What am I going to do with my books?

[Freewheeling Andy]

I have lots of books. They've been in storage for 2 years. I've not missed them. Now they're cluttering the shed.

 

What should I do with them?

 

They're not in great condition - some have been swimming in the bath, or in the sauna, or have been dragged under taxis in my bike pannier. The spines are generally mangled.

 

Some are great - Evelyn Waugh, Tom Wolfe, Michael Chabon, Philip Marlowe, all of the Philip Dick short stories.

Some are utter rubbish, though - particularly The Book Of Memories by Michael Chabon

 

Is it worth my time and money selling them? I don't think so.

Can I give books in such rough condition to charity shops? Probably not worth their while.

 

At the moment I'm inclined to give them away if anyone who might be interested in reading a miscellaneous bunch of things is happy to drive to SW London and pick up 3 large boxes of books and not pick-and-choose and just carry them away. (You might also get a Scalextric thrown in, as it's something else that I don't want and is just cluttering).

 

What do you all think?

 

I suppose I could just keep them in the shed, but that seems like a waste for all kinds of reasons.

[Kate]

I would see if anyone wants them, and if they don't take them to a charity shop

[Freewheeling Andy]

Do you want them?

[Kate]

Maybe not all of them....lol! But I'm never one to pass up free books!!

 

How about you list them and let people see what you've got?

[Freewheeling Andy]

Aah. There's the problem. They're all in boxes and there are lots of them and I really don't want to do any work getting rid of them.

[Kate]

If that is the case, you might just have to leave them there!

[Janet]

You could pick a nice sunny day, put the boxes on the pavement outside your house with a sign saying "free books - help yourself" and let people rummage!

 

I'd love to see a sign like that!

[Freewheeling Andy]

If that is the case, you might just have to leave them there!

 

Bah. The bad consequences of laziness, eh.

[Freewheeling Andy]

You could pick a nice sunny day, put the boxes on the pavement outside your house with a sign saying "free books - help yourself" and let people rummage!

 

I'd love to see a sign like that!

 

If I let people pick and choose, how do I get rid of the rubbish ones?

[happyanddandy]

There's a second hand book shop 'Two Jays' in Edgware that might take some off you. They only take what they want. Tel 8952 1349 you could ring and run the titles by her

[Michelle]

I think Janet's idea is a great one, and you may be surprised at what goes! But, if there's anything left that no one seems to want, just pop them in a recycling thingie somewhere.

[~Andrea~]

Car boot sale?

 

Otherwise yea do what Janet says.

Any leftovers, good condition -> charity, bad condition -> recycling or tip (or bonfire? )

[kelly2008]

Any friends or family want them? I would hate to think of books being thrown in the tip or on the bonfire

[Michelle]

Well if they've been in the bath, or ran over, they may be in a condition that only Andy could love!

[aromaannie]

I would put them on freecycle - there's bound to be someone on there who will want them

[madcow]

Freecycle is a good idea or maybe donate to a church/school fete.

[Icecream]

Putting them outside with a sign is a good idea. You may be surprised, and wil probably at least get rid of a lot of them. Otherwise, the school/village fete thing is a good idea. These types of things love having bookstalls.

[happyanddandy]

They will get wet!!

[beef]

+1 for freecycle - someone will take them!

[~V~]

I'd release them into the wild

 

Every time you go out, take one or two with you and just leave them somewhere to be found

[Loopyloo100]

I'd release them into the wild

 

Every time you go out, take one or two with you and just leave them somewhere to be found

 

Yes that's a good idea too! I never have come across a lone book on my travels, but I would like to and I would most certainly befriend it!

[Freewheeling Andy]

I'd release them into the wild

 

Every time you go out, take one or two with you and just leave them somewhere to be found

 

I quite like this idea. Just leave them on the tube with a "please take this book" post-it note, saying "I thought it was rubbish, but you might like it", or "everyone should read this. it's bloody great"

 

Seriously, quite a lot of the books are in perfectly good condition. None are in great condition because I'm completely apathetic about preserving them. And if any of you wants to pick up a large and random box of books and happens to be in London with a car, you're welcome to them.

[Icecream]

V's idea is a great one!

[beef]

I quite like this idea. Just leave them on the tube with a "please take this book" post-it note, saying "I thought it was rubbish, but you might like it", or "everyone should read this. it's bloody great"

 

Seriously, quite a lot of the books are in perfectly good condition. None are in great condition because I'm completely apathetic about preserving them. And if any of you wants to pick up a large and random box of books and happens to be in London with a car, you're welcome to them.

I love this idea. you should also have a website or email address or something for people to let you know they found the book/what they thought and you could encourage them to do the same once they are done with it! (always has to be a website involved somehow with me right?)

[Freewheeling Andy]

OK. I'm getting sold on the idea. A "What Happened To Andy's Books" blog, for people who've picked them up to reply to. Chances are, I guess, that only 1 in 10 or so would get any response, but it would still be interesting. It might be embarassing, too, given what utter rubbish some of them are.