Should I call him? Or is it stalking?

[i-need-a-martini]

I'm selling a pile of books on ebay and was about to list 2 collections of old boys books (Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island, Huck Finn etc plus a good Enid Blyton collection). They are published in the 60's and not overly valuable.

I found them on the side of the road about 20 years ago during a council clean up and then I gave them to my son. Each book has the owners name and address in it plus some notes throughout - which books he liked, his comments on the characters and one book he gave to his sister on her birthday with a note saying "I think you will love this book." All very sweet.

Anyway, the name is highly unusual so I googled it. And I have found someone with same name who lives around the block from the original address. So I figure it has to be him. He is a lawyer with the ABC so I now have his email address.

The question is: do I email him and ask him if he wants his books back? Is that too weird? Or do I just ebay them as originally planned? 

[chuk_77]

yep whack job here too, email him

[**meep**]

i don't think you'd be doing anything wrong.  if you do decide to contact him, let us know how it went.

[tcmsecretuseid]

Email him. 

He can either ignore the email, or tell you whether he would like the books or not. It's not stalking. I'd be thrilled if someone returned some of the things my mom threw away when I was a kid. 

[joz*garage]

hmm, do i get weird and ask to give them back for free or do i list them for a buck, decisions decisions 

[polksaladallie]

I would give them back.  You will get next to zilch for them on ebay.

[2106greencat]

I would contact him also. What he considered rubbish 20 years ago he may well now  consider to be sentimental (age/maturity tends to make us that way).

I would be stoked if they were mine

[monstersinthedungeon]

Martini, I think it is a lovely gesture to email him and offer to return the books.

My Mum also chucked out or gave away almost everything I owned when I went overseas, and I would cherish some of those old mementos back, given the chance.

[debra9275]

I also think it's a lovely gesture to contact him and ask if he wants them Martini, good on you!

[punch*drunk]

Agree with those that say contact him, but I know I would feel weird doing it myself.

I recently got back an illustrated poetry book that I won in primary school, I thought my mum had tossed it years ago, but it turned out my sister had it. Its looking a little worse for wear, but I was really excited to get it back.

[katydidthat]

Yep, I agree ... email him, Martini.  My mother also threw everything out.  Diaries, letters, photos, most of my books, all of my records ... nearly all of my childhood.  

I would be so thrilled to get anything back.