Community libraries

right then, so i have been meaning to do this for a while, and just seeing the bike books thread finally made me do it.

i have this idea that there are a lot of people on this forum that have similar interests and perhaps have got books that others might like to read. i never have the money to buy new books and yet every time i vist someones house they always have something interesting on their bookshelf.

so here is the plan. below is a list of books i own in three categories, bikes, music, travel/adventure. i dont live in london but am willing to post to people (if they are prepared to wait, and maybe if i get a book in return?). obviously this will run on trust, and if i lend something i expect it not to get lost or broke.

i'd love it of other people would jump on this and post lists too. maybe you guys already do this cos you meet regularly at drinks etc, but whatever, here we go...

Bikes/cycling - not a great list so far im afraid.

The wind in my wheels - Josie dew --- a collection of tours from the short lady. light hearted and easy.
Travels in a strange state - Josie dew --- as above but around the USA
Tour de life. - saul raisin --- from coma to competition..
Its not about the bike - lance armstrong --- the first of his books, "my journey back to life"
23 days in july - john wilcockson --- iniside L.A's record breaking victory in the tour
Cyclecraft - john franklin --- "the complete guide to safe and enjoyable cycling for adults and children" get a clue fool.

Music - hiphop

Fight the power - Chuck D --- Rap, race and reality, good stuff fromthe Public Enemy frontman.
**The vibe history of HIPHOP ** --- spans the genre fromthe beginnings to the late 90's when it was published (i think). breaks it down into sections, with features on important figures/artists in the bidness.
Have gun will travel - ronin ro --- the spectaculaer rise and violent fall of death row records.... "..... was still cleaning up the blood, then the next thing you know, the FBI and all that shit came..."

Travel/Adventure

Jupiters travels - Ted simon --- 4 years around the world on a triumph motorcycle in the 70's. amazing story.
Long way round - Ewan and Charlie --- actors on motorbikes. bloody good though.
Race to dakar - Charlie boorman --- good old charles breaking himself on a hardcore race.
the old patagonia express - paul theroux --- this guy has such a talent for writing. "one of the most entrancing travel books written in our time"...
Riding the iron rooster - paul theroux --- by train through china. another great one. so much detail i found i had to read it a while then something else then go back to it.
**flat feet and full steam **- christopher portway --- around the world in every way, foot, bike, camel, horse, train. husky sled, boat etc. i found i couldnt get into it but maybe someone else could.
Danzigers travels - Nick Danziger --- "grapic account of his hair raising adventures during an 18 monthjourny beyond forbidden frontiers in asia" in the 80's... a good read "danziger is the stuff legends are made of"
the cruellest journey - Kira Salak --- the remarkable journey of one womans solo journey down the niger river... 600 miles by canoe. nice.
Let my people go surfing - Yvon chouinard --- you know patagonia clothing? this is the man behind it... 3 books in one. autobiography (real good read), story of a unique business (also good) and a detailed blueprint for hope (im not setting up a business so less interesting for me).
Ultimate high - Goran Kropp --- extraordinary account of one mans 7000 mile cycle trek to everest, and his oxygen free ascent to the summit,then he fucking cycled 7000 miles home again... this guy is epic, truely. without sherpa support or oxygen, that might not mean anything to some people but basically it means he's hard core like you wouldnt believe. "just days after the legendary storm that claimed the lives of 8 climbers, he tried again..." unfuckwitable
Evasion --- "we dumpstered, squatted and shoplifted our lives back.everything fell into place when we decidedour lives were to be lived. life serves the risk taker..."
i love this book, one of my top 5 favorites. its beautiful, funny, moving, inspiring in its own way. a collection of writings from someone whos ambition was to be a bum... i learned the left hand technique right here from this book.

so there we are folks. i have read books in borders then returned them to shelves, borrowed from libraries and friends, so although these are ones i own right now i am sure i have read more. like i said i can post when i can afford it.

I'd love to borrow the Goran Kropp one. I've read about that adventure and it sounds unbelievable! Apparently he went back with his girlfriend on holiday and went litter picking.

I've only got two books in either of those categorises.

Put me Back on my Bike, Biography of Tom Simpson, still reading but I'm slow so any quick readers could nip in for a bit.

Touching the Void I'm sure you've all seen the film, the book is much better.

Touching the Void I'm sure you've all seen the film, the book is much better.

+1

Jupiters travels - Ted simon --- 4 years around the world on a triumph motorcycle in the 70's. amazing story.

I work with Ted's agent and there is a new book just out, "Dreaming of Jupiter" where he does most of the same route again. I have a copy I am willing to donate to a communal library, or to whoever asks me first.

me first please.
and yes to mrbrick. next weekend i'll ring it along and we'll sort it somehow.

Gone to the man at the back with the rapha scarf. Where do you frequent mr friends?

Great idea this, I'd love to borrow your copy of cyclecraft - one of those I've been meaning to read for ages.
I have shit loads of books, including a wealth of Murakami, Bukowski and loads of others - I will get workign on a list.

i have a copy of every single book hunter.s.thompson wrote (multiples of some) will happily spread the Gonzo love. (except my copy of Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas, that i found on the beach i Durban and got me into Gonzo.) i can't find the Rum Diaries anywhere though.

I could provide Rum Diary to complete the set.

I could provide Rum Diary to complete the set.

definately my favorite.

@tomasito, i live in bristol, nut i'll be stepping off a train at paddington at about 2pm next saturday (20th) so if you are about i could ride to meet you somewhere.

@clefty, cyclecraft can be on its way to you, i can post of you can wait till next weekend and try and sort it then. im hoping to hit tehe ride that night and the freewheel the next day dut saturday afternoon im flexible. let me know what you fancy..

BUMP, just to see if anyone missed it or if it really should sink.

i haven't read it all yet but it definitely shouldn't sink.

i have a lot of books, and don't mind sharing, but i want them all back. selection from the shelf:
Young Stalin- Simon Seabag Montefiore
Stalin Court of the Red Tsar- Simon seabag Montefiore
The Republic- Plato
Choke- Chuck Palahniuk
Naked Lunch- Burroughs
Killing Jhon Fry- Walter Mosley
Fathers and Children- Turgenev
Vernon God Little- DBC Pierre
Great Expectations- Dicknes.

I have lots of other books in boxes, along the lines of history, and philosophy.

don't mind sharing, but i want them all back.

yea me too. just in case i didnt make that clear. i do want them back in the end..

oh i also have a lot of vegan cook books.

one more time folks, im bumping this back again. i'll be in london fri and sat (10/11 april) if anyone wants anything.. im running errands but mostly i'll be central ways.

Great idea. Does anyone have a copy of Frederic Jameson's Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism? This is a long shot. Any copies I can find are really expensive, and although the British Library has copies, I'd like to spend quite a bit of time reading it slowly. So, yeah, if anyone does let me know :)

I have lots of books, but am very gestapo-like about getting them back. They are mostly literature, film studies and art stuff. I have quite a bit of Japanese fiction.

anyone prepared to brave the mail strike to post me a copy of "cyclecraft"? I have plenty of cycling books I can post back with it after a week or two?

Great idea. Does anyone have a copy of Frederic Jameson's Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism? This is a long shot. Any copies I can find are really expensive, and although the British Library has copies, I'd like to spend quite a bit of time reading it slowly. So, yeah, if anyone does let me know :)

I have lots of books, but am very gestapo-like about getting them back. They are mostly literature, film studies and art stuff. I have quite a bit of Japanese fiction.

I just saw this. I've got it.

I have to warn you, it's not a laugh-a-minute.

i have a copy of the marxist theory of art if anyone wants to ponder the means of production and bougoise self expression through the medium of modern dance
there must be some some commies on here desperate to read it.

Hm. No one wants to swap books other than bike books? I'm looking to read the 2nd and 3rd volumes of Dune. I'll check the Dulwich library but do I have to have a library card in every borough to be able to get books out of that borough? That would be annoying.

As referenced in this list, Goran Kropp's story sounds amazing. Does anyone have a copy they're willing to lend?

I'm afraid I don't have this anymore. It went to charity a long time ago. Slightly regrettable now...

I've swallowed the madness of getting it from the USA. I reckon it'll be worth it, sounds like an amazing story.