Slog Comments
Who Should Get My Box of 20 Free Books?
22
@13 It's genre fiction generally, and science fiction in particular, that doesn't get enough respect anywhere. Among people who know and care about SF, there's deep respect for Butler, a gifted storyteller with a knack for seamless plots.
BTW, bars are great place to give away books, but only if you have a reputation as a reader of taste. Otherwise you could be taken as a wacko peddling fringe tracts. (Left Behind series, anyone?)
BTW, bars are great place to give away books, but only if you have a reputation as a reader of taste. Otherwise you could be taken as a wacko peddling fringe tracts. (Left Behind series, anyone?)
21
Lots of great suggestions...and thanks for the suggestion.
I'm so well-read I still get John Updike and John Irving mixed up.
I'm so well-read I still get John Updike and John Irving mixed up.
19
I knew a woman, in New York, who always read on the subway and every time she finished a book she'd leave it on the seat for someone else to pick-up. I'd say leave at least one on a bus.
(Love this book)
(Love this book)
18
The VA Hospital in Seattle. There are lots of older, disabled vets there who could use some books and would be fun to distribute them to. They love to talk!
16
I'm giving my box of "The Things They Carried" to my middle school students to share with their families. Come on by if you want to toss in some Owen Meany.
14
The mental health ward at Harborview. It's all crap reading in there, most people don't really get to plan for their admission, and there is NOTHING to do all day.
8
These are great suggestions, folks. Thank you. I'll keep checking back for more, and I'll let you know what I decide.
Vince @1: At least half the people I talked to were delivering their books to homeless shelters, so there will definitely be hundreds of new books in shelters on Monday, regardless of where twenty books wind up.
Luckier @5: I know, right?
Vince @1: At least half the people I talked to were delivering their books to homeless shelters, so there will definitely be hundreds of new books in shelters on Monday, regardless of where twenty books wind up.
Luckier @5: I know, right?
7
As a volunteer teacher at a prison, I recommend you give a copy to prison and penitentiary libraries. That way, your gift of one book can touch countless readers through the years, people who desperatly need to be turned on th the written word and what it can teach.
The libraries are often underfunded (depends on the area) and typically lack books that cover all educational and maturity levels.
The libraries are often underfunded (depends on the area) and typically lack books that cover all educational and maturity levels.
6
Oh, one more idea. The Juvenile Justice Center on 12th and E Alder has a free books shelf in their waiting room (for families waiting for court dates, etc.). All that was there the last time I was "visiting" was a bunch of crappy romance novels and westerns.
5
Oh jeez, don't give me a copy. I'll just turn to the very back, read “O God — please give him back! I shall keep asking You.” and burst into tears.
4
Ballard High School (any high school, for that matter) or you could give them to the Books to Prisoners program (http://www.bookstoprisoners.net/).
3
I think Goodwill has a literacy program. Do you think that'd be a good book to give to new readers there? I imagine a lot of them are recent immigrants, so maybe it'd be a good or poor introduction to our literary culture...?
Another option would be to find a community gathering place in an area where people aren't highly educated. The Census website could help you find such a place. May I suggest Moses Lake for starters?
Finally, there's always prison, of course.
Another option would be to find a community gathering place in an area where people aren't highly educated. The Census website could help you find such a place. May I suggest Moses Lake for starters?
Finally, there's always prison, of course.
1
When I was homeless books were all I had and I loved them. I don't consider myself well read but it gave me a love of some books I still read for comfort and entertainment. Try a shelter.
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