Abandoned Novels

The Independent (UK) has listed the top ten books abandoned in motel rooms belonging to the large UK Travelodge chain. Probably large enough to give statistical significance.

There must be a variety or reasons for leaving a book behind: read and not worth keeping; disappointing and not worth finishing; and of course plain absent-mindedness. I suspect the majority in this 'top ten', if not all of them, belong to one of the first two categories.

Four of the ten are exceptions in (probably) not being sold on the basis of erotic content: J K Rowling's The Casual Vacancy, My Time, by Bradley Wiggins, The Marriage Bargain, by Jennifer Probst and Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn.

The other six are by two authors. Yes, you've guessed - the E L James trilogy, and three of a quartet by Sylvia Day.

Personally I wouldn't be seen dead with any of them, and I'd like to think that those leaving them decided likewise.

There must be a sociology PhD in this data for someone. I'd like to know if the hotels found any abandoned whips and chains, to correlate with the book statistics!

Sometimes you leave books behind because you want others to find them and read them......... Could be a nice thought that I am sharing this my book with someone unknown.

It is one form of advertisement by publishers with the help of research/survey agencies and some lodging chains It is called "Book Crossing by Publishers. One of the many ways to reach readers' attention,personal recommendation of books to friends and acquaintances by "word of mouth"

So the industry has essentially learned from the Gideons?