[neilmarr]

I literally can't give English-language books away anywhere here. There used to be a local English church jumble sale years ago where I'd donate scores of books every three months, but that's defunct now. I've stacked the shelves in a couple of nearby holiday apartments where English-speaking visitors sometimes hang out, some local dentist and doctor waiting rooms now have a few titles and I've given as many as they'll accept to local hotels. I have also stored/displayed other books in good condition in the communal garage at my own place where any English-speaking visitors vacationing here can help themselves, but as for the others ... I'm afraid it's the dumpster.

Breaks my heart to see millions of heart-wrung words trashed (I've been a pro writer and editor for nearly forty-five years -- so you can imagine that it ain't easy to say bye-bye): But don't forget, major publishers see 60% of their mass print runs destroyed now. Hardbacks are usually returned by retailers if unsold, but the cost of returning paperbacks to base for pulping is such that the (ridiculous) sale-or-return deal with retailers actually means sale-or-destroy. And, as far as I've been able, I've not removed anything from my shelves that has sentimental value or isn't now available in ebook format.

Those who have thrift shops, local friends and neighbours and family nearby to keep cull their collections and keep them under control will, hopefully, never have to make the painflul decision I did to give books to the only folks who can make at least some use of them ... the local council's re-cycling garbage collectors. Examples of some of the world's best loved literature will now become grocery bags, kitchen rools and toilet paper. It's nothing less than tragic, but if you could have seen the state of my wee apartment, you'd understand why the clear-out was necessary.

Very best. Neil