bookcrossing.com > Reviews > How to judge a book by its cover

Author's product rating:   

Speed	Average
Good looking	Average
Helpful	Very helpful
Relevant links	Yes-a few

Advantages:	A fun way to read second hand books
Disadvantages:	A bit time consuming

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Today, I went to my first Bookcrossing 'meet'. I signed up for Bookcrossing about two years ago, but to be honest, it all seemed a bit of a kafuffle to do, so I never got around to setting any books free.

Bookcrossing.com

A quick synopsis as I see it. Bookcrossing is an American idea, and it involves you signing up as a member (with a user name) on their website, then, when you have a book that you have read, and feel that others may also enjoy, you log it on the site with a number, ready to pass on. You add some information onto the front, and inside the front cover of the book, including an id code and website for Bookcrossing, then leave it at your chosen place, ie, GP surgery; park bench (ensuring that it is water tight); pub; sports club - infact, anywhere you feel it may be picked up by someone interested enough to read it! Then, the person who has picked it up, will read the blurb that you put inside, and log onto the website and say where they found it, what they thought of it, and where they have left it. Simple as that.

Simple, as I said, but a tad time consuming, hence my reluctance to get started in another internet site as I already spends far too much time on Ciao and Ebay.

The Invitation

About three weeks ago, out of the blue, I received an email from a complete stranger asking me if I would like to attend a meet in my local town. I emailed back and explained that I had not done anything on the site, but that I thought it may be a bit of fun and a way of getting me involved. Somehow, coming face to face with these things tend to make me more interested than just looking at words on the monitor.

The meet

The venue was a very seedy looking pub which I had never ventured inside of. I was promised sandwiches if I let them know I was coming (I forgot to say that I was vegetarian, so that was academic as it turned out). Due day arrived (today) and I ventured in the car and parked nearby in a side road. Wandered round the corner and went into the pub - it wasn't as bad inside as it looks outside. These type pubs often have way more character than other, more popular, ones. I followed the barmaids pointed finger to the area in the bar where a table was set out with sandwiches, people sitting around, and a big pile of books with labels on the front. The conversation was about…..well….. bookcrossing. As it turned out, my next door neighbour was sitting there, too. I am on a 'hello' and nodding acquaintance with her, so didn't realise that we could have shared a lift, but no matter.

I was not the only new comer to the scheme. There were ten people in total, and seven of these were women, of a certain age and social class. Then there was the young woman who had emailed me, and a married couple (the only man) who were in their more senior years. I sat next to the man. Conversation leaned towards the leaving of books, the labels ie 'printed off at home v purchased via website'. One woman was a tad obsessed, and I am not sure if it is the normal way of bookcrossing, but she actually advertised for books from house clearances, and then stored them in her garage until she was ready to label, log, and set free. However, she had 3000 apparently.

There was a discussion about books being 'found' in charity shops. There was a general consensus that this should not happen as the books are supposed to be free of charge. Mind you, when purchasing from a charity shop, you are really just making a donation to their particular charity and not 'purchasing' as such. But that is just my view, and I may well do the same.

The most interesting part of the meet (and I only stayed for an hour as Easter Sunday was probably not the best day) was the older man and his wife. He has lived in my town for a short spell before moving on due to his father being in the RAF. It had not been a happy time for him, and he was writing a book of his memoirs. I had already managed to help him knock a whole glass of red wine all over the place, and bought him another, so we did get chatting between the three of us.

Amongst all of the bookcrossing chat, it transpired that this chap was a bonafide writer, and had 13 published books to his name (which he wrote down on a piece of paper for me to explore on google). He enjoyed book crossing as a pastime, and he and his wife had met the other woman through their mother's house clearance. He also recommended a book to me which I will go and find on ebay now.

Conclusion.

Although I only stayed for half the allotted time of two hours, I felt that that was fine for an initial visit.

Will I continue with bookcrossing? Well, I have brought home two books to log onto the site, and read, and leave for someone else. I now have more of an understanding of it all, but I think I will have a more 'gentle' approach to it.

The other local members were friendly and welcoming, and intend to have the next meet further down into Kent at the coast. That sounds good, and I could make more of a day of it.

So now I just have to find some books to leave about the place, and get going. And it won't take over my life………..promise!

Thanks for reading!
Orlando for Ciao.