Sunday, March 16, 2014

The Book Phantom


I need to update you on the Book Phantom.  If  you don't know who he is you can go here.

When I went camping a couple of weeks ago I released a couple of books up at Lake St Claire campground. I put them in the laundry room but I have not heard from anyone yet.

I thought I would share the books I release and where I put them.  In the next week or so I hope to release these three books.



A Short Walk from Harrods came from mate Brian.  He is an old guy in South Hobart who kindly gives me Penguin books from Op and Tip shop visits.  He is retired and he is fighting cancer and this gives him something to do. He has taken it upon himself to do this.  The problem is, although it is very kind he brings me anything published by Penguin. As he visits me about once every 6 weeks this adds up.  In return I try and find him Zane Grey books which he loves and also American DVD's on eBay of old movies he has written down. Mainly Humphrey Bogart and Boxing stories.

So both of us have our job cut out for us.  A Short Walk from Harrods by Dirk Bogarde is one of Brian's books.  I didn't read it because I don't have a lot of time and it isn't my priority at the time.  But it looks interesting and someone in a small country town may want it. So I will put it somewhere on my next bike ride to the country. Remember I have put my email address at the front of the book, a special one for this project,  www.BookPhantom at yahoo.com.au.  I'm hoping that people who find the books will write to me. 

The book 5 Minutes A Day is a book I bought a few years ago when I had a case of clinical depression.  It was in response to my father's death and I just didn't cope very well. I missed him terribly.  But depression is treatable and after about 6 months to a year it sorted out and I'm happy again.  So far so good and it's been maybe 3 years?  But this was a fun little book of things to do when you aren't well.  Little snippets of wisdom about eating well, doing fun little exercises, walking, getting rid of negative people in  your life.  I looked through it but I have outgrown it now so it's going to the country. There are a lot of depressed people in the country on farms and such. Somebody may just benefit from it.

The last book being released into the wild is Ruth Ozeki's A Tale for the Time Being.  It is a modern novel and why should people who find books only get the old ones we don't want anymore. This is an interesting story whether you love it or hate it. We did it for our March book group discussion at Fuller's and the conversation around it became quite fascinating.  So it's going too.  I'll be back later with where they ended up.

Here's the map to Lake St Clair campground where I released the previous two Penguin books. 


I camped at Lake St Clair for two nights with the motorbike and left the books there.

I'll let you know if I hear from anyone at my BookPhantom email.  Until then......happy reading.

I thought I would share with you how beautiful this spot is. 

6 comments:

  1. It's such a nice idea - I do hope someone makes contact: and perhaps it will encourage them to leave something for the next person too.
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  2. I hope you do hear back! It's a great project, but it would be fun to know people are finding & reading the books.
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  3. I've have wanted to leave books in the airport but I saw a cleaning person dump one in the trash (not mine) one time, so I decided not to leave them there. J W
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  4. Vicki and Lisa: I hope they make contact too. It would be fun. Will be sure to let you know if they do.

    JW- If I saw that I'd have to dive into the waste basket and retrieve it and save it. That's ridiculous. Someone may have wanted it.
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  5. I love the Book Phantom plan. It's like Johnny Appleseed, planting seeds of reading all over. I hope some of the people who pick up the books will contact you. This should be interesting.
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  6. I have not heard of Johnny Appleseed since I grew up in Michigan years ago (that apple state). Thanks for the good memory. It made me laugh.
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Meet the Mysterious Book Phantom

Wednesday, 5 February 2014

Meet the Mysterious Book Phantom

I have had a great idea. I have a very (stress very) large library.  I also come across excellent books for not much money all the time that I wondered what to do with. Usually in the Tip Shop on the way to Landfill.

Meet the Book Phantom.  The Book Phantom happens to ride a motorbike all of the time. Travellin' Penguin and I also ride to lots of Tasmanian country towns. Tasm
ania is the poorest state in Australia. We don't have the resources for lots of things and Literacy Programs are no different.  There are wonderful books in my library and there are wonderful children's books in the Tip and Op shops.

How could I combine these books with my motorbike riding? I already use it to search for my wonderful vintage Penguins.

My big scooter has a large storage space under the scooter. I thought I would pack it with one or two books at a time every time I go out on it for a ride. I am in small country towns all the time. Often it is only a cross road with a shop.

I made up a note to stick on the back inside cover of every book. It reads:

Congratulations- You have met the mysterious Book Phantom

This is a free book to keep, cherish and read. Please
accept this book in the spirit it was donated.

I have a large library and as I am in the second half 
of my life my library must go.

Read this book. Keep it if you love it or pass it on.

Find a quiet place and enjoy it. Turn off your phone.
Turn off your computer and the television.
Then the next time you go out
 take it with you and leave it in a public place.

I am leaving my books to the small towns of Tasmania.
Big cities have libraries. Small country towns do not.

Bus shelters, bakeries, public toilets- anywhere there are people.

If you wish to let me know you found it, if you enjoyed it,
your thoughts about it, anything at all you may write me at:

bookphantom@yahoo.com.au

and I promise I will write back.  

Isn't this fun?


This is the logo I will incorporate into the sticker. I plan to keep this project absolutely anonymous and I look forward to seeing if anyone writes me back.  There will be regular updates I will share. I hope people write to me. I'll let you know if they do.

 I am really excited about this project.  I will only distribute books that are in a good condition.   The program starts with my next motorbike ride. Too bad I couldn't borrow the cape and mask for awhile.  I must be discrete when leaving these books. It will be so much fun.

If you wish to copy my idea feel free. I am not precious about it. I want people of all ages to enjoy these books as much as I do. Hope you like the logo.

Who was that masked woman?


11 comments:

  1. What a wonderful idea, Pam - all the best with it. I do think a cape would be a good idea.
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  2. What a lovely, generous idea, Pam - I love giving books away! How will you choose which ones to give away?
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  3. They'll be ones that we have read that we don't need anymore, books that people give me. A friend of ours always gives me Penguin books from op shops and stuff he hoards in his house but they aren't vintage and I get tons of duplicate with isbn numbers. I find them at the tip shop almost new and current. Books just seem to follow me.
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  4. What a wonderful idea! I hope you'll post occasional updates here :)
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  5. Yes I definitely will. It should be fun especially if the people who find the books write to me.
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  6. You're like a book fairy, sprinkling literacy and love wherever you go!
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  7. This is one of the best things I've ever heard of! Great, great idea. I just love it.
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  8. Bellezza and Nan- Thanks for the comments. I have distributed 2 books already up north in Tasmania on my recent camping trip. Should be a fun project.
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  9. Replies
    1. Thanks Emma for your comment. I hope it works.
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  10. Just catching up on my blog reading and just had to say what a fantastic idea! Look forward to update posts.
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