A little bit about books, a little bit about life.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Musing Mondays

I have to put a warning label on this post. A warning to my friends whom I really do let borrow my books....this wasn't meant for you! :~) Just those friend wanna be's. yep, that's it.
read on.....


Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about lending books...
The question is....
A few weeks back we had a question about borrowing books, this week I was wondering what your policy was on lending books. Do you lend books to anyone? Just friends? Only big readers? How long are they allowed to have them?
*****

My answer is....
I had a friend once, whose philosophy on lending books was that if they never came back to her, the other person needed them more than she did.

I say...BULL-ONEY. It's my book. Mine. MINE. All MINE. I love my books. They are like old friends. I "make" myself lend to my friends. How can I be so rude to say NO? I hate it tho.
I have over 400 books catalogued on Library Thing... that is ridiculous. I need to be loaning some books out. I need to be giving some books away.
Every once in a while I will...and then I regret it.
One of my book clubs had a "white elephant book" gift exchange at Christmas time. I was responsible for getting the word out, (since it was my idea) but I fell behind on my duties, so I took a bag of books that I had read and liked in case someone forgot and showed up to bookclub without one.
There were about 4 or 5 people who forgot books, so I let them choose from my bag. It was Christmas and I felt in the spirit and that I really should "share" books I loved.
And now I REGRET IT. I lost 4 or 5 of my much loved books. It's a good thing these book club members are my friends, because I'll ask about my books. And see if I can coax them back when they are done reading them. LOL.

Technically, I am a "Book Crosser". But I've never actually left a book of mine all alone on a park bench or in a coffee shop. It makes me sad to think of them there all alone....abandoned.
I like the idea of Book Crossing. I love it. I am very excited at someday trying it.... but not right now. That poor little book.....forsaken, cast off, dumped like yesterdays garbage.

So there you have my answer. Short but sweet. So, you say you want to borrow a book? NO WAY! Well, okay..way. But I'm thinking of making people fill out a contact sheet and put a check out date on them.
*** I have an update for this blog.
from my friend Shelly...whom I DO LET borrow my books. LOL
from Shelly:
Ok, I read your blog and now will NEVER ask to borrow a book again. You may have a nervous breakdown or something if I do!
I had been really good about not ordering from B & N but broke down Friday night...those bargain books got me!
She's joking of course. I've even loaned her books to take out of the country. My books took a trip to Paris.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

whew! THe thought of my books leaving the country without me makes me nervous! JK. I totally get it, though. I'm the same way!

Nise' said...

I don't feel so bad for wanting a complete history before I lend a book out!

Anonymous said...

I'm picky about who I lend my books to, but there are a few people who I allow to borrow them.