SPREAD

Feb 10, 2006

—

Tobyjoe and I launched a new site tonight. It’s called Spread. The goal is to mail out five free books a month. We’re hoping that people read them and then pass them on to others. We capped our quantity at five, but that may change depending on our funds, the demand—you know, stuff like that.

The Web site still needs A LOT of work but we wanted to get something up as I mailed out the first batch of books on Monday. If there are bugs, kindly report them.

We’re really excited about it. We hope that it acts as an open discussion for people who not only enjoy reading but are really into talking about it, too. Oh, and you get free stuff. Nothing beats free.

Come join us! The books are on us (but you’re welcome to buy your own if you’d like to join or start a discussion).

Comments

46 responses to “SPREAD”

Missy

February 10, 2006

I started re-reading The Feast Of Love! Good timing for me.

LikeLike

Reply
kim

February 10, 2006

iieeeeek! so that’s what it is. that’s so cool. i’m excited. the book hasn’t gotten here yet but hopefully SOON! so what is it??? hint??? i’ll be gone for the weekend but i’ll let you know if it got here asap! :)

LikeLike

Reply
sian

February 10, 2006

Hey guys,
Is there a specific place on the site that I should “let you know” that I received my book, or is registering enough?

LikeLike

Reply
Charlie

February 10, 2006

This is not a criticism, but I saw the image of “Spread” and thought it was going to be a site dedicated to pictures of fat butts.

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

You and Toby have issues. He saw that, too. Shockinly, considering my life surrounds the ass, I didn’t see it until he pointed it out to me. So, maybe I’ll change it. Not that there is anything wrong with ass, but I can’t have people confusing an online book club with an online butt club. Not. Cool.

LikeLike

Reply
kim

February 10, 2006

men… tsss. to me it looks like a smile, a mustache, wings, a hug… nothing even close to butt. those guys DO have issues. too funny :)

LikeLike

Reply
kim

February 10, 2006

this discussion just totally made me think of that song “i like big butts, and i cannot lie…” and now it’s in my head – HA, happy friday!

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

Weird, that line is a part of my profile information on Spread.

LikeLike

Reply
kim

February 10, 2006

what line? the big butt one? i SWEAR i have not read your profile there [yet] – i SWEAR!

LikeLike

Reply
kim

February 10, 2006

man, that’s SPOOKEY. i only know it from “friends” – awesome.

LikeLike

Reply
greg

February 10, 2006

wow, my sister just sent that book to me for my birthday. not if i could only sit down and read it. neat idea michele/toby

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

Get on it, Greg! The book is great. Plus, they speak of sex. You like sex, right?

I’m totally going to have to redo this logo, now. Damn butt people.

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

The greatest thing just happen down at the Starbucks near where I work. I was in there getting my coffee when a woman who I have come to know asked me of I was still designing Web sites. I took the opportunity to tell her about Spread. At that point, another employee came over and said, “I love book clubs! What’s this all about?” I told her and then another walked over. By the end of our conversation, I had three new future members.

The one woman kept asking, “Yeah, but what’s the catch? I have to pay, right?”

Nope. Free.

I’m excited. I hope it spawns discussion.

Similarly, if anyone has any book suggestions, let us know. We’re open.

LikeLike

Reply
Debra

February 10, 2006

I haven’t gotten the package yet, but now I’m super excited! I placed an Amazon order Wednesday because I was all out of books I wanted to read. I put The Feast of Love on, but took it off when I realized I needed to get it down around $50.

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

Oh no! You haven’t gotten it yet? That’s odd.

LikeLike

Reply
Jonathan

February 10, 2006

The logo is a bit… goaste like

btw, is it me, or is the clock 1hr ahead?

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

You need to get laid.

Our server is in another timezone.

LikeLike

Reply
renyoj

February 10, 2006

I checked usps and it said from NY mail delivery could take 5 days. I wouldn’t worry yet.

LikeLike

Reply
ian

February 10, 2006

i like the ass logo.

btw, i stopped by to say that i saw spd and my face over at design meltdown. it was weird.

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

huh? what is that?

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

oh! I found it.

design meltdown

LikeLike

Reply
ian

February 10, 2006

just a site i stumbled upon.

click me

LikeLike

Reply
ian

February 10, 2006

so yeah, that was the first time i ever accidentally found myself without drugs.

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

Super.

Oh, FYI, the contender for Spread was “Stranger and Fiction.”

I picked Spread over that (even though we liked it) because it won’t always be fiction plus people won’t always give books to strangers. :]

Hopefully, Spread works even if the logo looks like an ass to some perverts.

LikeLike

Reply
ian

February 10, 2006

somehow the viewer is the pervert and the creator is not?

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

If I am, I am UNAWARE! You are all outwardly perverted. Notice, it was only boys (thus far) who have seen the ass.

That could only mean one thing: You are all gay* and don’t know it.

*not that there is anything wrong with that.

LikeLike

Reply
Henry

February 10, 2006

If you want suggestions, I can come up with lots of them. It’s sort of my job.Jennifer Government

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

Henry: Thanks. I will check that out.

LikeLike

Reply
tobyjoe

February 10, 2006

I created a discussion thread:
The Spread Logo
over at Spread.

LikeLike

Reply
Missy

February 10, 2006

You know, a lot of people read on the toilet.

LikeLike

Reply
tobyjoe

February 10, 2006

You’re NOT helping, Missy. The logo talk is freaking michele out, and you KNOW how I feel about potty talk!

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

I really, really can’t get away from the ass, can I? I am forever tainted.

heh

Tainted.

LikeLike

Reply
greg

February 10, 2006

you taint that close, but you is right next door

LikeLike

Reply
hthrs

February 10, 2006

i totally have a reccomendatation for a future book: My Year of Meats, by Ruth Ozeki?
i think thats her name. i just read it. its great.cheesey ending but great nonetheless.
oh and I THINK the logo looks beautiful, like antlers.

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

Heather, I’ll pick it up today. Thank you!

Maybe we should add a book suggestion area on the site.

LikeLike

Reply
tobyjoe

February 10, 2006

we have forums. you just need to turn off comments here so people will write over there ;)

coughheather!cough

LikeLike

Reply
hthrs

February 10, 2006

sorry dad. ;)

LikeLike

Reply
Jonathan

February 10, 2006

I’m pretty sure that My Year of Meats was part of the oprah book club. i had to read it for a postmodern lit class in college. i wasn’t a fan.

you really need to change that logo before boingboing picks it up as part of their goatse tribute.

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

Jon, with all due respect, shut up about the freaking goaste shit, Ok?

Please. I genuinely hate that whole thing.

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

Sorry, that sounded rude. I just fear google. :/

LikeLike

Reply
hthrs

February 10, 2006

mom, whos this ‘jonathan’ person?
and how does he know oprah?
and whats (is) a goatse or goaste?

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

Ah, heather. Avoid the whole Goat thing entirely. It’s horrible.

This Jonathan isn’t friends with Oprah. Although, I think it’d rule to see him on her show. OH yes, I do.

I “de-assed” the logo over at Spread. No more ass. As Donald would say “ass-be-gone.” I hope.

LikeLike

Reply
heyrocker

February 10, 2006

Hey I tried to register at Spread and I got some kind of Ruby error and there was no site admin to email! So its broken or I am, or something.

LikeLike

Reply
shugab

February 10, 2006

totally could not join kept giving me some kind off friggin error. HELP! By the way love the butt logo!

LikeLike

Reply
mihow

February 10, 2006

Toby’s on it!

LikeLike

Reply
tobyjoe

February 10, 2006

All fixed. I uploaded a file before we left for brunch and it never quite made it up.

LikeLike

Reply