Crossing a Book Flashmob in Nottingham

This bookcrosser!

 

 

 

What do you get when you cross around one thousand books, 3 authors, 2 blankets, a hotel, some crazy hats and a video link with a room full of bookaholics? A bookcrossing unconvention of course!

What? You've never heard of a bookcrossing unconvention? Well, let me take you on a journey into the Nottingham of Ballycumber. (And if you have heard, why not read on anyway- you never know, you might discover something new).

Bagging up a storm

Waiting at the launch pad

 

I wondered whether all the struggling with traffic jams and boxes full of books would be worth it as I made my way through the secret door into the hotel. Two lift journies and a key collection later, I was in the foyer of the area that was to host my 2nd bookcrossing unconvention. I was greeted by a host of volunteers who were busy bagging up goodies ready for the launch that night. After handing the contributions that I had brought, I returned to my room to drop off my luggage and taking a quick reading break.

Back at the bar promptly at 6pm, I found myself amongst many friends both old and new to me. Some were taking an early dinner, others were greeting long-lost bookcrossers. After deciding that I was too excited to even think about food yet, I made my way into the main convention room where tables were already laid out for the evenings activities. It was great to have time to chat to people whose usernames were familiar, but whose faces were not.

It was great fun to explore our carefully constructed goodie bags, full of surprises and thoughtful presents. A handmade bookmark which included paper from an old book, earrings and a ballcumber badge were among the gifts. There was also a raffle ticket which could be used to indicate a desired prize from the raffle table.

The ever-popular raffle table. Can you spot my prize?

In order to make us mix even more the committee had the brilliant idea of mixing us up for a literary quiz in two halves. Despite not winning (or really coming anywhere close) it was great fun. And it really worked to get us chatting to some new people. Hello to my team-mates if you're reading this *waves*.

Searching for the bookcrossing 2011 mastermind

Eve Makis began the author talks

A sleep later and we were back for the author talks. Eve Makis let us have a fantastic sneak-preview of her latest work, as well as telling us about how began writing and sharing an extract from one of her books.

Stephen Booth rather scared some of us by suggesting that all of us are potential murderers. He also told a story about how he once mistaken for the Yorkshire Ripper. His talk was enthralling and, somehow, pursuaded me buy one of his books so that I could try reading the crime genre for myself (something I've never been tempted to do before).

Stephen Booth suggests that we are all potential murderers

Who let the raven in?

After lunch (I thoroughly recommend The Divine Coffee House btw) Catherine Cooper took us into her raven's world. A place that combines ancient history with talking animals, it seemed magical and yet down-to-earth at  the same time- the perfect children's story. Her talk was dynamic and made good use of the props that she had brought with her. I would have loved to talk to her but, unfortunatly, I got waylaid by the bookswap games that started almost immediately afterwards.

So, how does swapping books become a game?
Well, first you choose your book and wrap it up (or take something off the book buffet and cram it into a borrowed plastic bag if you prefer). Then, you sit in a circle alonsgide several other book-lovers armed with their own wrapped books. Going round the circle you take turns to steal or reveal a book.
Revealing happens the first time a book is desired when the book is unwrapped and the person who brought it explains why they brought it along, why they liked it, or simply reads the blurb. This book then goes to the person who asked for it.
Stealing means taking an unwrapped book from another player. Each book can only be stolen 3 times before it belongs to the person who has it in their hands.
Once you have been round the circle once, the game continues with only those players not holding an unwrapped book taking a turn. The games ends when all the book have been unwraped.
This is a great way to try out books that you wouldn't have considered otherwise!

Saturday evening brought several presentations, including a link-up to the bookcrossing boss over in the US. We went out for meals together, each of us signing up for one of several suggested venues. Our group sang happy birthday to Nu-Knees (using her bookcrossing name becoming a slight tongue-twister in the song). There was also the prize giving during which I somehow won loads of bookcrossing labels and other release goodies. I was really chuffed as this was by far the most popular prize on the table!

The all-you-can-read book buffet

As well as these goodies and those in the supply bag most of us went home with a whole lot of books from the book-buffet. This is where books that had been finished with were left for others to pick up and give a new home. Despite this there were still plenty left for our Sunday release walk!

After what seemed like an eternity of bagging up books (to stop them getting wet/spoilt), we were let loose into Nottingham town centre. The inhabitants must have wondered what had hit them when, at the sound of a whistle, a whole bunch of us put on hats and freeze-framed reading a book. The flash-mob's purpose was revealed to some as we laid our labelled books on the steps of the town hall.

Preparing books for their journey of discovery

We then proceeded to make our way across round the town whilst similtaneously doing a treasure hunt and dropping off bookcrossing books. It was a wonderful experience to see our route flooded with books and to have people stop us to explain what was going on. I hope that many of those who saw our offerings picked them up and are enjoying reading them as I speak.

I hope that next year will be just as great as this one- they have a hard act to follow though! Good luck to them and I hope to see you there!

The Bookcrossing bunch