Saturday 11 April 2009

Now Open

If you would like to participate in the first ever "Super Duper British Book Exchange", please leave your primary email address as a comment.

Please also see the post below for general information.

You will be contacted via email in the next couple of days.

Friday 10 April 2009

Greetings

This is a blatant rip-off of the USA-based "The Super Duper Blogger Book Exchange". I hope the organiser of that group will forgive me. I have borrowed much of their original text for ease of use.

Welcome!
Responsible persons who enjoy reading and who are able to meet the deadlines are welcome to participate. The participants are divided into groups of 4-5 people. Each participant provides one book for the exchange, and the books are passed along so that each person reads one books per month. Participants write commentary in the books as they read, so when the round ends, each person gets his/her original book returned with personalised thoughts from the group.

How To Participate:
1: I will announce when a new round is about to begin. When that happens, leave me your email address.
2: I will then send an email around telling you what group you are going to be in. Please respond to that email with your postal address. That will be forwarded only to the person who will be sending you books. In turn you will receive the address of the person YOU are posting books on to.
3: You will be informed of the deadline for sending your book onto the next person.
4: Choose a book! You might want to buy new or just pick one from your own shelves. Library books are a no-no for obvious reasons!
5: Read your book, making notes in margins/blank pages, in one pen colour, for the next reader. Make sure you use a different pen colour to other people who may have already written in the book!
6: Pass your book along to the next person by the deadline.
7: Continue as outlined until you get your own book back (about 4-5 months).

To Consider Before You Sign Up:
1: You will have just short of one month to read each book (allow for mailing time).
2: You will be responsible for the postage and packing expenses each month.
3: SDBBE is a 4-5 month commitment.
4: You might have to read a book you absolutely hate.

Participant Guidelines:
1: It’s very important that you be willing and able to mail your books on time.
2: If you have a hard time keeping track of dates and deadlines, please don’t participate.
3: Due to mailing time and costs, participants are limited to the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Book Selection Ideas:
1: Paperback.
2: Preferably no more than 400 pages.

Commentary Ideas:
Likes/dislikes.
Personal thoughts about the literature.
Personal experiences related to the literature.
Predictions.
Discussion questions you would like other group members to answer.

Be sure to always include why you chose the book in the beginning and what you thought of it in the end.
Please keep in mind that you set the tone for your own book. If you leave very little commentary in your book, your group will likely do the same.