# Interested in giving away/getting free books? Get in here! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565 "2005-02-17T16:56:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/41 "2005-02-18T16:36:08Z")
Okay, I should offer something up, since I’m getting one. I know I have a trade paperback of _Cold Mountain_ by Charles Fraser, the one the recent movie was based on. In perfect condition. Great story. I also have a copy of _Songs in Ordinary Time_ by Mary McGarry Morris ( **Auntie Pam** has one, too). It’s a trade paperback, and a bit worn, but perfectly readable. I got it at the thrift shop, read the first chapter or two and couldn’t get into it. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/42 "2005-02-18T16:36:11Z")
Can a person make requests? I’m looking for some books on webmastering (like, think O’Rilley-type books), JavaScript, and admin-type stuff. I was going to go to Borders and pick up some titles, but while we’re at it I figure I’ll put out a call. I know there are plenty of techies out there who don’t need some of their possibly out-of-date, basic refference and how-to books. I want 'em! 🙂 E-mail’s in the profile and all that. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/43 "2005-02-18T16:39:34Z")
I just want to let y’all know that childrens or young adult books would also be welcomed. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/44 "2005-02-18T16:42:06Z")
I’m in, but I can’t make a list until I get home, so look for my list tonight. I know I have a couple of Robert Jordans I’ve been meaning to get rid of, and The Dragon and the Unicorn. Yup, tonight I’ll let you know. ---
**Author:** ![JerH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@JerH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerH)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/45 "2005-02-18T17:05:36Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#): > > **JerH** , what is Death Rat? Sounds intriguing. Nelson, if you don’t know, was host of MST3K. _Death Rat_ is an odd novel about an elderly history professor who writes a sensationalist novel about a giant rat that somehow gets mistaken as a true story. It’s pretty funny. On the Bone graphic novels - sorry, **Captain Gutgore Blooddrink** , **further** got her dibs in first. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/46 "2005-02-18T17:34:55Z")
I’ll post a full list later of the books I have available for swap. For now, I have two David Eddings fantasy trilogies: _The Eleneum_ and its sequel _The Tamuli_. All six books are dog-eared paperbacks, very rereadable, and very wordy. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/47 "2005-02-18T18:11:13Z")
> [@JerH](#): > > Nelson, if you don’t know, was host of MST3K. _Death Rat_ is an odd novel about an elderly history professor who writes a sensationalist novel about a giant rat that somehow gets mistaken as a true story. It’s pretty funny. Oooo…can I have it please? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/48 "2005-02-18T18:48:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \ Sorry, Snickers, but Eonwe has already emailed me. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/49 "2005-02-18T19:17:17Z")
I’ll send to Canada as well as the U.S. "Mean Woman Blues - Julie Smith (never read) “Nora, Nora” - Anne Rivers Siddons ( I bought it used, and it shows. But still in good shape) “The Grave Maurice” - Martha Grimes (I’m still reading it, but haven’t picked it up in 6 months, so I probably won’t finish) “Lost Boy, Lost Girl” - Peter Straub ( the cover has some waterspots where the cat knocked over my coffee. It’s clean, just spotty) Actually, drinking coffee while reading this book is a bad idea. It gave me the _heabie jeabies_. ---
**Author:** ![JerH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@JerH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerH)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/50 "2005-02-18T19:43:38Z")
It’s all yours, Dung. Email me with your address. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/51 "2005-02-18T19:51:23Z")
Oh, all of mine are hardcover. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/52 "2005-02-18T21:24:24Z")
> [@Nahk Ila Dihahs](#): > > How about giving away ebooks? If someone has ebooks, I’d be happy to receive 'em over email, it would be too much to ask people to send over paperbacks or hardcovers from \<_insert First World country here_\> to me in \<_insert Third World country here_\>. > If anyone has any ebooks, please list them here. I don’t have any eBooks, but I’m more than willing to send to any books I have listed to you in ThirdWorldistan. ---
**Author:** ![EmeraldGrue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dc4da7/32.png) [@EmeraldGrue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmeraldGrue)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/53 "2005-02-18T22:05:52Z")
> [@audiobottle](#): > > I have a copy of Dubliners by James Joyce. It’s a collection of short stories. Much more comprehendible than his later stuff. I’ll see more of what I have and post some stuff later. > For now, in the US only; how much does it cost to ship international? **audiobottle** I live in Canada but can you pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease put me on the waiting list for _Dubliners_? I will fight other Dopers to the death if that would so incline you to ship it to me. I’m offering up: [Parable of the Sower](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0446601977/qid=1108764647/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/104-8947314-0915119?v=glance&s=books&n=507846), Octavia E. Butler. Paperback. Bought used. Spine a little cracked. [Oryx and Crake](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0385721676/qid=1108764826/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-8947314-0915119?v=glance&s=books&n=507846), Margaret Atwood. Paperback. Shiny and new. Spine a little cracked. [Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0590353403/104-8947314-0915119), J. K. Rowling. American edition. Hardcover. Good condition, except for ghastly slang substitutions. [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0439064864/ref=pd_bxgy_text_1/104-8947314-0915119?v=glance&s=books&st=*), J. K. Rowling. American edition. Hardcover, etc. [Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban](http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/1551926709/ref=ed_oe_o/702-4048264-0432016), J. K. Rowling. Canadian edition. Paperback. Good condition. ---
**Author:** ![Naz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@Naz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naz)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/54 "2005-02-18T22:50:10Z")
> [@Gadfly](#): > > I’d love this. Can I? Can I can I can I? Sorry, **Gadfly** , **audiobottle’s** email got to me first. Hey, **JerH** , can I have The Funnies? It looked interesting on Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![sj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@sj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sj2)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/55 "2005-02-18T23:26:53Z")
If only there was a place we could all go and choose from a buncho books ourselves and not have to pay the usps the price of the used book to mail it…you know like a library. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/56 "2005-02-18T23:29:01Z")
> [@sj2](#): > > If only there was a place we could all go and choose from a buncho books ourselves and not have to pay the usps the price of the used book to mail it…you know like a library. :rolleyes: I’m going to answer this nicely. You can’t find everything in the library. The library I go to is quite small, and even the bigger one - Albany Public Library - has a lot of stuff but not everything. Plus it’s nice to exchange well-loved books. Books have character; they’re like children in a way. ---
**Author:** ![sj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@sj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sj2)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/57 "2005-02-18T23:45:16Z")
The reason I posted that is I just went to my itty-bitty library for their book sale. 50 cent HC, 25 cent PB. For 10 dollars, I was set (I gave them 20 since I felt dirty getting so many former best sellers so cheap). 2 bags of books for the price of mailing 2. Plus I brought 2 bags of books to donate. Good ones that I bought 75 percent off at my local B&N store. ---
**Author:** ![sj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@sj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sj2)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/58 "2005-02-18T23:48:03Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I’m going to answer this nicely. > > You can’t find everything in the library. > > The library I go to is quite small, and even the bigger one - Albany Public Library - has a lot of stuff but not everything. > > Plus it’s nice to exchange well-loved books. Books have character; they’re like children in a way. Albany NY? Hell I’m from Cohoes. Libraries are great for me. Holds, renew online, 10 books out at a time. Mine (King County, WA) just started to allow downloading audio books. Homer Simpson drooling aaaauuuuggggg… ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/59 "2005-02-18T23:57:25Z")
> [@sj2](#): > > If only there was a place we could all go and choose from a buncho books ourselves and not have to pay the usps the price of the used book to mail it…you know like a library. :rolleyes: If only there was a way people could choose not to particpate in the giveaway! That’s it, I want the Board’s brightest idea men and women on this one. Your task, should you choose to accept it, is to devise a plan that makes it not only possible to _not_ take part in the giveaway, but to make it so people don’t even have to post to this thread. Maybe something like a title that makes quite clear what the thread’s abou–…you know, I’ve said too much. I’ll let you guys come up with something. I’d like a few plans on my desk no later than noon, Sunday. Remember people, we learn the most from the ones we _don’t_ make happy. sj2, we’re on it. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to make this giveaway the best giveaway it can be. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565/60 "2005-02-19T00:24:22Z")
> [@EmeraldGrue](#): > > **audiobottle** I live in Canada but can you pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease put me on the waiting list for _Dubliners_? I will fight other Dopers to the death if that would so incline you to ship it to me. Canada? I’d gladly ship to Canada. My e-mail should be in my profile, assuming I did everything in there correctly. I’ll try and ship it out tomorrow. I forgot to mention, it’s a paperback, but it’s in excellent condition. **sj2** , not to harp on the subject, but if you saw my library, you’d laugh. It’s so small that every book is just placed in alphabetical order. There’s no mysterys, no romance, no fantasy/science fiction… just alphabetical. Alphabetical by book title, no less, not even author. Half the room is for children’s books, the other half is for everything else. If they had a book sale, they’d lose about 25% of what they have. So in conclusion, I am quite happy we’re doing this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-giving-away-getting-free-books-get-in-here/290565.md?page=4)