Book exchange/sale

prcscct · Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:22 pm Post subject:

Long ago I saw this thing about "books on-line". I've never investigated it. I don't know if you have to pay to read them on-line or not?

I guess a downside is that you have to sit in front of a bright computer screen instead of in a cozy nook to read them. Or, print them out if they let you do that? Pete Cheers

_________________
"What America needs is a huge hypodermic needle of morality." Alice Cooper 21 Sept. 2007

STEVE G · Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:31 pm Post subject:

Pete, a whole load of sites let you download e-books off the net, commercially you pay about five dollars for a book but a huge amount of older out of copyright stuff is available for free. If you are into classics the whole lot is out there, this site has literally thousands:http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/
Reading off a computer is something you can get used to and while you could print them off, I think the cost in paper and toner cartridges would be prohibitive.

dtaai-maai · Ace Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 1005 Location: Thailand

buksida · Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 10:00 pm Post subject:

STEVE G · Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 10:23 pm Post subject:

I learnt the art of reading books off a computer screen whilst sat alone in a windowless office, in an underemployed position as a maintenance planner for an airline. After a few months I was bored with reading, as well as maintenance planning so I went back to fixing airplanes for a living.

caller · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 12:07 am Post subject:

Or how about a "book club" usergroup in the same way there is for the photo competition - or maybe it should go on the expat site?

It seems that HHAD or associates would/could be the obvious facilitator for such a service?

Thanks, just a pint would be nice! thumbs up

Oh, okay, I'll share it with Pete!! Twisted Evil

Self edit - Oops, posted this without realising there was a whole 2nd page - thought Pete's post at the bottom of P1 was the last.
_________________
I know nothing

Chas · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:51 am Post subject: book exchange

I would LOVE to see a book exchange but I need to have the actual book in my hand to tell if I have read it so listing online just won't work for me. I have a bag of books ready to go.

I also very rarely re-read a book. Seems no point in mysteries or even in novels since I usually remember the outcome and many of the details along the way.

westmoor04 · Amateur Joined: 22 Sep 2005 Posts: 28

Hi Seems to me this could be a brilliant business venture for someone. there is always someone on HHAD asking what kind of business is needed.
Has any one ever been to Barter Books in Alnwick northumberland. it is absolutly brilliant, there must be 20,000-30,000 books easy, set in an old railway station, there is always tea and coffe brewing and homemade chocolate cookies, sofas to sit and browse through books, a kiddies section, antique collectors section, as well as all the other kind of books you might want to read. At any giver time from opening to closing the place is full. People can buy or trade their old books back, for avid readers it's a god send, so much cheaper than buying new. This business started off in a small part of an old railway station and now has taken over the whole building and is known as one of the biggest second hand bookshops in the world.

hollygolightly1 · Member Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 68

I love the sound of that place - if only someone in Hua Hin would do something similar. Perhaps there's a bar owner out there with a spare shelf or two to stock some books though how you'd facilitate the swapping I don't know. I've got a few books I'd be happy to lend (no chick lit though - I hate it!)

yabz · Rookie Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Posts: 14 Location: Bo Fai

Reading a book online is tough and a better option maybe to download recording of books and listen to them on your mp3 player. This has the added advantage that you can 'read' the book while doing something useful.

I have a few books that I would like to exchange, some of which I bought from Dawn's shop. I've created a very simple and crude database of which I will post the URL if anyone is interested...

Chas · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:29 am Post subject: a book bar?

A place to go where there is a library of books to exchange, borrow or buy, comfortable chairs and coffee available would be a terrific addition to the Hua Hin scene. . .though I wonder if there would be much profit to the operator other than providing him/her with a constant supply of reading material. One interesting link ( either for the borrowing or for the lending) would be the big hotels where people on holiday often enjoy sitting in the sun with a good book. True, many are Scandinavian ( The Hilton poolside bookshelf has only two books in English ( out of three dozen) which I just returned.)
I am all set for the foreseeable future though. My spouse works at a hotel and just brought home a couple dozen books left behind by guests.

coniallen · Novice Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

I'm not in Hua Hin but I have a house there (occupied by a partner) and we both would be interested in getting books in English to read--not really interested in keeping them as some others are---a small suggestion. When I studied in France in the 70's the British consulate hosted a lending library--you got a card and checked books in and out--but really it was done as a service--and most people visiting left a book for lending from the library. Staffed by volunteers. Any ideas on a place like that--a consulate or something?

niggle · Professional Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 473

I visited the library today. OK very few english books - maybe 20 or so but better than nothing. 30 baht to join. I figure any books I have read I will donate to the library, if others did same it might prove a good local source and a service as well. What you all thnk ?

lomuamart · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 10:21 pm Post subject: