Books on the Rail

It all started when they left their favourite book at South Yarra Station for a stranger to discover. Three years on, Books on the Rail duo Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus have written two novels, amassed thousands of followers and could soon have a movie deal.

This was a delightful read that I became completely consumed by and finished in one sitting! Frankie and her best friend Cat are an endearing pair that sweep you up in their quest to return Frankie to her first love in life, writing. The literary references seamlessly slipped into the narrative brought me back to another extremely clever read, Jasper Fforde’s ‘Thursday Next’ series! ‘The Book Ninja’ rewards the well-read reader with quick associations and a particularly funny (yet perfectly apt for this plot!) debate about the merits of literary versus Young Adult fiction.

Simon & Schuster has sold Portuguese rights to The Book Ninja (Ali Berg & Michelle Kalus) to Topseller.

Simon & Schuster has sold German rights to The Book Ninja in a six-way auction to Blanvalet. The book has attracted further attention in Europe, with Italian rights sold to Garzanti Linguistica, Slovak and Czech rights to Fortuna Libri, and Spanish rights to Ediciones Urano.

Their novel The Book Ninja is a ‘clever, funny and wryly observed story about finding love and discovering yourself in the process,’ said managing editor Roberta Ivers. ‘And of course it’s all about the love of books, something they know better than anyone.’

Listen to Matt and Meshel interviewing Ali from Books on the Rail! 

Missed stops and packed trams don't stop us! Check out a recap of our fun night with Graeme Simsion on a tram, Blog Post 8.19.

Listen to us talk to ABC Books and Arts with Sunni Overend about being a Book Ninja, how book clubs on trains work and eating cheese and wine on the train. 

Last Saturday, Books on the Rail held its first book club – in a train carriage, naturally. The book club, which met on the Frankston line, grew out of the organisation’s books subscriptions program – a “blind date with a book” – which they began as a response to reader feedback.

"SIGN up to a blind date with a difference and get on board Melbourne’s first rail book club."

"Have you ever found a book left on public transport? What if that book was left there just for you? This is the idea behind 'Books on the Rail'." 

With the help of our incredible Book Ninjas, we’ve recently launched Books on the Rail Australia-wide! We hope to continue to expand our geographical reach and the number of books hitting public transport services. We want to create a movement where the community drives the initiative, rather than just us. We’re already starting to see this happen on social media, which is very exciting! Hopefully in the future, every time you travel on public transport you’ll spot a Books on the Rail book!

Co-founder of 'Books on the Rail' Ali Berg tells triple j's Linda Marigliano about the growing movement, to put books on public transport!

We’ve been absolutely blown away by the positive feedback and successive media attention. Publications from all over the world, from India to America, have shared our story.

Metro spokesman Marcus Williams said the movement had its approval. “While we can’t take any credit and have no formal involvement, this is an example of a positive community initiative and one we admire,” he said.

Melbourne, a Unesco City of Literature, continues to live up to its name with a developing subversive movement called ‘Books on the Rail’. The city’s public transport network is being infiltrated by ‘book ninjas’ who leave books for commuters to read and share.

"All aboard this awesome idea! Scores of free books have been appearing on buses, trams and trains in Melbourne, Australia, for passengers to read and share with each other. It’s all part of Books On The Rail, a program started by copywriter Ali Berg and teacher Michelle Kalus to get strangers to pass around anything from children’s titles to classics."

"Reading is an empowering way to spread joy and wonder. Combine that with the reach and traffic of public transit, and you’ve got a mobile library that can bring the printed word to thousands of people." 

"There's a new kind of passenger cruising around Melbourne's public transport network — and you might just find yourself taking one of them home with you."

"It’s a unique feeling, that moment when you finish a book you’ve loved. A bittersweet goodbye to characters who feel like friends; curiosity to know what happens next; an urge to tell everyone you know – or even a complete stranger – that they just have to read it."

"If you spot a book next to you on the train this afternoon, it may not be because of a forgetful fellow commuter.

Australian organisation Books On The Rail have started a campaign asking people to leave novels on trains, buses and trams to get people to share their love of reading all over Melbourne."

"Bored of your Spotify playlist, your Facebook scroll, that whole Candy Crush thing my mum's still obsessed with? Keep your eyes peeled for a lonely book, hogging a seat on your afternoon tram, waiting for a curious reader to flip it open and take it home."

"The free range books have been set loose on the city's public transport by "book ninjas" as part of a new movement called Books On The Rail." 

"A new community initiative called Books on the Rail is placing free books on your bus, tram and train. You may have heard of book-exchange programs such as London’s Books on the Underground, which inspired copywriter Ali Berg and primary-school teacher Michelle Kalus to create Melbourne’s own Books on the Rail."

"Readers rejoice! There are books popping up all over public transport system, and not because someone keeps forgetting them. The Australian organisation Books On The Rail have established a campaign asking people to leave books on trains, trams and buses in an effort to get people sharing their most loved books."

Michelle Kalus, co-founder of Books on the Rail, speaks to 3AW Breakfast about the Books on the Rail concept. 

"If you've recently found a book on public transport, chances are it was left there just for you.

The Books on the Rail movement encourages people to leave novels on Melbourne’s trains, trams and buses for commuters to discover, read then pass on."