Bookcrossing.com

Alert reader Pattie reminded me in the comments section about Book Crossing. Someone had told me about this a few years ago, so when I felt inspired to leave my books by the campground bathhouse, perhaps it was that deeply imbedded comment speaking to my psyche.

Book crossing (please visit www.bookcrossing.com for a full explanation) is an organized version of the Book Fairy. I'm going to do it from now on. In fact, I just registered a book through Bookcrossing and am pondering where to leave it.

By registering a book (it's all free and they swear they will never breathe a word of your personal information to anyone), the book receives a unique bookcrossing ID number. This is then inscribed--handwritten by you, or printed out with labels--inside the book for the finder. I'm leaving a novel someplace with a bookcrossing bookplate taped to the inside page. It has the book's id number on it and the date I registered it. When people find a bookcrossing book, they can take it up and read it, then journal their thoughts on it at the website and re-release it when they are finished (or they can keep it--no one is stopping them). It's all based on the spirit of sharing, assuming that books are fun to read and fun to share.

This formalizes my Book Fairy work.

You should try it. Pass on the fun stuff and see if the world enjoys it as much as you.