BookCrossing Through Middle-Earth by Skyring
BookCrossing Through Middle-Earth
by Skyring
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/7610386
I meant to read this book before the 2011 BookCrossing convention; that didn't happen. I started it then, but didn't finish it until now. The book was on display in the special BookCrossing history section at the convention before coming back home with me, though. I'm glad I finally uncovered it during my cataloging of Mt. TBR and finished it off.
This book is such a great adventure, and a perfect read for a BookCrosser. This book contains three central elements:
1. an account of Skyring's trip to New Zealand where he, his wife, and his two teenagers visited some amazing sights including some used for filming locations in The Lord of the Rings
2. memories of and stories about places visited during his honeymoon trip in New Zealand 20 years before
3. BookCrossing books found and left along the way
This book had a lot of moments in it that, to non-BookCrossers might seem strange. But they were wonderfully familiar and fun to me. For example, the urge to do a great themed release or to reverse shoplift and sneak a book onto an exchange shelf or shop. Or the disappointment when you find the audiotapes you brought to listen to won't play in your rental car's CD player. Or the desperation when you realize you haven't got enough books to take with you and release on your adventures. Or the way you can find yourself at a meeting of BookCrossers you've never met in real life and suddenly feel like you're with family. Of course, the idea of leaving precious books out in the wild and hoping strangers will find them is strange in and of itself. But in the context of a travel memoir, it lends so much whimsy and character.
Skyring's descriptions of the scenery, museums, places they stayed, and places they visited, might be as close as I come to New Zealand for a very long time, but they definitely did it justice. I also loved the BookCrossing label in the front and the list of books found and released throughout his adventures. How clever! I only wish the occasional photos were of a slightly higher resolution.
Definitely a fun read, and not just because I have met Skyring and his character came out strongly in these pages, like he was sitting here telling me the story in person. I'm jealous of his adventures, but so glad to have gotten a chance to share in them through this book!