I’ve mentioned before that I’m a bit of a bookworm. When I’m not geeking out on technology, you’ll frequently find me with my nose buried in a book. Over the years I’ve amassed a ridiculously large collection of books, since most of my relations with libraries tend to be short-lived. I don’t know what it is, but every now and again I try getting my books from the library instead of the bookstore. It lasts for a few weeks or months, and then I’m logging onto Amazon and ordering away. It’s something of a problem.
My sister-in-law, Olivia, sent me a link to this cool new website called BookMooch which may be a solution. The idea is that I post books I want to get rid of. Other users can search for my books and “mooch” them. I send the book directly to them and get 1 point. With that 1 point I can mooch any book from anyone else. So it’s just a cool way to trade books! I listed a few books last week and have been waiting eagerly for someone to mooch one so that I could get some points and start my own mooch-mooching. But no one has yet. Please, internet people, mooch my books. 
It sounds a bit like a chicken-and-egg problem, how do you get the points to mooch in the first place? You get 1/10th of a point for every book you list. So, actually, if I could just find a few more books I’m willing to part with I’d be ready to go.
I got an email update on some changes to the site a couple of days ago and it turns out the site has only be live for about 2 weeks. Looks like Olivia led me to the party early! I’m excited for the concept and hope it works out. If any of you out there do give it a try, my user name is Tara. Look at my books and mooch away.
6 Responses to “Mooch My Books”
While I haven’t used that particular site before, I know there are many sites out there that do the same thing. It’s a fairly established little internet concept, I think.
I know there are things like this, but I’m not sure if there are any for books that don’t involve a middle man. The nice part of this is that I just send my book directly to whoever mooches it. The BookMooch site actually makes no money on the transaction. Don’t know if the other sites are like that. But if you point me at them, I’d be curious!
Hey Tara, hope your move went well.
Another of Shanti’s gaming friends just moved to San Fran last week. Did he tell you? The guy is really nice. I don’t know if you know many people already in SF, maybe Shantz can give you his info.
how did you like “Something Blue”? I read that and “Something Borrowed” this summer….I am almost ashamed to admit to having bought and read “chick lit.” I am currently reading an awesome fantasy trilogy (The Fionavar Tapestry) by Guy Gavriel Kay (awesome writer - check him out!) in French but the books were written in English.
I enjoyed Something Blue. I like the chick lit now and again.
I actually read the Fionavar Tapestry for the first time probably 10 years ago! It’s a good series. I, of course, read it in English. Shanti didn’t tell me about his friend, I’ll have to send him an email. I’m always looking to meet people out here! And thanks for coming to visit. 
I’ll prob read the series in English, when I reread since I reread every book I like at least 3 times. lol.
Shantz sent me this funny link yesterday. Since you’re a WoW player I thought you’d like it.
http://www.break.com/index/warcraft_reduces_sex_drive.html
[...] A few months ago I mentioned that I was trying this website called BookMooch. It lets you basically trade your books with people all over the world at no cost except postage. Shortly after my first post on the subject, I had a bookmooched from me. I sent it out, and with my point, selected one and had it sent to me. [...]