I started reading about 50 years ago…I started reading for entertainment about 45 years ago (mostly comic books then); my teen years consisted of titles such as, My Darling, My Hamburger by Paul Zindel, Red Sky at Morning by Richard Bradford and many short stories by John Steinbeck. Often times, reading for knowledge (science, space, politics, business) is now entertainment to me but mostly, I read story telling books just for entertainment.
Yes, my question is, “What did you do with the last book you read?” I ask because this question was recently put to me. I had an answer that was pleasing to the young lady who wanted me to donate books to her cause — the hospital patients reading something, something.
I do have some books that I’ve read, in a box or on a shelf but often, I give them away. Sometimes, I donate them to doctors offices, libraries, schools, a thrift shop — there are numerous things you can do with them.
When I give them away, I ask the person to sign and date inside the cover when they have finished and pass it on to someone else later. This all started when I was in the Navy, aboard ship. I would lend books to other guys from time to time and when I did, I would write my name and the date I loaned it to them so they would know who to return the book. After I while, I didn’t have anywhere to keep the books and just started giving them away but kept up with signing and dating inside the cover — not when I gave it to them but after I finished reading them. There was once, some years later, when I got one of my books back and it had several names in it. I passed it on with a little bit of pride that I had started something, maybe. I haven’t seen other books with names unless they were a specific gift or signed by the author.
So, I can recommend that you check your local community for book exchange programs; or you could just donate it to someone, something, somewhere, sometime.
Jay 🙂
Just a few ideas:
http://www.moneycrashers.com/where-donate-used-books/
http://www.prisonbookprogram.org/
http://www.childrensbooksonwheels.org/a/donate/?gclid=CM20reTZjMQCFdccgQodXI4Amw
http://www.booksforafrica.org/index.html
http://www.thebookmama.com/how-to-donate-books-seven-places-that-want-your-used-books/
http://www.military.com/spouse/military-life/military-resources/how-to-support-our-troops.html
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Josh Wrenn
March 3, 2015 at 12:43
Unfortunately, the last book I read was returned to the library. I hope To be able to afford it for purchase some day soon, because it was so funny.
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Michelle Styles
March 3, 2015 at 12:43
Now they are on a kindle or other electronic media. But when it must be a book I donate it to the library. Every year they have a book sale so they take them all. Little tax break for me to boot. 🙂
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shopgirlanonymous
March 3, 2015 at 13:25
Love the signing and dating idea! I keep my read books a trophy on the bookshelf in my office (I know I know, not at all your message or point). But I did not actually start reading until I was in college, I had a learning disability that was never detected since I learned to use my peers to give me the answers on quizzes and comprehension quizzes. It isn’t that I can’t read, it’s that reading takes three times as long for me as it does for most. A book could take up to three months (sometimes 6) of my life. I keep my books because each one is such an achievement and I received such an opportunity to really bond with the characters for such a long time that I hate to let them go.
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ljaylj
March 3, 2015 at 13:35
I know the feeling of taking a long time to read a book. It took me a year to read Red, Green and Blue Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson. But, look at where you are today, where you have taken yourself regardless if anyone assisted you or not. You keep your trophies, as we all do, my military medals hang on the wall in a box. We show something of ourselves that we know is an accomplishment. And, you’re a teacher, too…teaching is almost the same thing as donating a book. 😉
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shopgirlanonymous
March 3, 2015 at 13:43
LOL, ya all the teachers in my department found a hoot that I was a reading teacher as a struggling reader. But perhaps that is why I chose the field. 😉
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fac-n-fic
March 3, 2015 at 15:03
signing and passing along is cool, but I like to keep my books. I usually jot stuff down in them (unless its from a library). But i do dig it.
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hannahabell1013
March 3, 2015 at 15:11
I put the last book I read back on my parents’ bookshelf. It was “House of Seven Gables”- a very good book, but probably not one I will read again. So, if it were mine it would make sense to donate it. I’d be even more inclined to do that and try the name/date idea. That sounds really neat. 🙂 Have a great day, Jay!
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Karyn
March 3, 2015 at 20:53
I like your name/date idea. I also checked out your donation list.
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ljaylj
March 3, 2015 at 20:57
🙂
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inkspeare
March 4, 2015 at 09:00
I’ve been reading since i can remember; just love it. I do the same thing, I donate them or give them away to friends. I keep some books for future reference, or the ones I consider a treasure – the ones that will die with me. I have a few that are antique and I collect, but only a few. The collection grows slow. I did the name and date once, but I don’t remember which book it was; funny because all I remember is saying,”every person should read this.” I am also doing more electronic reading, which cuts the bulk of books and is less expensive, but now that I think about it, is that a good thing? Because I don’t lend the ebooks, meaning less people I am sharing books with. Hmm, you gave me something to think deeply about.
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ljaylj
March 4, 2015 at 10:27
I can’t imagine reading Le Morte d’Arthur By Thomas Malory on ebook…it just wouldn’t be the same. That is one that stays in my collection.
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