Welcome - Purpose

I love books. I love reading and owning books. It is one of those few hobbies or pursuits that one can enjoy throughout your life. I have enjoyed getting and giving books throughout my life.

For years I have been giving books as gifts. Friends even make fun of my masive holiday Borders or B&N treks. This year the sales girl said she got extra break time because my order was so big.

Every year I give books that I hope are interesting, challenging and fun for the people I give them to, and this year is no different. However, I also wanted to do something else.

In addition to giving books, I wanted to create a small, intimate (not-Amazon) place to talk about books. To rate our books. Maybe we can share our opinions or guide someone to a cool new world. Maybe, we would even trade or share these books, so they could enjoy being read over and over (the books that are worthy).

My interest in this is mostly selfish. I want to read most of the books I give as gifts, and think I should keep a list and read them myself. Then I thought, "Hey, maybe my family and friends would like to have the same list. Maybe, they would even want to see recommendations from people they know, and whose opinion they can trust."

OK, not trust, in the sense of agreeing, but in the sense of knowing each other's tastes.

So, I invite you to post and read. I have put a "Books of Oz" bookmark in every book I gifted. Maybe you will pass it on to others, and a whole movement will start (apologies to Arlo Guthrie and Alice's Restaurant). I can see a day when everyone will check "Books of Oz" when they feel like finding something new. Maybe there will soon be a "Movies of Oz" or "Restaurants of Oz".

Or, maybe this is a stupid idea. Time will tell.

See you in the funny papers,
Tim, Dec 2005