so ... my mum got a chain letter from her mum the other day.

Dear friend,

This is an informal one-time book exchange club. There is no money involved, so it is legal and can be lots of fun. Please send one used paperback book or audio book that you have already enjoyed to the person on the back of this letter. There is no need to box the book (since it's a paperback) -- a mailing envelope will be just fine. Then forward this letter on to six of your friends and then their friends will send their used books to you! It will be interesting to see what books you ultimately receive and where they came from. You should receive 36 books if the chain remains unbroken.

To keep the chain alive:

1. Send your used book to the person whose name and address are on the back of this letter

2. Make 6 copies of this letter and put my address label on the back

3. Send the letter to 6 different people. Along with the letter, include 6 of your personal address labels for them to use when they forward it.

Please do this within the next week so we can be fair to all those participating. I have been told there is seldom a drop-out by anyone since you only have to mail one book. Please turn this letter over to see where to mail your book.

i know you people on here have done similarish things, so i wondered if anyone would be really excited about sending/receiving a few paperback books. what do you think?

joe pancake?

Am exchange in general or in a similar -or the same- form as this letter?

I'll simply answer both questions just in case, I guess.

Hm, I thought about an on board book exchange a few times. I exchange and get books all the time over a website dedicated to this (it is in German, though). The handy thing is that you get tickets for your books and can pick from all offered books, which is quite a lot by now, so you can save tickets and just get rid of books, or choose freely from a huge catalogue.

My idea when I thought about proposing a board book exchange was to organize it very freely - everyone puts up the books he/she wants to get rid of, and everyone else who put up books has the right to choose relatively freely, even if that means that some don't get back a book for theirs, just a few kind words and some extra space in your shelf. That was a very loose idea, though, I admit.

I wouldn't know what to do with a chain letter like this, though. I don't know enough people in the English speaking world well enough to send six such letter to, and condemn them to the extra high postal fees of sending abroad. I'd imagine the same problem would arise for a lot of people on board here.
I'd have to translate it first and then find someone who'd agree to participate first because I wouldn't just send it asking them to send me a book, partly because many people I know cling to them, some would find it just strange or meet the same problems I do, but also because I'm the one in my circle of friends who owns the most books, and our tastes diverse a lot.

Did you have a detailed idea for a book exchange on this Board? As said, I entertained the idea myself and still find it interesting, but I don't know a real solutions to the practical problems such as our members living all across the world and sometimes buying their books in different languages.

at the moment I was only thinking about including some of you in this particular exchange, but I have in the meantime filled out enough envelopes anyway.

while we're talking about it, doing our own could be fun. you seem to be the expert, hsing.

for this, i'm either going to send my ugly copy of Jane Eyre or a book of short stories, The Dubliners. I've also got some Bill Bryson paperbacks I wouldn't mind giving away. so if anyone else has a similar list, maybe it would work.

joe pancake?

At the moment, I am desperately getting rid of books to make space for the baby, but don't have any spare cash (like, any), so can't post them. I wouldn't want to receive, but might be able to send some in a few weeks' time.

Mrs G
The Garner who cares.

I can post a "who-would..." thread tomorrow and then give it plenty of time. How about that?
We could then make the concept of the swap depend on how many people would take part in the first place.

I like the idea, but after a suprisingly large phone bill, i'm in a similar way RE cash for posting. In a couple of weeks I could manage to post a book, but would like my book - if anyone is willing to send one there - sent to Oz as I'll be there in a month and a half.

We could try to arrange it via continent, or nearest continent, so no one is posting to the exact opposite side of the globe. If this one works out, we could have a blind book sending where you're surprised with a title.

-=Happiness is a journey, not a destination=-
Gypsy Travels | Gypsy Photos | Gypsy Space

Given past experience with the Australian postal service, that might be sensible, Gypsy. On the other hand, it's nice to receive things from further afield.

Mrs G
The Garner who cares.

I have the exact opposite problem. I'm always able to receive books but I'm totally unwilling to give them away.

Dragon's Kingdom - Stop typing "alot" when you mean "a lot"! - Disappointed

How very true, Mal. That's why I hate going to the library even. Right now I've got The Unadulterated Cat from the local library, but I rarely get books from there unless they're too expensive to buy.

Every fight is a food fight to a cannibal. - Demetri Martin

I'll be happy to exchange a book with you plaid, although I'm not to keen on sending out a chain letter myself.

Besides I wouldn't know 6 people locally who read books.

"Frangipanis on cars. AUSTRALIA SAYS NO."

the chain letter in question has been sent on...who knows what will happen to it...

but i'm up for whatever we want to do here, I guess. getting mail is always fun. getting packages with books is even better.

joe pancake?

I'm in - quite happy to send anywhere really...

Randywine

Q. How do you write?
A. One word at a time.

I can go in but I'm the one with the problems with the postal system. Strangely this only applies for things coming to me rather than the other direction.

PhD Student: Research information sheet

There once was a man named Bruce
Who liked to sit on a spruce
He ate lots of chowder
And yelled at me louder:
"I'm talking to YOU, Mrs. Hughes!"
--> The Literary Genius: Mowgli

I have a pathetic local post office myself that has in the past often left packages they should give a pickup slip for on our doorstep. Quite frustrating.

So now I use my sisters businesses PO box to avoid having that happen, works a charm.

"Frangipanis on cars. AUSTRALIA SAYS NO."

If only the post office here did that... I've tried the home and the work ones and the same things happened. Instead of delivering the package or a slip telling me its there I haven't been told anything so after 2 weeks they send it back and who can be bothered trying again...

PhD Student: Research information sheet

There once was a man named Bruce
Who liked to sit on a spruce
He ate lots of chowder
And yelled at me louder:
"I'm talking to YOU, Mrs. Hughes!"
--> The Literary Genius: Mowgli