Book Swim: The Netflix for bookworms
I have to credit my wife for finding this little gem.
Okay, first off, I don’t even use Netflix, I use Blockbuster Online, which is the superior service, something perhaps I’ll write about someday soon. Regardless, both services allow you to pay a monthly fee to basically rent movies for as long as you want and as often as you want.
Wouldn’t you know it? Someone thought it would be a good idea to do the same thing, but with BOOKS.
It’s called BookSwim.com. The image above (once you click it and make it all huge and pretty) basically models how it works, which is exactly how Netflix/Blockbuster function:
- You have a queue, which they call a POOL
- You put books you want to read into your pool
- They ship them to you when available
- You read them as fast or slow as you want.
- Send them back, postage paid both ways
- Get more books
As you can see, it’s exactly like Netflix. Although they have a wider range of plans for the crazy person who loves to read a book a day. I know someone like that. This blog post is almost totally meant for her, but I know others will still want to try Book Swim.
Plans - per month (some of these you can pay annually if you want):
- 2 books at a time - $14.99
- 3 books at a time - $19.99
- 5 books at a time - $23.99
- 7 books at a time - $27.99
- 9 books at a time - $31.99
- 11 books at a time - $35.99
Obviously I haven’t tested much of it out, since I’m not sure I can read fast enough for it. Lately, it’s taken me a month to finish a book. But if you do read a book a week, I have to say, $23.99 for five books out at a time is a lot cheaper than buying all five of them.
It also depends on whether you are a book collector or not. I mostly don’t need to keep books once I’m done, and would rather loan them out to friends anyways.
The only downside I found with the website is the search tool. I put in “The Road” and it finally got to it on the third search page. Cormac McCarthy also didn’t come up in an author search for some reason, but obviously they have The Road and other novels he’s written.
They claim a library of 150,000 books and growing.
So check it out if you want, maybe give it a test ride and let us know what you think!
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cheers! tumblin hayseed
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Didn't think so HAYSEED!
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Shawn
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Shawn
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Shawn
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I mean, my Blockbuster is less than 2 miles away...its' so easy to run and get a free movie anytime really.
I guess if I watched a TON of movies a month, I could see it being an issue.
Still Jason, it's interesting that you got that and I didn't...they must really pay attention to those accounts taking advantage of it.
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I know that we've been with them for a very LONG time, so we were kind of grandfathered in on some of the deals we had from the start.
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BLOCKBUSTER Total Access Premium
Your Plan:
$17.99 / month (plus taxes)
3 at-a-time, unlimited mailings
unlimited in-store free movie/discounted game exchanges
+2 FREE bonus Movie or Game Rental E-Coupon / Month
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And to show what a complete and total nerd I am...I have written in the margins and made notes in several Stephen King books (back in the day when I started to realize that even his "regular" horror novels were all connected to the Dark Tower world) and in my Dracula and Anne Rice books (being a vamp-lit connoiseur), but did not make any notes in the Harry Potter books.
Speaking of which - what do you think about Rowling's revelation that Dumbledor is gay? There have been some hilarious and thoughtful discussions/posts online about the issue.
Also - I would be curious to hear why you think Blockbuster is better than Netflix. And seeing the amount of comments here about it, it looks like you definitely need to write that post.
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I actually thought Netflix had much quicker delivery time as far as the mailed movies go. But how can they compete with Blockbuster's ability to let you trade in the movie you received in the mail for one in the store. That is the reason Blockbuster is better (in my opinion). Of course, with higher prices and limited in-store trade ins I'm not sure it's going to be quite as good.
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