When I slowly upgraded all my Stephen King books from paperback to hardcover I was taking note of where these were all over town and distributing them like the Stephen King fairy
I don’t believe with these you always have to leave one the same day. I don’t just walk around with books in my hands go donate. But I’ll either bring 3-4 books to one of these and take a book later or take a book and bring a bunch to fill it up later
I did! LOL I have a stack of silly throwaway books I use specifically to shop from this library. The book I left today was a tiny guy I found called THE FAQS ABOUT JESUS.
It's not a fair trade in my opinion, but the rules don't say "take one, leave one that is equally as good."
Could I get your consent on getting to write something based on this? It will probably never be published but I liked the idea and it would ease my mind knowing that you don’t mind me writing it.
I don’t want any real life Secret Window, secret garden stuff going on. 😂
Tanks in advance.
It’s ok. I’m kidding really. But please when using these libraries try to give something that you found valuable in return. You were stoked to find that book so make sure the next book you leave is something that made you just as happy.
Personally I don't feel bad. The books that I put in there I find doing my job flipping apartments that people move or are evicted from and leave all of their crap inside of. If I didn't keep the books then it is my job to literally throw them away. A book in the garbage can't make anybody happy. So while you and whoever has downvoted me can think I'm a shitty person or that I'm being inconsiderate or whatever, in my opinion I'm the only one keeping those books alive.
Eh, I think you’re being downvoted because you’re admittedly filling the libraries with junk in order to justify taking the good books
A moment of self reflection would be all it takes to understand why that sucks
You could, ya know, just walk inside and donate them. If you value them at nothing then you should give them away for nothing. The library can weed out the ones they feel their demographic won't like and give them to college libraries or dispose of them themselves.
Dropping a "worthless" book in the box and taking a valuable one is tantamount to simply taking a book without leaving one. Had the person who left the King book there thought like you, you wouldn't have that book.
Library is about community. If you want a book without being a decent human being, then you should simply waive you credit card around at your nearest Barnes and Noble.
It's even worse than taking a book without leaving one. The owner of the free library now has to get rid of the shit book.
Source: we have a free library.
You’re not “keeping them alive.” You’re clogging the little free library with shit books that you know nobody wants instead of having the moral guilt of just putting it in the trash.
These libraries can fit like 30 books max. Either put good stuff in there, or don’t put stuff in there at all. If you’re just using it to dispose of junk, you’re not helping or doing anything productive.
Ultimately I don’t care what you do. But lose your moral high ground of “keeping books alive.”
The things I leave are always gone quick. Last month I traded THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES for a Dean Koontz and that little guide was gone the next day. I guess it goes to show just because I wouldn't want to read it somebody else might.
I’ve seen multiple libraries all over town that have the same bibles and self help books for literally ever in there. I don’t know about people throwing books out
I think it's a fair trade. It is not fair to make assumptions about what people like to read. When I was a kid, I used to read everything I could get my hands on, and that included the Bible, which was in my music teacher's bookshelf in school. In addition to fictions, I also read non-fictions about Israel, the origin of universe, conspiracy theories about the solar system, environmental protection, quizzes and puzzle books, and philosophy books.
FAQ about Jesus? Sounds like my read if I were a kid all over again. Then, I wouldn't have to read the Bible to learn about Christianity.
Perhaps it's the way that you worded that triggered people. \*You\* believed it was not a fair trade. \*You\* thought it was a throwaway book. But, if you gave some credit to your book, maybe it would have gotten a different response.
This!! When I saw others mention what stories were in this book and realized it was *that* one -- yup, just read the whole thing. I think there was only one story in the whole book that I *don't* like.
Dolan's Cadillac, Suffer the Little Children, The End of the Whole Mess, Home Delivery, The Night Flier, Popsy, The Ten 'O Clock People, Crouch End, Chattery Teeth... the book is full of bangers. Enjoy
I completely agree. It's like Pennywise or somebody scrawled the writing in blood! I almost wanted to leave the King because it looked so at home in there. It was right in the middle too.
Seriously was there a red balloon on the side?? Lol I want a little library so bad, and there is a castle one down the street. This font tho is like horror special lol
There's a story near the back about a guy who takes a book from a free library without giving a book in return. Over the course of a month he gradually forgets every story he ever read in his life.💀😭🥺🤯
For a while I was big on hunting down stray SK short stories. It was fun- I'd find stories in collections, or magazines ("The End of the Whole Mess", my favorite in this collection, was in Omni, for instance).
I had a good percentage of the stories, then this book came out, and rendered all my hunting moot, lol. It was interesting to see some of the changes, like "Home Delivery"- there were references to the USSR that were changed to China, for example.
That's pretty cool, especially that you can see the changes across versions like that. And it's just cool to have the original sources. It was all before my time, but short stories being in magazines or even a popular thing in general is kind of wild to me. Like I can't imagine being a kid at the time and picking up a Playboy only to find an SK story in there!
dude I have one of those in my area and after a few days someone smashed the glass panel and ripped the door off lol...sad but shocked to see that there's a community that actually properly does it
It Grows on You
Home Delivery
Rainy Season...
...then drop back and go thru the rest. You can't go wrong with any of them, really. King in his short fiction prime.
God I love those things. I never find gems like this in ours, but I did get to watch some kid get wide eyed finding my Where the Sidewalk Ends in there, made my week to know it’s getting loved again
What if I leave a children’s book and a child comes along and sees there’s only 600+ page books and chooses children’s book I left and is happy and they replace it with another children’s book? What then ?
Just tried to give a copy to a guest we are hosting. He wouldn’t take it. Says he just likes epub. Taking it down to my Little Library or whatever it’s called down the street.
Love this, I’ve been dropping off Stephen King books at various little libraries all summer — they are usually gone by the time I get back from my walk lol
Oh wow......are we in the same area?? I just put that exact book in my neighborhood little free library a day ago!! Also a copy of Wizard and Glass because I had 2 of each one.
Haven''t read that since it came out, so some of the stories (by title) I didn't recall, but "You Know They Got A Hell Of A Band" I always liked. "Popsy" - also good. The one I would avoid (IMO) is "Dedication."
I just finished The House on Maple Street, and it was a bit of a slog. Really slowed my progress through this collection. Loved Dolan's Cadillac though, it was a very strong start
Hell yeah that’s what I’m reading right now. My favorites so far are the finger in the drain, rainy season & crouch end. Also that looks like an old copy from the 90s so that’s a bonus I have a first edition that look just like this check the page with copyright info and stuff and it’ll say if it’s a first edition or not and when it was published.
Do any other 90s kids remember when they’d advertise this book on the channel channel where you watched what was on the other channels scroll by? This one and dianetics
Everyone is mad at OP for putting random books in the free library… but have yall opened up a free library? The books in there always suck. The best book I’ve seen in one is Dune and that’s only after I put it in there.
I’ve never actually left or taken a book from any of these little libraries. Most of mine have sucky books and bibles. I have a book in my glove department that’s been there for years that was written by the rapper logic called supermarket that’d I’d instantly swap if I were to find a book I like.
I’m sure there are some Bangor stories in there!
I came here to make this joke and you TOOK IT FROM ME Well done tho
I was just in Bangor recently. I learned it was NOT pronounced in a way where I could make a “barely know her” joke.
The quickest way to know someone is from away is when they pronounce it "Banger".
There are multiple Bangors in the Uk, I’m pretty sure they all have the hard G and the Welsh one has an almost Scandinavian O.
We've got a Bangor in Western Washington, too
Dad jokes normally take years off my life but I liked this one a lot! 🤣🤣
Wow this sub does not disappoint.
Dolan's Cadillac
This is the one. And Moving Finger, so good
i'm still mildly afraid of drains.
Have you seen the television adaptation. It’s wild
Been scared of bath plug holes ever since I read _The Moving Finger_ 30 years ago. Thanks, uncle Steve!!
Yep. Those are my two favorites form that collection, but there are a lot of other good ones!
Dolan’s Cadillac and you know they got a hell of a band are great.
One of my favorite King stories period. Loved it.
This is the perfect story. The only perfect King story.
Well, it was a modernization of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amantillado”, so I wouldn’t call it a King story, really. Still good, though.
DID YOU LEAVE ONE
When I slowly upgraded all my Stephen King books from paperback to hardcover I was taking note of where these were all over town and distributing them like the Stephen King fairy
This is what I’m currently doing! It’s so fun and I (hope) that I’m making someone’s day each time
Thank you, just in case you live in my neighborhood!
I don’t believe with these you always have to leave one the same day. I don’t just walk around with books in my hands go donate. But I’ll either bring 3-4 books to one of these and take a book later or take a book and bring a bunch to fill it up later
I was about to ask the same 😂
TAKE ONE LEAVE ONE... ***OR ELSE***
There are short stories about this, some real bad vibes if you don’t leave one.
I did! LOL I have a stack of silly throwaway books I use specifically to shop from this library. The book I left today was a tiny guy I found called THE FAQS ABOUT JESUS. It's not a fair trade in my opinion, but the rules don't say "take one, leave one that is equally as good."
You go back there and leave Man and His Symbols, A Guide for the Perplexed, Siddhartha, or Dune immediately or forever be cursed.
This is such a good idea for a short story!
Could I get your consent on getting to write something based on this? It will probably never be published but I liked the idea and it would ease my mind knowing that you don’t mind me writing it. I don’t want any real life Secret Window, secret garden stuff going on. 😂 Tanks in advance.
I put an upvote for you. I’m not sure why somebody downvoted your comment. Maybe it was just OP ragevoting the whole thread.
Thank you, in return I upvote you
Go for it! Just let me read it when you’re done shooter.
Absolutely, I’ll post a link here when I’m done.
The best I can do is an old chemistry textbook from college. It's alright I'm pretty sure I'm already cursed.
It’s ok. I’m kidding really. But please when using these libraries try to give something that you found valuable in return. You were stoked to find that book so make sure the next book you leave is something that made you just as happy.
Personally I don't feel bad. The books that I put in there I find doing my job flipping apartments that people move or are evicted from and leave all of their crap inside of. If I didn't keep the books then it is my job to literally throw them away. A book in the garbage can't make anybody happy. So while you and whoever has downvoted me can think I'm a shitty person or that I'm being inconsiderate or whatever, in my opinion I'm the only one keeping those books alive.
Man, these are lethal levels of delusion.
you kind of suck dude... your value systen is mental
Eh, I think you’re being downvoted because you’re admittedly filling the libraries with junk in order to justify taking the good books A moment of self reflection would be all it takes to understand why that sucks
Would you be shocked to learn OP has a podcast? Who ever heard of a self-unaware podcaster??
You could, ya know, just walk inside and donate them. If you value them at nothing then you should give them away for nothing. The library can weed out the ones they feel their demographic won't like and give them to college libraries or dispose of them themselves. Dropping a "worthless" book in the box and taking a valuable one is tantamount to simply taking a book without leaving one. Had the person who left the King book there thought like you, you wouldn't have that book. Library is about community. If you want a book without being a decent human being, then you should simply waive you credit card around at your nearest Barnes and Noble.
It's even worse than taking a book without leaving one. The owner of the free library now has to get rid of the shit book. Source: we have a free library.
You’re not “keeping them alive.” You’re clogging the little free library with shit books that you know nobody wants instead of having the moral guilt of just putting it in the trash. These libraries can fit like 30 books max. Either put good stuff in there, or don’t put stuff in there at all. If you’re just using it to dispose of junk, you’re not helping or doing anything productive. Ultimately I don’t care what you do. But lose your moral high ground of “keeping books alive.”
So in this scenario, you benefit from society… …and choose to give nothing back Cool flex bro 👌
Your shitty books are getting thrown out
U r !!!! Douche canoe move !!
There's short story right here
A perfect premise for a classic King short story, yeah you're right
The things I leave are always gone quick. Last month I traded THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES for a Dean Koontz and that little guide was gone the next day. I guess it goes to show just because I wouldn't want to read it somebody else might.
Or maybe they know it’s garbage and throw it away?
That's what I was thinking; some people work pretty hard at maintaining their little free libraries.
I’ve seen multiple libraries all over town that have the same bibles and self help books for literally ever in there. I don’t know about people throwing books out
This is why we can’t have nice things.
Ugh. Fuck the honor system, huh?
You got Karen vibes.
Lmao might as well left L. Ron Hubbard’s Dianetics
Great fiction book 👌
Man, what a piece of shit outlook on life.
What a scumbag
I think it's a fair trade. It is not fair to make assumptions about what people like to read. When I was a kid, I used to read everything I could get my hands on, and that included the Bible, which was in my music teacher's bookshelf in school. In addition to fictions, I also read non-fictions about Israel, the origin of universe, conspiracy theories about the solar system, environmental protection, quizzes and puzzle books, and philosophy books. FAQ about Jesus? Sounds like my read if I were a kid all over again. Then, I wouldn't have to read the Bible to learn about Christianity. Perhaps it's the way that you worded that triggered people. \*You\* believed it was not a fair trade. \*You\* thought it was a throwaway book. But, if you gave some credit to your book, maybe it would have gotten a different response.
You Know They Got a Hell of a Band is unbelievably creepy! The Ten O'Clock People It Grows on You
Ten O'Clock People is awesome.
Weren’t they making a movie out of it ?
I feel like 10 o clock people and 'They Live' were basically the same plot, with very different feels.
Indeed!
Thanks mate. The scariest ones are always my favorite! Maybe I should've asked that lol
It was eerie for sure, one of my favorite King's short stories!
Crouch End
I think this is my favorite short story ever. I don’t scare easily but this one creeped me out.
End of the whole mess!
That’s such a good one
Best one in this book, though The Fifth Quarter is phenomenal.
Every once in a while someone will upload the audio book recording of this to YouTube. Read by King, it's one of my favorites.
Scratch this, wrong story!
Just start from the beginning. They're all great.
This, and this, and this!!
This!! When I saw others mention what stories were in this book and realized it was *that* one -- yup, just read the whole thing. I think there was only one story in the whole book that I *don't* like.
Dolan's Cadillac, Suffer the Little Children, The End of the Whole Mess, Home Delivery, The Night Flier, Popsy, The Ten 'O Clock People, Crouch End, Chattery Teeth... the book is full of bangers. Enjoy
Popsy was really good
Popsy can fly
Home Delivery is amazing.
That little library has a very threatening aura.
I completely agree. It's like Pennywise or somebody scrawled the writing in blood! I almost wanted to leave the King because it looked so at home in there. It was right in the middle too.
Seriously was there a red balloon on the side?? Lol I want a little library so bad, and there is a castle one down the street. This font tho is like horror special lol
We all read down here
Chattery Teeth. That's one of my favs!
10 o clock People is excellent
Try page one, then page two, and continue.
You could even go to page 45, assuming you've read page 44.
Must get past page 19 first
I also got that book from a little free library!
You and I could be Ka-Tet, my friend 😉 I always drive by this thing and was thrilled to see my GOAT in there.
Hell yeah
There's a story near the back about a guy who takes a book from a free library without giving a book in return. Over the course of a month he gradually forgets every story he ever read in his life.💀😭🥺🤯
Rainy Season! Totally wackadoo story idea but super gripping and scary
Yes! Love that one!
Dolan’s Cadillac is a wicked banger
Umney's Last Case is always a classic! Same with The End of the Whole Mess and You Know They Got a Hell of a Band.
For a while I was big on hunting down stray SK short stories. It was fun- I'd find stories in collections, or magazines ("The End of the Whole Mess", my favorite in this collection, was in Omni, for instance). I had a good percentage of the stories, then this book came out, and rendered all my hunting moot, lol. It was interesting to see some of the changes, like "Home Delivery"- there were references to the USSR that were changed to China, for example.
That's pretty cool, especially that you can see the changes across versions like that. And it's just cool to have the original sources. It was all before my time, but short stories being in magazines or even a popular thing in general is kind of wild to me. Like I can't imagine being a kid at the time and picking up a Playboy only to find an SK story in there!
dude I have one of those in my area and after a few days someone smashed the glass panel and ripped the door off lol...sad but shocked to see that there's a community that actually properly does it
It Grows on You Home Delivery Rainy Season... ...then drop back and go thru the rest. You can't go wrong with any of them, really. King in his short fiction prime.
God I love those things. I never find gems like this in ours, but I did get to watch some kid get wide eyed finding my Where the Sidewalk Ends in there, made my week to know it’s getting loved again
Be a lot cooler if you weren't a dick about it and left something good in return.
What if I leave a children’s book and a child comes along and sees there’s only 600+ page books and chooses children’s book I left and is happy and they replace it with another children’s book? What then ?
I love those free little libraries. You never know what jackpot you might score.
Yea, start at page one.....
Man I've had a copy of rose Madder in my little free library for over a year and nobody's taken it. 😫
That one’s a goodie! My first King book actually.
The first story …
I apologize for not answering your question, but that little free library's style..I dig it!
Just tried to give a copy to a guest we are hosting. He wouldn’t take it. Says he just likes epub. Taking it down to my Little Library or whatever it’s called down the street.
Popsy is fantastic! My scoutmaster read that to my troop around a campfire on one overnight trip, and I never forgot it.
Dolan's Cadillac, Chattery Teeth, The ten o'clock people! One of my favorites, enjoy the entire book!
Did they intentionally make that TAKE ONE LEAVE ONE look menacing? TAKE ONE LEAVE ONE…. MEDRUM.
Rainy season is absolutely ridiculous....start there
I don’t see enough recommendations for Rainy Season here. Damn, that one freaked me out.
Love this, I’ve been dropping off Stephen King books at various little libraries all summer — they are usually gone by the time I get back from my walk lol
Oh wow......are we in the same area?? I just put that exact book in my neighborhood little free library a day ago!! Also a copy of Wizard and Glass because I had 2 of each one.
I got 12 Stephen king books from one of those (I donated a bunch of books at the same time)
I got my copy from a neighborhood library, too!
I read it in order. Start with the first one and end with the last one.
All of them. chatter Teeth is great and short.
Haven''t read that since it came out, so some of the stories (by title) I didn't recall, but "You Know They Got A Hell Of A Band" I always liked. "Popsy" - also good. The one I would avoid (IMO) is "Dedication."
Open to page one and feast!
Suffer the little children is excellent f.e.
Dollan's Cadillac and All The Little Children!! Been awhile so the names might be slightly off but they're by far my favorite
Read em all, and then watch the 2006 mini series.
Crouch End is one of my favorites, Fifth Quarter is good also and of course Dolan’s Cadillac which is basically a novella.
I'd say The Night Flier and Dolans Cadilac are 2 good starters . I liked both . Chattery teeth were nice, too .
Dolan's Cadillac. My favorite story from SK.
They’re all pretty good, but I really liked his non fiction story about Little League Baseball. Made me feel like a kid again.
Crouch End
The first story ‘Dolan’s Cadallic’ is my ONLY 10/10 (perfect) story from King.
Great find!
What did you leave in its place? 😊
why would you do this?
Those stories are all amazing! Enjoy!
Just read them in order. They are all good!
Crouch End
I just finished The House on Maple Street, and it was a bit of a slog. Really slowed my progress through this collection. Loved Dolan's Cadillac though, it was a very strong start
What a find
This is one of my fav Stephen king books
I just read his collections from cover to cover. It's the easiest way to keep track.
Hell yeah that’s what I’m reading right now. My favorites so far are the finger in the drain, rainy season & crouch end. Also that looks like an old copy from the 90s so that’s a bonus I have a first edition that look just like this check the page with copyright info and stuff and it’ll say if it’s a first edition or not and when it was published.
Read the entire thing—it’s one of his best short story anthologies. Lots of gems.
Do any other 90s kids remember when they’d advertise this book on the channel channel where you watched what was on the other channels scroll by? This one and dianetics
I was the only one in my sphere of acquaintance that called it the channel channel. Thank you for helping me feel less alienated. 🥲
My first King’s book 🥰 A gift for my 10th birthday
You Know They Got a Helluva Band. Classic SK
I received the hardcover for Christmas when I was 11. I should probably revisit this one
Dolan’s Cadillac, read it 20 years ago, still sits with me to this day.
Dolan's Cadillac is arguably one of his best ss ever
Did you leave one? Lol
Not the question to ask
Take one leave one Karin
*I stole this today FIFY
My favorite King short story is ‘Take One Leave One.’
Everyone is mad at OP for putting random books in the free library… but have yall opened up a free library? The books in there always suck. The best book I’ve seen in one is Dune and that’s only after I put it in there.
All stories start good and end lame aka Stephen King books
I carry bibles in my car for these take one leave one library’s
Keep your religion to yourself.
Sorry I forgot to add the /s at the end. I’ve never even owned a bible
Because you left them all in Leave One, Take One Libraries lol
I’ve never actually left or taken a book from any of these little libraries. Most of mine have sucky books and bibles. I have a book in my glove department that’s been there for years that was written by the rapper logic called supermarket that’d I’d instantly swap if I were to find a book I like.
I bet a Bible goes quick from one of these, and maybe even finds somebody who needs one 😉
The fun thing about that is that literally no one NEEDS a Bible.