September 8th is International Literacy Day and lately I’ve been in a reading kind of mood. Between E-readers and online bookstores, we have access to anything we could ever want just by pressing a few buttons. But sometimes that can take the fun out of exploring the literary world – stumbling across a rare book in a used bookstore, or having one literally fall on your head at the library creates a memory and a connection to the story you’re about to embark on.
Another way to expand your reading horizons is to find out what your closest friends are reading. You’ll undoubtedly have different tastes, and reading a friend’s favorite genre will give you further insight into their lives. If you’re anything like me, you’ll enjoy sharing your thoughts on the book with someone who understands you. Why not organize a book swap with your friends? Each person can bring 3-4 of their favorites (recent reads or all-time classics) and then pick 1 or 2 to borrow. You can also have a swap-back later as a way to return books or start another round of sharing. It’s a great excuse to gather your pals for a casual, non-commital book club.
Be sure to keep a list of who’s borrowed what or, better yet, use one of these custom book plates from Etsy to clearly mark whose is whose.
I love this quirky stamp from TaraHogan. It would be perfect to bring to your book swap since you write your own name so everyone can use it.
If you like the traditional look of bookplates, you’ll love this custom stamp from Asspocket Productions
I like the ease of use with these bookplate stickers from MadeInTheHeartofUSA
Happy Reading.