International Book Giving Day 2014

"She reads books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live."

- Annie Dillard

So apparently, February 14 was also International Book Giving Day. I am embarrassed to admit I didn't learn about this sooner even though I am online almost all day every day due to the nature of my work. I would have been more prepared. Anyway, as the name implies, the International Book Giving Day is celebrated by giving a (used or new) book to a friend or relative, or by leaving a book in a waiting room or lobby, or by donating a book. I was able to get a digital copy of Chris Mariano's book Cover (Story) Girl for free when she gave it away on Twitter, and that's when I decided I also want to do the same.

Today is also International Book Giving Day so I will #giveabook to the first three who replies to this tweet <3
— Krissy Cruz (@krissyfied) February 14, 2014

I got a lot of replies in no time. I wish I could give more away, but I also had to think of the additional expense of shipping the books to their new owners.

Over the weekend, I rummaged through my room I nicknamed Serenity in Chaos - but in truth is leaning more heavily in the Chaos side now more than Serenity ha ha - to find for books I will give away. To make it a little more fun, I decided to create a theme for the first time I participated in International Book Giving Day.

Can you guess what the theme is? Books and movies! So painfully obvious LOL. I gave away Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown, Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers, and Stepford Wives by Ira Levin to Rose, Andrea, and Camelle respectively.

I hope you've already received your books by now. They're a little old and pages are a bit yellowed, but I do assure you that they're in great condition. Thank you for adopting my books and I hope you enjoy reading them.

Can we also offer a prayer for Camelle's mom's soul? Thank you.

I also hope Rose and Camelle don't mind the label. All of my books within that specific period I bought the ones I gave to the two of them has this.

You see, it's never too early to prepare for my future library.

I'm glad I was able to participate in this year's International Book Giving Day. I love reading and there are few feelings I enjoy more than learning a friend enjoyed a book I have recommended. I'll never get tired of discovering great reads and forcing convincing my friends to check them out.

I'm also happy because looking for books to give away gave me a chance to clear some of my book towers and find most of the books I have been looking for for a while now, like the limited edition Sweeney Todd comic included in the DVD, my copy of Para Kay B. autographed by Mr. Ricky Lee himself, and my copy of Paper Cuts that I really would like to ask Miss Pam Pastor to sign.

I will join the International Book Giving Day again next year, and I will make sure I will be more prepared.

That moment when you finish a book, look around, and realize that everyone is just carrying on with their lives... as though you didn't just experience emotional trauma at the hands of a paperback.

But then, as my friend Aldrin said (and this is the line I will forever remember him with) when we were talking about fiction, "They give us the experience of a thousand lives. The trauma they bring is well worth it." Indeed, indeed.

I'm excited to start reading Veronica Roth's Divergent series tonight!