Queereaders discussion

Does anyone else like to trade books?

I used to trade my books at local used book shops for credit or donate them to the library.

For a few years, I've been trading books on PaperbackSwap and Bookmooch. PaperbackSwap is a U.S.-based site that allows you to receive one book for one credit. Bookmooch is international, and their credit system is the same as PaperbackSwap if you trade within your own country. If you trade internationally, you can receive more credits for your book since it will cost more to ship.

If you trade on either site and would like to add me as a friend, my name is Gashlycrumb.

I use Paperbackswap! I just started using it and actually just got my first book today. :D So far, I've gotta say, I love it!

Which book did you get? I just got The Year of Ice by Brian Malloy. And I recently added Sprout by Dale Peck to my wishlist, along with a bunch of horror and fantasy titles.

I just got First Test by Tamora Pierce. It was in perfect condition too. :D I've got a couple books I'd like to order as well.

I've been wanting to try one of hers, but she's written so many different series I wouldn't know where to start.

Start with either Alanna The First Adventure or Terrier. Terrier is the first book chronologically and Alanna is the first book she wrote. I love all her books!

I just started to use PaperbackSwap. My mother is a librarian, so I usually donate my books to her to sell at the annual book sale. Yet, I missed this year's sale and I hate to throw away books, so I kept them. Then I read Nancy's profile and found that site. I mailed off seven books last week, but I haven't gotten one book yet.

Keith, I noticed you have Tangle on your wish list. Great collection of stories! One of the authors, Mark Gunnells, is on PBS and had sent an autographed copy of the book to me.

I think you'll enjoy the site. I've been trading there since 2005 and had very few problems.

Do you participate in the forums at all? I used to when the site was new. Now, there are so many people there and the forum topics are not as interesting as they used to be. But I'm glad they added the LGBT forum.

I'm still exploring around with the site, but I can catch on pretty quickly. Yes, I do know about the tour guides, but exploring around is half the fun!

I did lurk around in the forums a bit. There are some games that people like to play where you swap books between members. I'm not sure how it works. Yet, I have been following one that's called "Queer Guy for the Straight Gal". Some women are posting excerpts from gay erotica/romance novels. I just like to read what they post! hee hee


I did post in the LGBT section of the forums. Yet, it is mostly quiet.

I'm ashamed to admit that I became a tour guide and then put my account "on vacation" because I got so tired of stupid questions. It amazes me how a group of readers can't be bothered to read the information in the Help guide. The site is pretty simple to use, even with all the new stuff added since I joined.

I found the site pretty easy to use. I pretty much ignored the message from my tour guide. =P You'd be amazed how easy websites are to use after about five minutes of stumbling around. But alas, some people are ungodly lazy. (And stupid)

That first message you get from your tour guide is sent automatically, so I'm sure no one's feelings are hurt if you don't respond. :D

I didn't respond to the tour guide message. I figured it was an automated message. I'm a big video game player and I never read the instructions on how to play. Exploring around and figuring out how to do it is half the fun!

I'm not one to judge people, but you would think someone on a site that swaps books likes to read. You'd think that would be the type of person that would go right to the help section and do some reading!

Nancy wrote: "Does anyone else like to trade books?"

Like some others here, I've been either taking them to the library as donations or giving them to friends. I'll have to check out the site!

I just signed up at PaperbackSwap under the name Blissengine. Whee!

Danielle, have you sent anything internationally yet? I believe you get 3 credits for books sent overseas. If you request one from another country, it will cost you 2 credits. I've noticed that shipping to Canada isn't terribly expensive and it's a nice way to get more credits.

Oh, that reminds me...Eric, I still have your copy of Ice that I need to read soon.

Nancy wrote: "Oh, that reminds me...Erik, I still have your copy of Ice that I need to read soon."

No worries! I know where it is. And I'm looking forward to seeing what you think.

I'm also on Paperbackswap. I have been on there a few years now too. I run under Vwbernie.
I think I signed up for Bookmooch but have never listed any books. I'm not sure why. Maybe I should do that just to get rid of more.
How is the trading there compared to PBS?

I found that some of my titles were requested a lot faster on Bookmooch than PBS, particularly if PBS had many duplicates listed.

As for trading, I've never had any problems there. Just a few canceled transactions.

PBS has a much better wishlist system and search feature. Bookmooch has a better credit system.

Wow Collette you have a lot of books posted that look interesting! I'm going to have request some once I get some credits. =P

Credits seem to be the thing we're always lacking. Oh, you can buy them on PBS too, by the way!

Yeah, but they're like $4 for a credit and I'm broke. =P My only source of income right now is writing for Associatedcontent.com =[

Ralph, have you ever tried doing surveys? MyPoints is a great way to collect points for gift certificates, including Amazon. All you have to do is answer surveys and look at websites. It doesn't cost anything.

Another good site is InboxDollars.

MyPoints looks pretty neat. I wouldn't mind having some amazon gift cards. They also have some for some places I eat at too :D

Hey Ralph!
Thanks for saying that. lol I always wonder about my book tastes. I'm always good for a 2 for 1 too on my books.
Also, if you ever want to buy credits, always check the book bazaar forums. I never pay over $2.70 per credit. Most people take Paypal and get them to you right away.

Nancy, thanks for the info on Bookmooch. Maybe I'll take the time to post some over there and see what happens. :)

Collette wrote: "Hey Ralph!
Thanks for saying that. lol I always wonder about my book tastes. I'm always good for a 2 for 1 too on my books.
Also, if you ever want to buy credits, always check the book bazaar foru..."

The cheapest I see them are $2.90 for credits if you buy 10 or more at a time. =\

Hi! I might have lied to you a bit as now that I think about it, I pay $2.75 a credit or $27.50 for 10.( it's been awhile) I always buy in blocks of 10 though. It's kind of like shopping at Costco. :)
I usually post a thread that I'm willing to buy 10 credits for $27.50 via Paypal. I haven't been turned down yet.
I will admit that for less than 10 credits you will probably pay more.
Sorry! I should have clarified. : /

I'll just have to save up then. =P

Also, are the John Grisham books you have listed good?

Ralph,

I'm a John Grisham fan so I'm going to say yes, they were all good. I just really enjoy his style and haven't read a bad book yet. Some people will say that some of his books tend to be similar but since they are usually centered around the law, I guess they would be right. I always know I'll be getting a good story.

Collette,
Would you be interested in a 2 for 1 for The King of Torts and The Last Juror?

Thanks for saying I referred you, Erik. I just got my free credit and .50 PBS money. Woo hoo!! :)

Erik just asked me to sign up, I'll do that later when things are more settled.

Oh, I should have said that you referred me to the site, Nancy, since essentially you did!

I go by pinkkeith over at PBS if anyone would like to buddy me. I'll try to swap with queereaders before looking through the lists of others. :)

It's not too late, Keith. You can still contact the site and let them know I referred you. Sorry I don't have much on my list for trade. Many of my LGBT books are on others' wishlists and get snapped up very quickly.

There is a way of bypassing the wish list system and posting books directly to buddies. I'll have to go figure out how to do that.

So fill up your wishlists (200 max.) so I'll know what everyone wants to read!

Keith, you asked an interesting question about LGBT literature. Let me think about it and I'll respond later on. Right now work is calling. :)

Nancy wrote: "It's not too late, Keith. You can still contact the site and let them know I referred you. Sorry I don't have much on my list for trade. Many of my LGBT books are on others' wishlists and get sn..."

How do I contact them to tell them you referred me?

Ralph, I sent you a message. :)

Ralph wrote: "How do I contact them to tell them you referred me?"

I think I figured it out looking through the help section. You have to contact PBS via the feedback and give them one of the following information:

* your referrer's PBS Nickname
* your referrer's PBS User Email (the email address at which he or she receives PBS mail)
* your referrer's full name AND city/state

Thanks, Keith!

Nancy: I sent them a message saying you referred me. Hopefully they'll send you a credit soon!

Thanks, Keith and Ralph!

As soon as you list 10 books I'll receive my credits. Keith, I have a few of the titles on your wishlist. I'll check with you first when I'm done reading.

Nancy wrote: "As soon as you list 10 books I'll receive my credits."

My bookshelf has 13 posted right now. I had 25 posted, but 12 of them were snagged up with hours after I posted them.

That's great! I don't think I've ever had that many books requested so quickly.

oiishi!!!

Rambling, I noticed this word in your profile. What does it mean? It sounds Japanese.

Hey guys! I found another site kind of like MyPoints where you can get giftcards to Amazon, Barnes and Noble or even cash sent to your paypal account! Check it out and use my referral link so I can get points: http://swagbucks.com/?cmd=sb-register...

Nancy wrote: "Rambling, I noticed this word in your profile. What does it mean? It sounds Japanese."

I wasn't going to speak for him, but I think it is a play on the Japanese word oishi which means tasty or delicious. When you elongate the vowels it usually makes the word more dramatic. Like, faaabulous!

Whoo hoo! Just got Confessions of a Shopaholic in transit to me now from PBS. I also bought some new books on Amazon over the weekend that are in transit: For the May Queen, Diving in Deep, Lola Dances, At Swim, Two Boys A Novel and The Lord of the Rings A Reader's Companion. Naked in the Rain was out of stock on Amazon, but I did order it from a different seller.

I loved the Shopaholic series! They are hilarious! Lola Dances was amazing too. Great choices, Keith!

Nancy:

Dear Ralph,

This is a quick note to tell you that you have been marked as a referral for Nancy F.

THIS IS AN AUTOMATED EMAIL. REPLIES TO THIS EMAIL ARE NOT READ. PLEASE USE THE CONTACT US LINK ON THE PAPERBACKSWAP SITE FOR ALL COMMUNICATION.

All the best and happy reading,

The PaperBackSwap Team

RALPH, KEITH!

I got your credits. Thank you! Mwah!

Ralph wrote: "Hey guys! I found another site kind of like MyPoints where you can get giftcards to Amazon, Barnes and Noble or even cash sent to your paypal account! Check it out and use my referral link so I can..."

Ralph, I just signed up. More excuses to spend time at the computer. :)