896 English Books

Have followed the progress of this movement for some time now, though have not yet donated any books to the cause.

There is (or there has been this winter/Spring) a program dedicated to bookcrossing on RADIOTRE RAI, the RAI cultural channel on radio.
Very interesting movement for book lovers

Only two replies, must say rather disappointed! There must be some other readers out there somwhere that would be interested in exchanging books with us?

I spend lots of money on books and I think they are generally good value for money.
I would feel bad if I thought I was ripping an author off-I don"t think many are making much cash in return for their labours.
I suppose ultimately this system will push up the cost of books in the shops or decrease availability.

[QUOTE=apples]I spend lots of money on books and I think they are generally good value for money.
I would feel bad if I thought I was ripping an author off-I don"t think many are making much cash in return for their labours.
I suppose ultimately this system will push up the cost of books in the shops or decrease availability.[/QUOTE]
But is this so different to passing books you have read on to family members or friends for them to read?

I am an avid reader and I think books are far too expensive, so think things like this are a good idea. I object to paying full price for a book and usually buy them from a bookshop when they have a 3 for the price of 2 offer, or similar.

[QUOTE=janie]But is this so different to passing books you have read on to family members or friends for them to read?

I am an avid reader and I think books are far too expensive, so think things like this are a good idea. I object to paying full price for a book and usually buy them from a bookshop when they have a 3 for the price of 2 offer, or similar.[/QUOTE]

Quite agree, Janie. I'm sure the publishing industry makes a fair wack and doesn't need our help! (besdies which, academics don't normally get paid AT ALL for their books, so ...) Not sure this is for me for practical reasons, but I would be interested in chatting about Italian books and related works on this forum. DavidandLinda, is this something that would interest you at all? Or any other forum members? Nothing too grand, just swapping ideas for reads and the like.

Russ

Most of the academics I know do get paid indirectly for the works they produce.When going for promotion they will be asked about published works.
If I go to work I want to be paid the due amount.
I"m going to have a meal this lunch time and leave without paying because the chef earns too much money, or so I think- surely the argument will stand up in court.
If you can afford a house in Italy and a computer I think you can afford to pay the guy who wrote the book-unless it"s by an academic-in which case ...

So having looked at the site I still can't really suss out what you do.

Is it a case of leaving a book somewhere & hoping someone/anyone picks it up or does one just 'put them to one side' at home & if anyone wants them, you hook up some way?

Bemused.............

[QUOTE=tuscanhills]So having looked at the site I still can't really suss out what you do.

Is it a case of leaving a book somewhere & hoping someone/anyone picks it up or does one just 'put them to one side' at home & if anyone wants them, you hook up some way?

Bemused.............[/QUOTE]

Haven't visited the site in yonks but I seem to recall that there was a slip of paper that was fixed to the inside of the book with your details on it, or a special bookcrossing reference number, that could be used to track the movement of the book across a city/country/the world.

[QUOTE=apples]Most of the academics I know do get paid indirectly for the works they produce.When going for promotion they will be asked about published works.
If I go to work I want to be paid the due amount.
I"m going to have a meal this lunch time and leave without paying because the chef earns too much money, or so I think- surely the argument will stand up in court.
If you can afford a house in Italy and a computer I think you can afford to pay the guy who wrote the book-unless it"s by an academic-in which case ...[/QUOTE]

Disappointed that some of you feel like this about 'sharing books'.

Yes we are very lucky to LIVE in Italy, not the UK and own a computer!

Also over the years (and currently as it happens) we have spent loads of money on books.

We no longer have the space to keep every book,(as much as we would wish to) and feel that it is 'good to share' in this world.
It is terrible as a booklover to have to throw away books and believe it or not when leaving the UK that is what happened to some of our beloved books, with them ending up going to be pulped!! We were very upset but the local charity bookshops were overstocked and this was where donations were going, devastating.

So, the whole idea of this thread of ours is not to deprieve authors. It is really just to have a little 'fun' while 'sharing' and hopefully to hook up with others in Italy(or elsewhere)who have a shortage of English reading material.

Hope to hear from some of you (private message if you prefer)that may be interested.
Thanks for reading this

[QUOTE=DavidandLinda]Disappointed that some of you feel like this about 'sharing books'.

Yes we are very lucky to LIVE in Italy, not the UK and own a computer!

Also over the years (and currently as it happens) we have spent loads of money on books.

We no longer have the space to keep every book,(as much as we would wish to) and feel that it is 'good to share' in this world.
It is terrible as a booklover to have to throw away books and believe it or not when leaving the UK that is what happened to some of our beloved books, with them ending up going to be pulped!! We were very upset but the local charity bookshops were overstocked and this was where donations were going, devastating.

So, the whole idea of this thread of ours is not to deprieve authors. It is really just to have a little 'fun' while 'sharing' and hopefully to hook up with others in Italy(or elsewhere)who have a shortage of English reading material.

Hope to hear from some of you (private message if you prefer)that may be interested.
Thanks for reading this[/QUOTE]

I think it is a good initiative and especially so in a country where English books may be hard to come by. I agree that books tend to be a bit too expensive - I buy, read and then post home to my mother, as all books in South Africa are priced as a straight conversion from sterling with import tax and mark up on top - as a result they are way to expensive for most people.

[QUOTE=tuscanhills]So having looked at the site I still can't really suss out what you do.

Is it a case of leaving a book somewhere & hoping someone/anyone picks it up or does one just 'put them to one side' at home & if anyone wants them, you hook up some way?

Bemused.............[/QUOTE]
In answer to your bemusement.
It is really just a bit of fun and very easy with instructions all on the site if you decide to give it ago?
Basically it operates as you state. you register the book on site. It becomes part of your bookshelf, where its current whereabouts are recorded. You can then leave the book somewhere, give it to family or friends or wait for someone to ask for it.
The latter is exactly what I am currently hoping will happen to some of the books I have available as leaving English books in public places in Italy is obviously more difficult, limited market interest.
We would therefore like to hook up with others in Italy or elsewhere who are interested in exchanging books.

Our bookshelf can be found at

[url]www.bookcrossing.com/mybookshelf/LindyLouMac[/url]

So Tuscan Hills are you interested?
Thanks for reading this and look forward to hearing from anyone, anywhere who may be interested. PM us if you prefer.

[QUOTE=DavidandLinda]So Tuscan Hills are you interested?[/QUOTE]

I'm in!

All I need to do now it to add books to my bookself!

[QUOTE=apples]Most of the academics I know do get paid indirectly for the works they produce.When going for promotion they will be asked about published works.
If I go to work I want to be paid the due amount.
I"m going to have a meal this lunch time and leave without paying because the chef earns too much money, or so I think- surely the argument will stand up in court.
If you can afford a house in Italy and a computer I think you can afford to pay the guy who wrote the book-unless it"s by an academic-in which case ...[/QUOTE]

Apples, that's not really quite accurate or entirely fair. When academics do get paid (which is not necessarily common) it's a nominal amount, not such as to be an incentive to write or make a living out of. They write for other reasons, which mainly pertain to prestige. Their books are indeed important when going for promotions or new jobs as its ones publishing record (and hence indirectly reputation) that carries a great weight. It is also equally fair to point out that journal articles are key in this respect, too. For which there is never any pay. The lunch analogy is not pertinent, as these books are not stolen i.e. they were purchased at one point and so the publishing house recieved its fair amount. These are not free lunches. People share newspapers all the time without any great problem, which seems to me fairly analagous to this type of exercise.

Besides which, this kind of initiative should be lauded for what it is. It's not going to bring down the worlds publishing industry - we aren't in 'thin end of the wedge' Daily Mail territory whereby this is the start of something dangerous to the moral or financial fibre of the nation. Seems to me that is something that might just be a bit of fun and help some expats stay in touch.

Anyway, good luck guys and not offence to your good self apples.

Russ

[QUOTE=tuscanhills]I'm in!

All I need to do now it to add books to my bookself![/QUOTE]

Great news. Do hope that we will be able to exchange books with one another?

I am about to put details of more books, tomorrow hopefully, we have available on our bookshelf. So do try and take a look sometime.

[url]www.bookcrossing.com/mybookshelf/LindyLouMac[/url]

If any take your fancy suggest you PM us so we can exchange personal details privately?

Meanwhile welcome aboard!

Thankyou so much for your support Gesturi' To quote you 'Seems to me that this is something that might just be a bit of fun and help some expats stay in touch.
Exactly and provide us with more reading material at the same time!

By the way 'George' (not on this thread but one about missing foods etc) you only need to part with books that you feel you do not need to keep permanently. You know all that fiction you will never read again, life is too short. We do not even register our permanent collection only books we are prepared to part with or maybe lend. Bookshelf space limited so sharing is perfect option for us, as can not bear to throw books away.

i am sure you are perfectly nice people, please get off my case, I am living my life my way, and, fairly happy with it, you obviously enjoy what you are doing, and there are probably many other people who also derive pleasure from the activity, I do not desire to participate in the activity, cross thread postings ??? really... :( Ohhh, and, a glance at my public profile will illustrate that I am only too aware of the shortness of life, I do really worry how I have managed to live for 56 years without input from your goodselves, Please stop bullying me to join this thread.

[QUOTE=GeorgeS]i am sure you are perfectly nice people, please get off my case, I am living my life my way, and, fairly happy with it, you obviously enjoy what you are doing, and there are probably many other people who also derive pleasure from the activity, I do not desire to participate in the activity, cross thread postings ??? really... :( Ohhh, and, a glance at my public profile will illustrate that I am only too aware of the shortness of life, I do really worry how I have managed to live for 56 years without input from your goodselves, Please stop bullying me to join this thread.[/QUOTE]

So sorry and actually rather upset that we have made you angry. cannot understand how our responses made you feel bullied. This was very certainly not the intention and for that we apologise. However now feeling rather hurt if this is the sort of response we are going to get by taking part in the forums. Will now feel very nervous about making responses in future. It was meant to be fun joining in...now not so sure....maybe we take offence too easily.

[QUOTE=apples]Most of the academics I know do get paid indirectly for the works they produce.When going for promotion they will be asked about published works.
If I go to work I want to be paid the due amount.
I"m going to have a meal this lunch time and leave without paying because the chef earns too much money, or so I think- surely the argument will stand up in court.
If you can afford a house in Italy and a computer I think you can afford to pay the guy who wrote the book-unless it"s by an academic-in which case ...[/QUOTE]

When I buy a book it is mine to do with as I see fit. According to copyright laws I agree not to reproduce it by photocopying it etc, but if I would like to give/sell it to a friend or to anyone else then that's my business.
The net result of book swapping websites and the like is that more books are read and more books are purchased. Surely that is a win win situation for all involved.

I do not wish to offend you, BUT, please, re read the posts, I had already said I was not interested, so, why push the point, You enjoy sharing your books, just accept that I don't wish to, the whole blooming book mention was following a mis understanding anyway
Hugs
GS

Best wishes to one and all-this is really hotting up.I have expressed my opinion and I am very happy to see it being challenged.
Please don"t write in praising most of the academic papers in the world or I will not be able to contain myself. I can,however,think of a useful way of re-cycling it!
Isn"t it great to get the blood stirring.
Please don"t get upset-it"s great to live in a society where we don"t burn books and we can have a good debate-especially if everyone agrees with me.
This is the best thread since DAVE or whoever he was?

[QUOTE=apples]Best wishes to one and all-this is really hotting up.I have expressed my opinion and I am very happy to see it being challenged.
Please don"t write in praising most of the academic papers in the world or I will not be able to contain myself. I can,however,think of a useful way of re-cycling it!
Isn"t it great to get the blood stirring.
Please don"t get upset-it"s great to live in a society where we don"t burn books and we can have a good debate-especially if everyone agrees with me.
This is the best thread since DAVE or whoever he was?[/QUOTE]

Ah, Dave...where is he now I wonder? :)

I wouldn't dare to praise academic papers, given the amount of sheer, unadulterated C*** I have to read... ;)

p.s. I would however like to Burn anything by Frances Mayes, if possible..oh please, go on...

Thats anti American.... You could end up suddenly waking up a dark cell somewhere in Egypt with wires attached to...., although I suppose that would be a fair enough swap, ehh...

[QUOTE=GeorgeS]I do not wish to offend you, BUT, please, re read the posts, I had already said I was not interested, so, why push the point, You enjoy sharing your books, just accept that I don't wish to, the whole blooming book mention was following a mis understanding anyway
Hugs
GS[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the hugs George. Again apologies for making you angry obviously missed the bit where you said you were not interested....whoops.

the subject has certainly stirred up some debate though!

Odd that you missed READING that comment ... :D

[QUOTE=GeorgeS]Thats anti American.... You could end up suddenly waking up a dark cell somewhere in Egypt with wires attached to...., although I suppose that would be a fair enough swap, ehh...[/QUOTE]

Ha..! You know, I think I'd take that for the good of my felllow man.... :)

[QUOTE=GeorgeS]Odd that you missed READING that comment ... :D[/QUOTE]

Sure did! Dreadful mistake! Now forgiven? If not forgotten.

Yes, to both of course.

We would just like to say thankyou to those of you who have taken an interest in [url]www.bookcrossing.com[/url]
With special thanks to those who have joined up, we look forward to exchanging books with you.

At the risk of stirring things up again, I thought this story in today's Daily Telegraph might be of interest.
[url]www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/08/15/nbook15.xml[/url]
(Not sure why it's not turning into a link. Apologies).

rgds
Eddie B

Oh, it IS turning into a link. Siolly me.
rgds

[QUOTE=EddieB]At the risk of stirring things up again, I thought this story in today's Daily Telegraph might be of interest.
[url]www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/08/15/nbook15.xml[/url]
(Not sure why it's not turning into a link. Apologies).

rgds
Eddie B[/QUOTE]
Not quite [url]www.bookcrossing.com[/url] but wonder where they got the idea from?
Yes, read about this new website in the expat online newsletter today!
A little different in that after free membership quota reached going to cost a subscription. Plus to get books you are interested in you have to send a stamped addressed padded bag to the original owner of books. At the moment cannot quite see how this is going to work? Is it possible to know in advance the specific costs of postage for a particular book? Weigh it ?
Will follow development of this new idea with interest!

yes we would. will keep your email /web site address and contact you very soon. i'll miss the library.

I have decided to 'liberate' 90% of my book collection so will register with Bookcrossing to list and release them.

I saw that you can release books via charity shops as well - and some of them will go via this avenue, as I am afraid if I were to leave them in cafes or on public transport here they would most likely just get binned.

[QUOTE=Sano]I have decided to 'liberate' 90% of my book collection so will register with Bookcrossing to list and release them.

I saw that you can release books via charity shops as well - and some of them will go via this avenue, as I am afraid if I were to leave them in cafes or on public transport here they would most likely just get binned.[/QUOTE]

Great welcome aboard to Sano and McCarraher!

Have in fact just been in the UK and released some books to a Charity shop, so will be interesting to see what happens to them!