|
|
| Home | Search for Books | Member's Account | Testimonials | Contact Us |
Dear Members,
Summer is coming at us fast - it's officially here on June 21st! Summer camps and summer vacations are in full swing. We're guessing that most of you probably didn't need to be encouraged to read, but we also know that today's world is filled with many distractions. So many things compete for attention now - just the ever-present screens of various sizes will sometimes overwhelm that urge to read a book. That's why we're suggesting something for Summer 2015: Read a book with someone! With a child, with a friend, with a parent or a spouse.
Now, we're not suggesting a book club, or anything like summer school. You can get two copies of the book, read separately and discuss it, or you don't even have to discuss the book at all. There are many ways to enjoy a book! You may decide to read out loud to each other, alternating chapters. You can get the book on audio and listen to it in the car. You may decide to do an activity inspired by a book, or to interpret a scene or theme from the book in a painting or drawing. Even a brief conversation about a plot twist or a character is sharing something important.
Before you scoff at reading the same book as a child -- have you read children's books lately? There are whole new categories of Young Adult fiction, some for tweens and some for teens and some for near-adults - and some of those books will knock your socks off. Not to mention the classics - they're classics for a reason! Some of those books that you read long ago could definitely bear revisiting.
We hope those who haven't done this already do try it - read a book with someone this summer. Do it your way! Go at your own pace, or set a goal date to finish. Schedule a day each week to discuss the book, or chat about it briefly each day, or let it inspire other activities - whatever works for you. And let us know how it goes!
Stay cool,
Richard and
The PaperBackSwap Team
Amazon Showcase Book
By popular demand, we're showcasing a "hot" Wishlisted book that is not currently available in our Market, but which is available right now in NEW condition at a substantial savings off retail. Use any of the Showcase links below to go to Amazon, and your purchase (of anything) there will help support PaperBackSwap!
|
|
Finders Keepers by Stephen King |
Used Books Currently Available for Swapping
Order these books for credits; repost them when you're done reading and get the credit back!
|
|
Hatchet by On his way to visit his recently divorced father in the Canadian mountains, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is the only survivor when the single-engine plane crashes. His body battered, his clothes in shreds, Brian must now stay alive in the boundless Canadian wilderness ...read more |
|
|
|
The Island by A slice of paradise in the turquoise waters of southern Florida, the island is a lush, breathtaking sanctuary. Few can resist its allure, or its primitive beauty -- but fewer still know its secrets...read more |
|
|
|
The Year of Fog by Life changes in an instant. On a foggy beach. In the seconds when Abby Mason -- photographer, fiancee soon-to-be-stepmother -- looks into her camera and commits her greatest error. ...read more |
|
|
|
The American Heiress by Be careful what you wish for! Traveling abroad with her mother at the turn of the twentieth century to seek a titled husband, beautiful Cora Cash suddenly finds herself Duchess of Wareham. Nothing is quite as it seems, however... read more |
|
|
|
The Best of Friends: Martha and Me by Unabridged Audio CD. Set in a world of luxury and power, this is the tell-all story of two remarkable women and a friendship that changed both their lives forever. For more than two decades, Mariana Pasternak and Martha Stewart were nearly inseparable....read more. |
|
 |
Sugarbabe: The Controversial Real Story of a Woman in Search of a Sugar Daddy by Holly Hill (pseudonym) gave up her job at the behest of her wealthy boyfriend--and then found herself dumped and penniless. After spending six weeks in bed pining for her lost love, she was encouraged by a friend to place an ad... read more |
Market Spotlight Books
In the PBS Market, available new at bargain prices!
|
|
The Maid's Version: A Novel by
The American master's first novel since Winter's Bone tells of a deadly dance hall fire and its impact over several generations. Alma DeGeer Dunahew, the mother of three young boys, works as the maid for a prominent citizen and his family in...read more Retail Price: |
|
|
It's Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet by Retail Price:
New in the PBS Market (Paperback): $3.39+1 credit (save 81%) or $7.29 (save 59%) |
||
 |
Mortality by Retail Price: |
|
|
|
King's Mountain by Retail Price:
New in the PBS Market (Hardcover): $3.39+1 credit (save 86%) or $7.29 (save 71%) Browse Historical Fiction currently available in the Market |
|
 |
Hanns and Rudolf: The True Story of the German Jew Who Tracked Down and Caught the Kommandant of Auschwitz by Retail Price:
New in the PBS Market (Hardcover): $3.39+1 credit (save 86%) or $7.29 (save 71%) Browse Military History books currently available in the Market |
|
 |
Burial Rites: A Novel by Retail Price: |
|
|
|
The Son by Retail Price: |
NEWS
You can help the club while you shop! Start your Amazon shopping by clicking the Amazon link at the top of our site (or any of the "buy from Amazon" links on book listings) and we'll get credit for any purchase you make (including non-book purchases). It doesn't cost anything to support the club this way, and we really appreciate it!
School Book Sales.com is helping educators to obtain classroom books at the lowest possible cost. Because of our relationship with vendors (established by new-book purchases for the PaperBackSwap Market) we are able to take advantage of bulk discount book purchases. Membership is free, and checkout options include school purchase orders as well as debit/credit and PayPal. Spread the word to any teachers/homeschoolers you know!
Thanks to authors... We love to share good books with our membership! Are you an author and do you have a book you'd like us to review for our blog? To submit your book for consideration, we'll need a copy or two of the book mailed to the PBS offices. For more details, please contact us and we'll give you the skinny!
PBS Local Chapter News
We'd love to share your Chapter news - if you have some, please submit it to us!
Upcoming Local Chapter Meetups:
The Triangle/NC Chapter is working on a meetup/book exchange - they're deciding on a venue. Check out the forum topic , to get involved with this lively group!
The DVM Chapter (DC, Virginia, MD) is always planning meetups and playing Games! If you want to get in on the action, see the forum topic or contact Laura (caddieseamus) or Susan P (sneyers11).The North Texas Chapter will be meeting Sunday, July 12 to discuss Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by . Check out the group's facebook page! Their meeting schedule is in the Chapter topic; contact Shellie (aylamonster) for more information.
The Laveen Arizona Chapter is next meeting on Saturday, June 27th to discuss The Given Day by . For more details, please see the Chapter topic -also check out their facebook page! Contact lisaparks for location and more information.
The Charlotte, NC Metro Area Chapter has been meeting for six and a half years! They meet monthly, usually the first Monday of every month. See the list of books they've chosen for 2015. No need to have read the book to participate! Contact Kimberly (KimberlyN) for details, and to get on their e-vite list.
If you want to be a Local Chapter Leader for PBS, you just need to have a PBS Nickname, a viewable public profile, and enthusiasm! Check the Local Chapter Leaders Forum List of Official Chapters to see if your area already has a local Chapter. If not, and you want to do this, just contact us. There are no formal guidelines for being a Chapter Leader. All of the information is in the Local Chapter Leader Discussion Forum topic. If you are an official Chapter Leader and want us to include your upcoming meetup in the Newsletter, send in a message to us with the date, at least a week before the end of the preceding month.
MEMBER OF THE MONTH
Michelle H. (mishnpow)
Wow, it's been almost 10 years since Michelle joined PaperBackSwap - her Swap-aversary is coming in August! Since she joined, she has sent and received hundreds of books and has referred several other great swappers! She also became a Tour Guide after two years of membership, and quickly after that became a Tour Guide Leader. The membership has really benefited from her help, and nominations for Michelle include one from a fellow Tour Guide!
"Mishnpow is one of the hardest working, most patient and long term Tour Guides we have. She is kind and generous with her time helping her own new members and on Live Help. She is always willing to lend a hand or an ear. She is a great candidate for MoM!"
"I want to tell you how much I appreciate my tour guide Michelle (mishnpow). She is always very helpful & very prompt with her responses to my questions."
"Every time I get confused, Michelle helps me figure things out. She's very patient and explains things clearly."
Michelle, you are one powerful force of good in the club. You are Member of the Month for June. Congratulations!
DEAR LIBRARIAN
Dear Librarian - Summertime here is H-O-T and our mail sits in the mailbox in direct sun for most of the day before the mail gets taken in. We've received some books lately that had an inner layer of plastic (like saran wrap) around the book, and the plastic had melted right onto the book! Plastic inside a package for waterproofing in wet seasons is so smart, and we really appreciate members who wrap like that when it's needed, but in summer Saran Wrap is killing my books! How can I stop this from happening! -- Frustrated in Phoenix
Dear Fifi,
We're so sorry you've had this trouble! Yes, Saran Wrap tight around a book can spell disaster if that package spends a lot of time in the heat, especially in a metal mailbox. Since the club is so large geographically, the member who mails to you might be having very different weather, and it might not occur to her when wrapping that the book might suffer from waterproofing in tight plastic. To help remind members, you can use Requestor Conditions during the summer. You could send a quick Personal Message to each mailer right after requesting the book, but then you run the risk that (1) he or she might not read the message before wrapping and mailing and/or (2) the first sender might decline your request and the second sender would not have gotten your message. Requestor Conditions would ensure that every sender will see your message about tight Saran Wrap around a book.
Dear Librarian - Hey! It's POURING over here! I need waterproofing in my incoming packages, even during summer! Don't tell people not to use an inner layer of plastic for MY books! - Drowning in Derry
Dear Didi,
Don't worry! You can also use Requestor Conditions to ask that books sent to you be wrapped to withstand wet weather.
Dear Librarian - Are you kidding me? I'm not a meterologist! I want to be able to wrap my books without checking the weather all over the US, thank you very much! Also, I might be mailing to a hot place but it's raining here so I need to keep my outgoing mail dry. What then? - Annoyed in Ann Arbor
Dear Arby,
We understand! You're not expected to check the weather all over the US before wrapping to mail. If you just want a wrapping technique that will work for everyone, you can use one of two common wrapping techniques that members have had a lot of success with: (1) use a LOOSE inner layer of plastic (like a grocery bag) that is not wrapped directly around the book (you could separate it from the book by a sheet of printer paper or tissue paper - you can even use page 2 of the wrapper if you are mailing in an envelope), or (2) use shipping tape to cover the whole package outside. This provides excellent waterproofing and protects the address information from smearing, but it has the drawback of using extra tape (which can be expensive, depending on where you buy your tape), and also the recipient can have a little trouble opening the package if it's too tight around the book. If you choose to use this method, make sure that there's a bit of slack to the packaging, so that the receiver can slip a knife or scissors blade into it without harming the book. Also, remember that you must NOT tape over postage stamps - but taping over Printable Postage (with transparent tape) is fine!
So, members who are experiencing prolonged extreme weather might avert some book disasters with Requestor Conditions, but weather isn't always predictable! We encourage members to settle on a wrapping style that is convenient for them while keeping in mind that the package may encounter pop-up storms and/or intense heat on its journey. Even well-wrapped packages can sometimes come to harm, but we've all had the experience of receiving a book that was 'Saved by the wrapping'!
H/T to member blacksmith who suggested this topic (and his solution) to us, several years ago!
The Last Word:
- Are you REALLY not reading the Blog? You don't want to miss out on Free Book Friday book giveaways, author interviews, awesome book reviews and giveaways, and so much more!
- As always, don't forget to start your Amazon shopping from the link at the top of the PBS site - when you do this, a small percentage of your purchase amount comes to us. So whenever (and whatever) you plan to purchase on Amazon, start from the Amazon link at the top of the PBS site. It's an easy, free way to support the club!