Many of the books went to charity shops but some I bookcrossed, an obsession which developed over many lunchtimes and daytrips as I spread my ex-library across the land. On the blog I'd mention when a book had been picked up or indeed when I'd actually given a book to someone on the bus.

Imagine my surprise today then when I received an email explaining that someone had found a book that I'd left at STA Travel on Bold Street in Liverpool nearly four years ago:

"haven't read it, found under the travel brochure shelf - covered in dust! Gave it to a mate who's off on one!"

I think they must mean a holiday. I've passed that travel agents hundreds of times in the past four years and it's just amazing to think that my old book was sitting were I left it all this time. Perhaps all of these other books really are all still out there somewhere, waiting to be found.

BookCrossing Traffic: The Screenplay, found at The Filmworks in Manchester. The findee wrote:

"the book sat very out of place on a metal table at the entrance to manchesters printworks uci cinema, yet being a screenplay it was not out of
place at all. i picked it up out of curiosity and was excited to find it was one of the books i had heard about on the news. unfortuneately, being a screenplay i have to admit that i read it out of some self manifested stigma originating from the fact that since the book was left there for someone to find and read before passing on, i had to read it. traffic great film, just never been into screenplays....the book if such a thing exists would of been more enjoyable....for me that is.... i hope you enjoy the experience of being part of something new and creative as much as i have. later

This is really interesting. Someone I don't know has a book I had a week ago on my shelf.

Books I've had another Bookcrossing catch:

"I picked it up in the Starbucks, and leafed through it whilst drinking my coffee. I agree that the comedy only really comes out through his voice - and his faces. I've never been his biggest fan though. It was interesting reading comedy that was written when Thatcher was in power."

I think I'll probably just leave them all on the top floor of Starbucks. Seems to be the perfect pick up place.

Books Someone has found one of my BookCrossing drop offs, just as I was getting downhearted. I left Calling B for Butterfly at a Starbucks in Liverpool City Centre... the findee (is that a word?) wrote:

"I found it in Starbucks in Liverpool on August the 26th have not read it yet, but plan on doing so. And then am planning to pass it onto a friend who will then release it into the wild!"

So the book was knocking around the top floor of the coffee house for about ten days before someone decided to take it home. Wonder who else read it.

Life She sat next to me on the bus.
“Excuse me …" I said. "Sorry … excuse me. Can I ask you a weird question.”
She glances at me.
“Yes?”
“Do you know anyone who likes Terry Pratchett?”
“Who?”
“Terry Pratchett. He’s an author.”
“I’m not English … so …”
“It’s just I’ve got a book I want to give away…”
“Right.”
“I mean you can have it anyway if you like.”
“Are you a BookCrosser?”
I grinned (what are the chances).
"You know what that is?"
"But I don't have a book to give to you."
"Doesn't matter."
I handed her the book. She’d heard of the co-author Stephen Briggs.
She’d first heard of BookCrossing six months ago but what with the recent publicity … and we talked all the way home about books and what they can mean. She reminded me a bit of Muriel Hemmingway in Manhatten. I talked about my problem with this book and she explained that she read Chaucer between novels to come down from the experience (which is fabulous by the way, I should try that). It’s weird how talking to someone about the things you like can broaden the soul. And how sometimes doing something impulsively doesn't make you seem very strange (although it might).

Books After the massive media push motivated by Manchester's Urbis I've joined BookCrossing. The concept is simple and surreal. Once you're read a book you've no intention of reading again, you go to the site, register it, print out a label with a reference number and then release it into the wild -- or in other words, just sort of leave it somewhere for someone else to pick up and enjoy. They will then go to website, register that they've read it then pass it on again.

Since I am in the process of having a clearout in preparation for the big move I'm essentially getting rid of anything I really don't need. There aren't actually that many books I would read over and over. I've always had a very strong recall for most things artistic so I can always remember the experience of reading the book if it was vivid enough. I've also got a lot of books I've bought with good intentions but know I'll never get around to. Like The DiscWorld Companion which you would only need if you're a fan and since Ankh Morpork's passed me by due to a commitment to a certain timelord I might as well leave it somewhere for a real fan to pick up.

At the site a bookshelf is set up where you can list all of the books you're releasing. You can see where I left some of the books so far. Although I'm going to try and keep some fidelity with the concept, today I just made a point of going places. Strangely the only time anyone asked about what I was doing was on the bus home tonight when I left Notes and Queries on my seat as I got up and someone asked if it was mine. I denied all knowledge, but one went to pick it up. I am aware looking at the site that many of the books don't have many more than two or three journalers unless they're being looked at by a reading group, but it's just an exciting thing to do. I'll keep you posted as to how I get on.