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Topic: Another Benefit of PBS

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Princess65 avatar
Subject: Another Benefit of PBS
Date Posted: 5/8/2009 1:53 PM ET
Member Since: 7/31/2007
Posts: 2,697
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Have you ever gotten those books that you think sound so wonderful, the cover art makes it look appealing and then when you open the book you actually have to struggle to read the first few chapters...well, I've had a couple of those lately and it is so wonderful to not have to feel guilty about not reading them...I can just post them get my credit and find something that I actually enjoy reading....AHHH the benefits of PBS!!!

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 5/8/2009 2:01 PM ET
Member Since: 3/1/2009
Posts: 68
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I've done that recently!  Went to the used book store in my town and got a ton of books.  When I came home to read, I had to struggle to read them.  Got on PBS, saw that they were wishlisted and sent them out.  Every day I'm on this site, I love it more!

3pete avatar
Date Posted: 5/8/2009 5:25 PM ET
Member Since: 2/13/2009
Posts: 227
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This happened to me recently as well.   I was going to start a series that was recommended by name on one of the forums.   I placed it on my waitlist  and it came up after a few weeks.  My eyes went cross-eyed when I read it.   I didn't know what I expected.   I never read a review or the summary so, it was my own fault.   But, I posted it and within a day or so it was picked up and off to the next person.  No harm done.

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 5/8/2009 6:32 PM ET
Member Since: 4/18/2009
Posts: 166
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LOL it is quite beneficial especially since you know you haven't wasted money buying the book at a bookstore.  I was able to get rid of a few new books I hadn't been able to read due to boring stories and get books I will actually read.  It is quite nice!

gingerkitty avatar
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Date Posted: 5/8/2009 6:52 PM ET
Member Since: 4/25/2007
Posts: 12,600
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I love that aspect of the site!  If you don't care for a book, repost it and get another one.

Spuddie avatar
Friend of PBS-Gold medalPBS Blog Contributor medal
Date Posted: 5/8/2009 7:54 PM ET
Member Since: 8/10/2005
Posts: 4,607
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Yep, I do this periodically--I have what I call a "weed out weekend." My TBR is between 500-600 books, and even though I usually read about 200 books a year, that's enough to last me a LONG time, even if I never get another book. (Yeah, right.)

Some of these books were acquired years ago and I can't even remember why I got them! Often it's something that sounded interesting when discussed on a book group or ones of the PBS forums or something, so I ordered it....and now I'm looking at it going, "what was I thinking?" LOL

So periodically I'll pick a dozen or so books that have been here for eons and I'll settle down to read 2-3 chapters of each of them. The ones that are interesting and that I think I'd like to actually read, I'll put back on the TBR...the ones that sound boring, not my thing, annoying writing style, or whatever, I'll re-list here. I do check to be sure I can get the book at my library if I change my mind later, so I'm not really losing anything, and I gain a little bookshelf space. (Which is ALWAYS needed.)

Very occasionally, a book will totally captivate me and I'll end up reading the whole thing right then, and the rest of the books wait til the next weed out to get sampled. LOL

Cheryl

EmilyKat avatar
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Date Posted: 5/9/2009 2:18 AM ET
Member Since: 7/19/2008
Posts: 15,524
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I used to have a complusion to finish every book.  Now if I'm not into it after a few chapters, bye bye.  Just knowing that PBS is here removes both the drive and the guilt.  Somewhere out there is a home where each book will be loved.  And a way to send them off.

Generic Profile avatar
Standard Member medalPBS Blog Contributor medal
Date Posted: 5/9/2009 3:03 AM ET
Member Since: 1/12/2009
Posts: 263
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You are stronger than I am, Emily!  I still have that compulsion to finish a book, even if it is hard to get into!  Several times, it felt like a waste of time, but most of the time, I find that I'm really glad I stuck with it, because it gets better and better as you get deeper into it.  Some authors seem to take forever to get the scene set up or the characters introduced.   Then the plot starts to unroll and OMG!  A few times I've been stung though.     D.

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Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 5/9/2009 6:29 AM ET
Member Since: 12/21/2007
Posts: 1,642
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And there's a benefit the opposite way. I don't necessarily want books as keepers, but suppose I read a book, send it out and then decide I want to read it again. I can simply spend a credit and get another copy to keep as long as I want.

 

califamily avatar
Date Posted: 5/9/2009 7:00 PM ET
Member Since: 4/7/2009
Posts: 133
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It's been very liberating for me to finally get rid of some of my "guilt" books -- books I bought and therefore "ought" to read. There are those among them that I know I'm never actually going to want to read. I'm glad to be able to trade them for something else.  :)