Netflix — for books?

/ Meg

So I got an interesting e-mail from Scott over at BookSwim, a book rental service that “rents” paperbacks and hardcovers to customers (like Netflix!). Evidently, users can “‘check out’ books ranging from new releases, bestsellers, or classics the way one would select DVDs from Netflix or a video store. As with Netflix, shipping is free both ways and customers can keep the books for as long as they want with no late fees. Customers also have the option to buy any books they rent.” Plans start at $9.95 for the first month, and $19.95 for every month after. And shipping is free both ways.

As I already belong to services like BookMooch and still try to throw my loyalty over to our local Borders, the public library and our used bookstore, I don’t know that I would commit to a rental service now — but I love the idea! And yay for entrepreneurial spirit — the service started in 2007.

And since I love lists, here is BookSwim’s Top 20 Most Requested Books as of Jan. 16. Lots of mysteries on here — and, of course, Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga dominates this collection, too. The beast is unstoppable!

1. Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) by Stephenie Meyer

2. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

3. Never Tell a Lie: A Novel of Suspense by Halle Ephron 

4. Sundays at Tiffany’s by James Patterson

5. Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3) by Stephenie Meyer

6. Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4) by Stephenie Meyer

7. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

8. New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2) by Stephenie Meyer

9. Double Cross by James Patterson

10. The Host by Stephenie Meyer

11. Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich

12. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wrobleswski

13. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

14. The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold

15. Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson

16. Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama

17. Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

18. A Nurse’s Story by Tilda Shaloff

19. 7th Heaven (The Women’s Murder Club) by James Patterson

20. The 6th Target (The Women’s Murder Club) by James Patterson

4 thoughts on “Netflix — for books?”

  1. I think it’s a great idea, but I’m not sure who this would appeal too. Maybe shut-ins?

    Meg says: LOL! Quite true. You miss the browsing ability and comraderie of hanging out in a bookstore.

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  2. As much as is a neat idea, I would have to wonder who would spend $20/month on “renting” books when most people have access to free public libraries…

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