{"id":918,"date":"2007-06-21T09:00:13","date_gmt":"2007-06-21T13:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chrismclaren.com\/blog\/2007\/06\/14\/what-to-do-with-paperbacks\/"},"modified":"2007-06-28T13:52:01","modified_gmt":"2007-06-28T17:52:01","slug":"what-to-do-with-paperbacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.chrismclaren.com\/blog\/2007\/06\/21\/what-to-do-with-paperbacks\/","title":{"rendered":"The great paperback giveaway, part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

So, I have 12 boxes of paperback books in my back room, that I haven’t unpacked in the six years since the move. The primary reason here is that I’ve never built enough shelving to catch up to my hardcover books, and thus have never had shelving for the paperbacks. Well, OK, the primary reason is that I am World Class Lazy, but let’s not get into that.<\/p>\n

After this much time I occasionally worry that some terrible thing might have happened to the books I haven’t unpacked. So I’ve recently decided to buy some plastic packing cases, and move the books from the cardboard UHaul 2-cubes they’ve been in for six year into the plastic cases. I’ll be less worried with the books in the plastic, and it will give me a chance to reorganize the back room, so I can get around to putting some shelves in there.<\/p>\n

So last night I moved over 4 of the boxes. It was an interesting experience. I have a few paperbacks I had forgotten I owned, but many, many more that each brought back very powerful memories of where and when I got them or read them, etc.<\/p>\n

I also found that there were a large number of paperbacks that I didn’t need to keep anymore, for one reason or another. In the vast majority of cases the reason was “I’ve added a hardcover\/trade paper copy to my collection in the intervening years”, but sometimes it’s just “I don’t want this anymore”.<\/p>\n

So, while I was repacking these four boxes I culled these books from the boxes, as I don’t need them in the collection anymore:<\/p>\n

\"Redundant<\/a><\/p>\n

Most of those are in perfect condition, the ones I bought new, with 8 or 10 exceptions; the ones I didn’t buy new. I figure I’ll probably get two more sets this size that I can also get rid of when I get around to moving over the rest of the books.<\/p>\n

So, the question is: what do I do with these?<\/p>\n

I could just take them to a used shop and get money or credit, but I figure before I do that I should give my friends, and online acquaintances, a shot at them.<\/p>\n

So here’s the deal: if you want any of the items on the list below, post a comment saying which item or items (note to George: don’t say “I’ll take them all”) and why you want them. If your why is more interesting than “hey, free book”, I send them to you. I’ll keep the lists updated as items are claimed. For people in North America, I’ll eat the cost of mailing them. If anyone further distant wants some, you can PayPal me the postage costs. I will email you at the address you use to comment to get your physical address if I don’t already have it. Post your requests, don’t email me–that way I won’t forget what you wanted and everyone can see what’s already gone.<\/p>\n

Whatever doesn’t get claimed by the end of June will go to the local used book shop.<\/p>\n

Here’s the list:<\/p>\n