When ‘Books on the Underground’ Made My Day

Last week I had one of my all time commuting lows. I boarded two tube trains both of which were almost immediately taken out of service.  In order to combat this little set back I abandoned the tube in favour of a bus alternative .  This didn’t prove to be a good decision.  The first two buses that came along were too crowded to board and the one I did manage to squeeze on to made a painfully slow stop start journey in rush hour traffic.  In fact I could and should have walked. Eventually I was unceremoniously deposited at an alternative station on an alternative line. The tube train I hopped onto proceeded to sit in the station for 10 mins before moving. This tube was also delayed and mustered only a very slow chug towards its destination.

Almost an hour late for work (my usual 45 min commute had turned into 2 hours) feeling frustrated and in need of coffee, I stood up ready to disembark.  Whilst doing so my eye was caught by a something tucked into the side of the seat on the end of the row. Being of an inquisitive (nosey) nature I decided to investigate further

This something turned out to be a book, but not just any book. This was a book that had made its way to my tube carriage via the wonderful Books on the Underground. It was there waiting for someone like me to find it.

“Books travelling around the London Underground network waiting to be read”

Immediately my morning was transformed, I was ridiculously happy to find the book.  Not just because it was a book I wanted to read but because I have known about Books on the Underground for ages now and have always loved the idea, and hoped I might find one.  I love the thought that at any one time books are travelling all over London, being found, being read and being put back for someone else to find and enjoy.  Its such a simple way of sharing books, encouraging people to read and spreading the reading joy.

I would love to know who has previously read my book, and I have carefully flicked through it looking for a clue of previous readers.  Alas I have found none.  So I just want to say thank you to whoever thoughtfully left ‘Man at The Helm’ by Nina Stibbe on a south bound Victoria Line Train on Thursday 6th November, and thank you to Books on The Underground, you really did make my day.

If you want to know more about this fantastic innovation, hope over to the Books on The Underground website or follow @BooksUndergrnd on twitter where book depositors, finders and readers will tweet where books have been left and found each day.