Matchmaker, Matchmaker

I made that picture to let you know that Penguin Dating launches today!

Sure, some of us might be trapped in joyless, loveless relationships with people who get upset because we were looking at online dating websites, even though it's for PERFECTLY REASONABLE reasons like fabricating a picture of a King Penguin with a match.com profile KATE. But there are others out there yet to find that special joyless, loveless relationship in which to get trapped.

So, for those poor souls, Penguin have teamed up with match.com to make it easier to pick potential dates online based not just on idle frippery like hair colour and star sign, but on truly important stuff like what books they like. As an example of how crucial that can be, see how arousing this is:

I just finished reading Forty Stories by Donald Barthelme ... ladies.

Wow! Pretty arousing stuff.

So go to Penguin Dating and find yourself a date with taste in books. There's already a certain Penguin Editorial Assistant with a profile (who's been reading a very good book indeed), as well as some insight into why this all came about, and no doubt lots of charming readers who you WLTM, if only you went and had a look.

I'm sure it's like a literary Castle Anthrax over there. And here I am. Trapped ...

Alan
Copywriter

Thanks to mozzercork for the penguin photo - used under a Creative Commons license.

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Comments

[Rachel]

err, that URL doesn't exist yet! I'm pretty sure it's not April 1 and match.com does have the press release...

[Alan]

My fault entirely, I forgot to add WWW.penguindating.co.uk. Also, the site is having some teething difficulties on the technical side that should be resolved this afternoon. (True love waits.)

[Pete]

Ha! I was just about to say that Rachel83 was clearly a winner but as you then said she works here I'll pretend not to have noticed.

It's a good idea though, I can imagine nothing worse than thinking you like someone only to find they read Katie Price and were thrilled by Rio Ferdinand's autobiography.

[Pheobe]

I would be more distressed to discover an extensive collection of books about Fred West. Unless it was a policeman of course..

[Richdee]

I am quite interested in doing this but am probably handicapped by only reading 'classic' sci-fi and books about war.

Is it better to be honest and therefore attract a (most probably singular) pratchet bothering sealed knot reject or should i just knuckle down and read something worthy in an attempt to fool someone into being interested through pulp symbiosis (see i do read too much sci-fi and it creeps out when you least expect it..at least I didnt mention time travel this time...oops there it is again)

[kudzu fire]

what's the deal with penguins anyway?

[Kat with a K]

Is it UK only? Any plans to expand to US?

[Alan]

Hi Kat,
As far as I know there are no plans to take it to the US at the moment, but that might yet change. In the meantime you might want to try working at a bookshop and slipping handwritten notes in with the receipts for good books.

[Elinesca]

I don't get the point of this.... where is the functionality that related your matches to what they're reading...?

All that happens to me was that match.com opened up in a frame underneath Penguin's navigation....

So - I might as well sign up with match.com because the Penguin association is merely by links and nothing else. Unless I've missed it?

[Alice B]

Hi Elinesca!
You can search for people who have the same taste in books by using the Match Words function (please do add your favourite authors to your profile). There's also the chance to read Penguins and Penguin authors on the links between reading and romance. And it's important that the site is being marketed via Penguin channels to a community of readers, making it a dating site truly geared to helping book lovers connect. But we still intend to develop the site to make the book connection even stronger. The course of true love never did run smooth.

[Elinesca]

Well, I canceled my subscription. I don't understand why I should sign up via Penguin when there is nothing new to the service, and also - the three day free trial was a complete hoax - you can't communicate with matches until you're profile is active - which surprise surprise.... can take 3 days. So I feel a bit disappointed right now, but would consider signing up again if you do something more exciting in the future!

E.

[kee]

Is that a penguin in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? :)