I missed last week, so I’m excited to come back and answer this question from Wendi:
Have you ever used the Swap This Book function which can be found on the main page of any book (here is an example of Flirting With Forty by Jane Porter: link shown on book page, what it looks like if you click on the link)? If so, what do you think about it? If not, are there any other swap sites you utilize to exchange books once you are done? What do you do with your books if you no longer want them anymore?
Nope, never! I don’t swap books. I am very reluctant to part with them, even ones I mildly disliked. I always think that I might want to consider it again later on in life and I’ve had random urges to reread books in the past. I also feel that in a sense, I’m building a collection that perhaps my children won’t want (although I hope they will!), but that I will certainly want to draw from for the rest of my life. Besides that, I normally buy used books that are cheaper than the cost of postage, so I’m not even spending more money, just taking up a ton of space. I do look forward to the day when I can afford to buy more new, though.
Now, if I really hate a book, so much so that I don’t want to keep it, I will give it away. I usually give them to charity shops that I buy from frequently; there is one supporting a hospital near my parents’ where the large majority of my used books come from and another children’s charity near my fiance’s house. I donate them there so that perhaps someone else can hate them less, and even if they don’t, at least the money is going to a good cause!
I haven’t used a book swap site either. I generally lend out my books and then hang on to them when I get them back.
It’s just not practical for me to keep all the books I’ve read, and it’s still never easy to see them go.
It’s seriously impractical for me too, and I will probably have to face that eventually, but for now I’m hanging on to my delusion that I can keep them.
I am getting to the point, space wise, that I am willing to consider several ways to pass books on to other homes, including swapping. True, I don’t gain any space that way but I don’t lose any either.
I hadn’t heard of the LT swap feature before today when the question came up. I don’t often let go of my books, but occasionally I will give a few away or trade one or two in private swaps. It really is hard to let go of books, isn’t it?
Isn’t it funny? I am very similar with my books. I find it so hard to get rid of any of them. I’ve got one I really disliked sitting on my dresser, and I just can’t bring myself to get rid of it yet! LOL. My hubby has said that I need to get rid of a few as they are encroaching on our living space too much. Hmmm how to decide. . .
Thanks for participating in Tuesday Thingers last week! I’ve got this week’s posted now.
Take care, Wendi