While I was in San Francisco at MacWorld, I found a book that said “Take me home” on the cover. This introduced me to the wonderful world of BookCrossing. Anyone else have any experience with this?
I’ve been bookcrossing for 4 years. I love it! It’s a ton of fun planning on where to leave them, or getting an email and trying to be the first to find a release. Even sending trades in the mail is fun, because I often don’t know what I’m getting. I’m a bookcrosser for life!
Oh yeah, picked up and dropped off a few when I was in China and Thailand - particularly valuable when you’re in the middle of nowhere with nothing to read - and seen 'em in pubs and cafes in both the UK and in Ireland.
The idea gels with my personal book ethos, which is all about the words within, and rarely about the physical object. (Though the site itself is a bit hippy/nerdy for my taste…)
I did that for a while a few years ago. The response rate (i.e., when people who find your book actually go to the site and let you know they found it) was very small. I think I stopped mainly because it was so hard to leave a book anywhere. “Excuse me, miss, you forgot your book!” “Uh, no, I meant to leave it…” and you trail off as the helpful, well intentioned person looks at you with confusion in their eyes.
I’ve heard people say that (about people trying to return books) but that has never happened to me. Maybe its because I put a sticky note that says “free book” on them. Or I’m just ninja-like and no one sees me leave it. Hmm. 
Same. I think I left three books, never got a response on a single one. Kept having people try to “return” my book, too. Even with the BookCrossing sticker prominently on the cover, placed strategically to be visible – people didn’t even bother to look at the book, they just tried to send me back to it.
I like the idea, but the reality was pretty “meh.” I might have stuck with it otherwise… as it was, it takes a lot for me to be willing to give up a book that I read and liked (I may want to re-read it later, and then I’d have to buy it twice), so having it essentially disappear off the face of the earth was no fun for me.