So, I was poking around very briefly on the Bookcrossing forum and found this link where you can receive a free Penguin classic of their random choice so long as you agree to review it for their blog within six weeks of receiving it. Now I didn't read the terms and conditions (at length) so I'm hoping I'm actually even eligible to play because I went ahead and registered with only momentary trepidation. Much to my relief, the e-mail I recieved after registering informed me I didn't get a gigantic tome of epic proportions (phew!) or a volume of poetry that would likely prove totally impenetrable to me (phew!) or Shakespeare (okay, I'm sorry, Shakespeare still scares me a little) or something I already own but haven't got around yet (yay!) or, well, anything too daunting to read and review in six weeks. I'm to get A Tranquil Star by Primo Levi, a book I'm actually interested in reading. But jeez, my love for and inability to say no to free books could have got me into a scrape there. A lucky near miss, really, considering that there does appear to be many gigantic tomes and volumes of poetry and wow - looking at it now I can't quite believe what a chance I was taking - I'm so excited that I actually got a book that really appeals to me.
Er...anybody else trying their luck?
I'd seen links to this before, but your post about essentially playing book roulette was too difficult to resist...so I went over, and I got a Trollope. Yay! I love Trollope! It's part of the Barchester Tower series, which I just finished reading the first book for. This is the fourth (Framley Parsonage), but I'm ok w/ reading a series like this out of order. :D
ReplyDeleteForgot to add, the Levi sounds interesting (he's an author I shy away from, because of the Holocaust thing), so I can't wait to see your review!
ReplyDeleteI felt exactly the same way - balancing the joy of a free book with the chance of getting a huge 'classic' with all the bad things I associate with that. I was so excited to get a PG Wodehouse short story!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you on getting a short book by an author you like.
Darn it, I checked as soon as I saw your post but they have no more left.
ReplyDeleteI once had a reading plan where I was going to read all the Penguin Classics in alphabetical order. (Yeah, right!) I read three, and then got stuck on a totally intimidating thousand-page Spanish novel. It's been staring at me reproachfully from the bottom of my TBR stack for about a year. So I'm thinking I probably don't deserve a free Penguin Classic anyway.
I was playing with the idea of signing up, came close twice yesterday even (filling out the form and all), but changed my mind. I was worried I'd get something I wouldn't want to read. I was almost tempted again after reading your post here, but am kind of relieved to see they don't have any more books available. That makes it easy for me to say no. Haha
ReplyDeleteEva, glad the book roulette wheel looked on you with favor! Looking forward to reading your review as well. This year has been the year of the Holocaust for my TBR pile, so why not throw on some Levi while I'm at it, right? ;-)
ReplyDeleteraidergirl, I'm kind of a nitwit and didn't bother to even so much as look at the list before I signed on or else I might have been too afraid to even try. I just see "free book" and yell "pick me! choose me! send meeee free reading material!" That's how bad the free book thing has got me! Glad it turned out well for the both of us and the crazed book greed didn't bite us in the butt...yet. =P
Julie, that's such a bummer that you missed it (but at least you didn't get some other ginormous and impenetrable tome or, if the forces of irony had their way, another copy of the intimidating Spanish novel)! I guess I must have slipped in just under the wire. What an undertaking to read all those classics - some of them definitely look like some pretty difficult reading even if they have contributed meaningfully to literature/culture/history/etc. Maybe you should try them in not alphabetical order - alpha order just seems like *really* too much to ask!
LF, *giggles* the only way I can say no to free books is if there aren't any...that's always most helpful to battling the forces of temptation. ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou are a brave girl indeed! Glad it paid off for you! I just don't have the guts to try :(
ReplyDeleteThey were out when I tried to get one. Darn. Free books are VERY hard to resist, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried it, but I will now!
ReplyDeleteI love the name of your blog, by the way.
TAG! I just tagged you for the Six Random Things About Myself meme (although I still don't know what that word means). I hope you haven't done it already.