Works for Me: Bookcrossing.com | Suspension of Disbelief

Jan

As I looked back on my previous WFMW posts, I realized that I had not posted one of my absolutely favorite things on the internet - Bookcrossing.com!

Bookcrossing is a wonderful site, especially for book lovers like me (and many of my blog readers ;-))! I’ll try to explain it as best I can, but you really should pop on over to the site and check it out yourself.

Let’s say I have a book (haha, understatement). I finished reading this book, and I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t completely earth-shattering, so I don’t necessarily want to keep it here on my bookshelf taking up precious real estate. I register the book on Bookcrossing.com. In doing this, the book is assigned a number (which I either write into the cover, or use a sticker to put it in - this seems more effective), and I write up my opinion of the book on the website, rating it with 1-10 stars. This book is now added to my virtual bookshelf. I can do several things with it. If I give it to a friend, then they can go online, see what I wrote, and make their own review. Now it’s on their bookshelf. Or, I could take the book and place it strategically on a table in Starbucks. By doing this, I’ve released the book into the wild, and whoever happens to pick it up becomes the new owner. Or I could go to an online trading site like PaperBackSwap.com and trade my book for another book, thereby passing my journaled book on to a new owner. There are tons of possibilities!

Why do this? Why not! You’re recycling books, and it’s really interesting to see where your books have gone. Some of my books are floating around in other countries, and I’m seeing lots of people with different opinions of the books that I read. I released a lot of books when we were on vacation in Europe, so that was really cool.

Bookcrossing also has a big community online. There are forums, groups, all sorts of ways to participate and communicate with other book lovers. There are lots of books that I have read that I never would have read had it not been for Bookcrossing, and I’ve found some great new authors!

I’m more than happy to answer any questions - I joined about a year before I actually started participating because it seemed like too much work, but once I got going, it has snowballed into something I have enjoyed so much.

Bookcrossing.com? Works for me!

9/5/2007 -- Works for Me: Brand Loyal Edition
7/19/2006 -- About Me
12/18/2005 -- 101 in 1001 - 67.33% Complete

16 Responses to “Works for Me: Bookcrossing.com”

An Ordinary Mom Says: January 24th, 2007 at 12:09 am
I have seen random books lying around places, now I know why! Sounds intriguing. Thanks for sharing!

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Jennifer, Snapshot Says: January 24th, 2007 at 7:24 am
Yes, all you have to do is put “Books” in the hint on WFMW, and I’ll come check out your tip. I have heard about bookcrossing, as far as leaving the book, but not for some of the other uses. I really, really, need to try this (but I’ve said that before)!

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Heather L. Says: January 24th, 2007 at 7:53 am
I’ve heard of reading and releasing, but never tried it. Maybe I will now that I know the web address for it! Thanks for sharing!

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Kelly Says: January 24th, 2007 at 8:18 am
I have heard of this but have never done it. I have a few books I could pass on. Thanks for the great idea!

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Babystepper Says: January 24th, 2007 at 8:50 am
I’ve done the paperbackswap part. I’ve never tried bookcrossing, because I have a very hard time releasing my books. I try to collect authors. I never realized I could’ve gone on to bookcrossing to read about them, though, because I did receive several from PBS that had bookcrossing stickers on them. Thanks for the WFMW!

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Theresa Says: January 24th, 2007 at 9:46 am
How interesting, lol.

I’m off to check it out!

Blessings,
Theresa,

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Becky Says: January 24th, 2007 at 10:16 am
This sounds really interesting. I went to the site and wow that is really cool! I may just have to join in. I have plenty of books I could set free! Thanks for sharing.

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Mari Says: January 24th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Sounds fun! I like the idea of reading other people’s reviews.

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Pieces Says: January 24th, 2007 at 10:21 am
I’m always hoping to find a book that has been set free but it hasn’t happened yet. I’m like you–it seems like so much effort but maybe I’ll give it a try.

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Katrina Says: January 24th, 2007 at 10:27 am
I love this idea - setting books free, to be found by other readers! I usually pass books around to family and friends, but when they finally make it back to me, I need to get myself together and participate in Bookcrossing. Great tip!

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Jane Says: January 24th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Do you ever see young adult lit? I think this would be amazing for my students! I love this idea, it is like lo-jack for books!

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Nikki Says: January 24th, 2007 at 11:38 am
I love this idea! How fun to share something as wonderful as books! Thanks for sharing.

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misslionheart Says: January 24th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
We did the same Works for Me! I’ll go and think of another…..

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Rebekah Says: January 24th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Sounds very cool. I’m a book lover myself, so I’ll have to check it out! Thanks.

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Lorie Says: January 24th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Very interesting, will have to check it out~

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Suspension of Disbelief » Book Meme Says: March 10th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
[...] Keep, throw away, or sell? Keep books that I really really loved, and then the ones that I don’t I TRADE!!! All of my books that are not sentimental for me are listed at Bookcrossing.com (which I highly recommend all readers use), and then I trade either with other BCers or on PaperBackSwap.com. This means that I have spent significantly less money on books in the past 6 months or so, and my wallet thanks me for that. [...]

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