Introduction to RAB-PIA

Hello, and welcome to my blog. I am a college graduate in the process of developing a career in writing, part of which involves reading. This blog is devoted to my latest reading project, Read a Book, Pass it Along, or for short, RAB-PIA.

In the past, books have made their way to my shelf in various ways: at Christmas or on my birthday or from bookstores, garage sales, etc. Sometimes, if someone was looking to thin out their book collection, I'd take some books off of their hands. I didn't always get around to reading a book right away though. There were books that I'd choose to keep for as long as possible after having read them, but then there were some that I'd read once but at some point wished to part with them. I'd maybe donate books in the latter category to somewhere like the Salvation Army at some point, but otherwise, I didn't know what else to do with them. That is, until after I had discovered an online book club called Bookcrossing (where I go by Modmouse), where people would register books that they had read or intended to read (or not) and when they were ready, either send the books to someone else or leave them in a random public place (known as "the wild") for someone else to find and enjoy but I'll go into more detail about that in another post.
After having been affiliated with Bookcrossing for a while, not only did it help make my own bookshelves less crowded, it also motivated me to read books that I had but had yet to get around to reading so that after I had read them, they could be sent off for someone else to enjoy. Eventually, this lead to what I now call RAB-PIA (Read a Book, Pass it along).

RAB-PIA is basically where I read a book from my own bookshelf and then send it somewhere else for someone else to enjoy. In college, I did this with books I had obtained one way or another a long time ago but had yet to get around to reading. I also did not have a formal list of said books at the time. At best, I'd maybe have a handwritten list of books I intended to read and then release at my earliest available opportunity. Now, whenever I can, I buy used books from used bookstores, flea markets, thrift stores, etc., with the intent of keeping them just long enough to read them once and then send them along their way. (The reason I prefer to go with used books for this project is that they are theoretically less expensive than new books, and for some reason, with a new book, I'd feel compelled to justify having gotten it new by keeping it for at least a couple more years.)
For the RAB-PIA project, not only do I have a formal reading list (which I will be updating periodically), I have divided it as follows:
To Be Read: Books I have bought or otherwise obtained and intend to keep only long enough to read them, after which time I will either send to someone else or leave in a random public place (a.k.a. "the wild").
Currently Reading: This will be the book that I will be updating my progress on every day or as often as possible until it is finished. After that time, said book will be moved to the "To Pass Along" category, and whatever is on the top of the "To Be Read" list will be moved here.

To Pass Along (will only be listed when applicable): Basically, I will have finished the book and intend to either send it to someone else or release it "into the wild" at my earliest available opportunity. Ideally, if this category is noted, there will only be one book on it. However, if weather or other unforseeable circumstances prevent me from dispensing with one book before I finish another, there may be multiple books here. Obviously, once I have release, donated, or otherwise dispensed with said books, they will no longer appear on the list at all. I will be sure to note when I have released, donated, etc. any books that are under this category.
Please note that any book that I am borrowing from a library or another person will NOT be on this list as said book would need to return to a specific place upon being finished and/or by a certain date. I also will NOT be listing books that I will be keeping indefinitely for reasons such as (but not necessarily) later reference, sentimental value, or as previously noted, a new book for which I feel obligated to keep for a substantial amount of time to justify having bought it new.
As the inspiration of RAB-PIA has resulted, at least in part, from my time with Bookcrossing, I will likely be posting links to journal entries (another Bookcrossing feature) from anyone who "catches" anything I have released as well as links to any articles I have published on the Bookcrossing website.
Thank you for visiting this blog. I hope you enjoy it. Soon to follow are my current reading list as well as the current progress on my most current read, A Death in the Family by James Agee, which I had bought at a local used bookstore.