Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Free Books, Free Books, Come And Get It

On my way to a meeting this afternoon, I saw tables after tables of free books lined up in front of the library. Apparently, the library was giving away some of its old books to make room for new ones. There were also a lot of old magazines and journals stalked up on top of more tables on the side. I did not have a change to peruse through the stalks but I did stop to take a few photos.

Have you read any interesting books lately? Do you have any recommendations? The last books I read were Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris and I Feel Bad For My Neck by Nora Ephron.

23 comments:

Kate said...

Free books!! What a find! Two good books I've read lately are memoirs, and I wonder how some people survive their childhood. _The Glass Castle_ which I had a hard time finishing because of my aversion to the parents, and _The Tender Bar_--well-written.

Carol E. said...

I recently was lucky to get an advance copy of a book to come out in Aug: _The Rest of Her Life_ by Laura Moriarty. Very good, thoughtful story. Look for it in August at your favorite independent bookstore!

Carla Denton said...

I just finished "the omnivore's dilemma" which was EXCELLENT, and Robin Hood Marketing which was also very good (a how to book), both non fiction, I think I'm ready for a good story now!

Cheltenhamdailyphoto said...

Free wow! My partner said to me the other day why do you need more books, you have so many already. ?????

Olivier said...

voila un endroit, où je pourrais rester des heures et des heures ;o)
Nora Ephron c'est pas une realisatrice de film ?


veiled a place, where I could remain hours and hours ;O) Isn't Nora Ephron it a film director?

Anonymous said...

Great idea. I would have stopped for that. They sell them here once or twice a year. I believe $1.00 each.

Abraham Lincoln

isa said...

When we were moving abroad, we had to sell/donate our belongings. The toughest 2 to leave behind were my green plants and our book collection (almost 1000 strong!).
Judging by the books you mentioned, I recommend "Casual" by Oksana Robski, about the nouveaux riches of Moscow.

stilettoheights said...

FREE BOOKS!!!!

oh, how amazing....the last book that I read that I was in love with was "The Other Boleyn Girl", before that it was "Thing Of Beauty" the bio of Gia

Shammickite said...

OH... FREE BOOKS, what a great idea. I'd have stopped for sure. Our local library has a giant book sale once a year, books from the library and also donations from individuals. Always fun to browse through.

Anonymous said...

Wow!! So many books, I love learn.
Good idear
candy

GMG said...

Free books is a great idea! I wish I had space to get all the books I would love to have, though I probably have already some books I'll never get time to read... I use to read several at the same time. For the time being Marco Polo, Popper, Montalban, Roth, Pavese...

Z said...

I'm sure I would come home with one or two.

In response to a comment you made at Villigen, about the streets being so empty, keep in mind that the snapshots are about 1/100s or shorter. It ain't NYC, but there is activity and I have to wait a couple of seconds sometimes, to get a clear view. And if you look closely at the street in the bank and restaurant posts, you'll see vehicles there. :-)

alice said...

I buy much more books than clothes...so free ones! I often read American novels and my dream would be to read them in English...In another life maybe.

edwin s said...

oh take me there now!

I'm reading a fascinating one now. Bought it months ago and finally sat down with it. The Emperor of Scent by Chandler Burr.

it usually takes me a day or two to comsume a book but I'm taking this one slow. I want to get to the end but I don't want it to end, know what I mean? Great stuff!

Right before this one, I read Queen Camilla by Sue Townsend. satirical and witty...and sooo gila funny!

Bob Crowe said...

Ming - the last book I read was "In Persuasion Nation" by George Saunders, a volume of hilarious and biting satiric short stories. They are mostly on the theme of our ultra-materialistic, marketing-driven society. Brilliant stuff. I recommend his novels, too. "Civil War Land In Bad Decline" is a total hoot.

Bob

St. Louis Missouri Daily Photo Blog

Dsole said...

oh nice photo, Ming!
The last book I read was one written by J. Safran Foer called Extremely loud and incredibly close which is placed in New York and it's very emotive. I liked it a lot.
Now I'm reading Gabriel García Márquez "cien años de soledad" (one hundred years of solitude). So nice ;)

thwany said...

wow! i wouldve just walked away with a whole cart.

Anonymous said...

Free books! Yay! I love to read a good book!

Recommendation: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. It is the beginning of a series.

Paz

Bel said...

I LOVE books, but never seem to have enough time to read as much as I'd like....darn TV!!

The last book I read was whilst I was on holiday in Langkawi, Malaysia. It was Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy....my all-time favourite author. I always get so attached to her characters.

Oh for the love of food! said...

Unfortunately, most library discards are out dated material. I'm currently reading 'How to kill your husband (and other handy household hints)'by Kathy Lette. I came across it the other day just as I was fuming mad with my own Ming. All is well now but I'm really glad I got the book, it's hilarious! Before this, I was reading Patrick Suskind's 'Perfume'.

Deb said...

WOW! I could have spent some time immersed in those stacks!
Just finished "Dancing at the Rascal Fair" by Ivan Doig-it's fiction, but very very well written.

Unknown said...

that photo kind of reminds me of lecturers leaving out old books for students to take them.

TCho said...

I've been reading a lot of foodie books lately. Stuff by Anthony Bourdain and Jeffrey Rosengarten.

For fiction, I'm reading Henderson, the Rain King by Saul Bellow. it's pretty good.