Book Borrowing

This blog post is a bit of a rant, I’ll admit it. If you don’t feel like reading my crazy and possibly cranky thoughts I’d run away now! Or you could just read on…I mean…up to you.

This post springs my from complete and utter confusion with the way that people borrow books. I’ll be honest, I was under the impression that if a book was lent to another book loving person, a fellow bibliophile, it would come back in the same condition in which it left. Sadly, this doesn’t seem to be the case and a few people have been taken off my list of those who I allow my precious babies to leave with. 

Below I shall chronicle the people that drive me completely insane. Shall we?

Okay I’ll admit it. I treat my books like gold. This is likely one of the few OCD tendencies that I have. If I own a book, you can guarantee that even if I’ve read it 10 times, it still looks brand new. If you want proof, I can take down my copy of The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. I’ve probably read that book at least 25 times. Still, it looks brand new!

I know, I know, you’re probably shaking your head and thinking, “Wow this girl is crazy!” and I’m apt to agree with you. I know I’m crazy. I just wish that borrowers would see the condition of books and realize that if the spine isn’t bent…well it should probably be returned that same way.

Ah yes. If you crease the pages in your books to mark your spot, more power to you friends! I simply can’t do it. If you wander around my apartment you’ll find massive amounts of bookmarks everywhere. That guarantees that no matter where I’m reading, I’ll always have something to mark my page with. Oh and if I can’t find one? Well I’ve been known to mark pages with scraps of paper, receipts, envelopes, whatever I can find!

Therefore it makes me very sad when I receive my book back and there are creased pages throughout the book. Again, yes I know it’s crazy. I love my books to look pristine as they did when I lent them out.

3) The COASTER User

Let me compose myself…just a moment. This makes me the most angry.

My. Book. Is. NOT. A. Coaster.

Please don’t put a glass on it, please don’t place it near your glass that has a ton of condensation on it. We all know that books and water don’t mix. Poor things get all swelled up, ink runs, pages curl. It is simply not a happy prospect for the book or the book lover. PLEASE! Keep my book away from water okay? Thanks.

Honestly I can tell you right now, I’m the nicest person when it comes to books. If you lend me one, it will come back to you in the same condition in which it left your house. I suppose that is what makes me want to scream when other people don’t follow suit.

If you bend spines or crease pages in your own books, awesome! They’re yours, so do what you will. My plea to all book lovers out there is, respect the book owner and their wishes.

Are you afraid to borrow books from me now? I wouldn’t blame you. 

Thanks for listening to my rambling for today and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. Agree or disagree, I still love to hear what you have to say!