Books Apr 20, 2012 at 11:41 am

Who Should Get My Box of 20 Free Books?

Paul Constant
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Comments

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.
Vince on April 20, 2012 at 11:47 AM Report this
2
If it's a nice afternoon, head to a park. My favorite place to read is outside in the sunshine.
langstoned on April 20, 2012 at 11:47 AM Report this
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.
TVDinner on April 20, 2012 at 11:50 AM Report this
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/).
Baby Blue on April 20, 2012 at 11:52 AM Report this
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.
Luckier on April 20, 2012 at 11:58 AM Report this
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.
Baby Blue on April 20, 2012 at 12:02 PM Report this
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.
Theodore Gorath on April 20, 2012 at 12:05 PM Report this
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?
Paul Constant on April 20, 2012 at 12:13 PM Report this
9
Hospital rooms. Most boring, depressing place imaginable. What could be better than getting lost?
imcarey on April 20, 2012 at 12:20 PM Report this
10
How about the King County Juvenile Detention Center?
M. Wells on April 20, 2012 at 12:26 PM Report this
11
A Record Store.
Tovirus on April 20, 2012 at 12:37 PM Report this
12
Oops. I thought you were giving them away tomorrow. I'm obviously a non-reader.
Tovirus on April 20, 2012 at 12:39 PM Report this
13
Octavia Butler doesn't get enough respect anywhere.
dwightmoodyforgetsthings on April 20, 2012 at 1:08 PM Report this
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.
TMK on April 20, 2012 at 1:26 PM Report this
15
The USO used to be happy to take book donations for troops posted overseas.
Geni on April 20, 2012 at 1:55 PM Report this
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.
markball on April 20, 2012 at 3:14 PM Report this
17
Pass them out in front of Gameworks.
Resident Clinton on April 20, 2012 at 3:29 PM Report this
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!
on April 20, 2012 at 3:53 PM Report this
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)
Lilliable on April 20, 2012 at 4:03 PM Report this
20
you should make a project out of giving one to Jeff Bezos, in person.
mwhybark on April 20, 2012 at 4:42 PM Report this
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.
MarkDallas on April 21, 2012 at 2:29 AM Report this
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?)
woof on April 23, 2012 at 7:15 AM Report this

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