Play Book Tag discussion

Being semi out of commission right now, and bored to tears, I started going through some of the older threads here at PBT. Can someone tell me and explain what Book Swap was about? It looks like so much fun! (the posts were from 2016 if that helps jar someone's memory)

I won't be of help as to what it was here, but I did a book swap in another group and we would simply exchange books. It was so much fun!

I would love to start that up if anyone is interested because I have plenty of books I read and I do not intend to read them again so I can easily give them a new home.

We probably played an elephant book swap like we used to back in my Frugal Reader group.

Each player contributes a book to the swap, and agrees to ship it to the player who wins it. The books are randomly assigned a number so that no one knows which book is what number except for the moderator.

The players are randomly assigned a number to determine the order of play.

Player 1 starts by picking a number, and the book title is revealed by the moderator.

Player 2 then has the choice of picking another number and revealing another book, or stealing Player 1's book.

If Player 2 decides to choose another book to reveal, it's then Player 3's turn. If Player 2 decides to steal Player 1's book, then it's Player 1's turn again to open another book, and then we move to Player 3.

Player 3 has the same choice, open or steal.

Whenever a player steals, the person stolen from gets to play, and stealing can continue until another book is opened. Play ends when all the books are opened, and each person ships their book to the one who ends up with it.

However, a player cannot immediately steal back a book from someone who stole from them in the previous round. Also, there is a limit to the number of times a book can be stolen (in our games in FR it was 3x) before it's finally "frozen" with the last person to claim it. If a player opens their own book, the moderator gives them a chance to pick another one without revealing the title.

Rules may vary, but that's the essence of an elephant book swap. If you've ever played the Christmas White Elephant gift swap, it's the same thing except with books and we play online.

Yes! Annapi this was it! And it sounds like so much fun!

Meli I would be in, as I too have a lot of books that I just cannot keep due to space, but I am not ready to give them to my library yet. I always wait to see if someone I know personally may want it. I would not be able to monitor alone, but I could help-health issues have me pretty constrained right now.

I have the same problem with space on my shelves! I've given away 2 boxes already, and have 2 boxes for Goodwill right now.

I think interest in swaps has declined, maybe because so many use ebooks now. I know my space problem has lessened because in the last 5 years or more I've bought ebooks rather than dead tree ones. But we'll certainly give it some thought, maybe to celebrate another PBT milestone.

We've done the book swap before. I don't think I participated but loved watching people "steal" things on the conversation.

We have done a member-planned bookmark swap also, that was pretty popular since the shipping internationally was much less of a commitment.

I could see this being a little difficult for international shipments... hadn't thought of that.

I think we did it a few times on shelfari and once since we moved to goodreads. I enjoyed both watching and participating.

I'm not sure any of the mods are up for it right now as they may be a little bogged down by real life.

This book swap happened really soon after I got into PBT in 2016. I sent Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, to Diane P. And I got a big non-fiction book from Barbara, was it? No Ordinary Time. I still haven’t read it, but I actually really do hope to at some point because it looks really interesting. I remember that the book that was being fought over, and they were quite a few being fought over, but the main one that was fought over, was the Tsar of Love and Techno. Which I read later that year and it made my top ten. They were like three or four books just flying around that swap like crazy. It was super fun, and I would do it again.

Meli wrote: "I could see this being a little difficult for international shipments... hadn't thought of that."

This is going on memory and it's been a while since we've done one, but I think anyone who signed up to do it agreed to ship internationally if that's how it turned out.

I'm in Canada, so it would be rare that I wouldn't be shipping internationally, personally! But, it would mean someone would have to likely ship internationally to me.

I do remember that my book was one I hated but others loved - The Road. Consequently it was the most (or 2nd most) stolen, and I got a prize for that, and got to get rid of it - win-win!

This sounds wonderful! I would definitely be in it if done again.

The swaps were a lot of fun! Honestly, I thought perhaps interest would have severely dwindled because of e-books. But, I'd be totally up for running one in the fall if there is interest.

Please note your interest below, and if we have 12 or more people who want to do it, I'd be happy to run it!

p.s. Annapi described it perfectly - - thanks for typing all that out!

annapi wrote: "I do remember that my book was one I hated but others loved - The Road. Consequently it was the most (or 2nd most) stolen, and I got a prize for that, and got to get rid of it - win-win!"

LOL!!!

And, come fall, I can totally help mod it!

I would absolutely participate again. Would that make me number one? Or number two with Theresa? Or number three with Joanne who started the thread?

Amy wrote: "I would absolutely participate again. Would that make me number one? Or number two with Theresa? Or number three with Joanne who started the thread?"

#1!

I am in! International shipping is no big deal for me!

I would totally be in if you restart in the fall (already right around the corner!) and I an willing to ship international.

If admins are able to participate, I'd like to!

LibraryCin wrote: "If admins are able to participate, I'd like to!"

Definitely yes! I see enough interest that in the Fall I'll at least do a more prominent call for participants, and we will see if we can generate the 12 person minimum. I think we will be able to based on the enthusiasm . . .

It is so nice that people are willing to ship internationally. There are some slow, but not terribly expensive options . . .

I'm in and would be willing to ship internationally.

Anita wrote: "LibraryCin wrote: "If admins are able to participate, I'd like to!"

Definitely yes! I see enough interest that in the Fall I'll at least do a more prominent call for participants, and we will see ..."

I send a lot of books to friends and use Media Mail if it is U.S bound. Pretty reasonable

I am in and shipping international no problem!

Now aren't ya'll glad I was bored to tears that day and stalking old posts?😀

I'm in!

Joanne wrote: "Now aren't ya'll glad I was bored to tears that day and stalking old posts?😀"

That's so funny, and yes!

Joanne wrote: "Now aren't ya'll glad I was bored to tears that day and stalking old posts?😀"

For sure!

Since I’m almost always on my phone, I don’t know how it works when others are checking goodreads. I wonder if you would have a stronger response to the question of how many people would be interested, if it was a separate thread to the membership asking if people were interested in renewing this idea. And that way if you had enough, you could even be the thread you use to plan and execute it. It’s just a thought that I had. Not everyone checks all the threads regularly. Things appear on my phone without a whole lot of choice. Settings and things. I have a feeling you would get a different and stronger response to present the idea more formally.

Amy wrote: "Since I’m almost always on my phone, I don’t know how it works when others are checking goodreads. I wonder if you would have a stronger response to the question of how many people would be interes..."

We're not doing an official sign up yet, just an informal survey, but when we officially start the book swap (which will not be for a bit yet) then we will certainly have full threads dedicated to signing up and the swap as we do for all of our challenges and activities.

That is a good point and a good idea!

Another glitch, for me anyway, is some threads I can't even comment on via my phone, not sure why.

Meli wrote: "That is a good point and a good idea!

Another glitch, for me anyway, is some threads I can't even comment on via my phone, not sure why."

Do you have an Android? I do, and it is the APP-it is awful

I don't use the app on my phone or tablet because it is so terrible (Android but I hear Apple app is no different). I open the browser on my phone and go to the website so it is just like being on my computer. At this point, it's a favorite and pops right up as a choice when I open the browser, LOL.

Ditto on the horrible Android app. Seriously, if the thread isn't filed under a folder, it doesn't even appear. It's so bad.

I need to follow Theresa's example.

Joanne wrote: "Meli wrote: "That is a good point and a good idea!

Another glitch, for me anyway, is some threads I can't even comment on via my phone, not sure why."

Do you have an Android? I do, and it is the..."

Yep!

I never use it except to search for books, add or change status.

Theresa wrote: "I open the browser on my phone and go to the website so it is just like being on my computer. ..."

I am on my PC more than my tablet, anyway (hate typing on my tablet!), but when I do go to the site on my tablet (and this goes for almost any site that allows me to do so), I make sure I'm on the website, not the site's app.

I hate websites that force me to look at an app or that changes the way the site displays because I'm on my tablet. Ugh!

I just meant, now it has the same title as another thread - easy to miss....

The book swap was a lot of fun! I'd be up for participating in another in the fall.

Also in! This sounds fun. And international postage is fine (obviously, living where I do, lol)

KateNZ wrote: "Also in! This sounds fun. And international postage is fine (obviously, living where I do, lol)"

Glad you caught this Kate!

Is anyone still up for this? I think it was Anita that said she would facilitate?

Joanne wrote: "Is anyone still up for this? I think it was Anita that said she would facilitate?"

Yep, Anita has been on vacation, but I know this is on her radar. I am sure she will be chiming back in to coordinate when she has a few minutes to collect her thoughts and get organized!

Nicole R wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Is anyone still up for this? I think it was Anita that said she would facilitate?"

Yep, Anita has been on vacation, but I know this is on her radar. I am sure she will be chiming ba..."

Thanks Nicole! Yes I saw some Pics Anita posted of that glorious beach she was on...wasn't sure if she decided to just stay there!

I'm definitely interested in this...

I don’t know if I would have come back! Lol

Yes! I am back and plan on getting this organized very, very soon!

I remember when we did a book swap on Shelfari and then again on Goodreads after we moved over. It was a lot of fun! I'm glad to see a resurgence of interest in it. If we do one, I'm in.

Anita wrote: "Yes! I am back and plan on getting this organized very, very soon!"

Like Nicole, I would have stayed...lol