Real Talk: Book Borrowing
12:29:00 PM
Did you cringe while reading that phrase? Did the sheer thought of it make goosebumps crawl up your arms and spine at the imagined scenario of your precious tomes in the hands of somebody else? Or maybe you simply don’t care; maybe you’re glad to share the magic of the stories and don’t mind so much as long as you trust the person.
However you may feel about the concept of book borrowing, I know it can be a touchy subject to some. Myself in particular, I sometimes don’t even let my own mother borrow my books because I know how she will treat them! I know you have probably heard some horror stories of people lending out copies of their treasured signed copies, only to receive them months later in deplorable conditions.
It’s not only a sign of respect toward a person but also toward their property; you treat their stuff right. When I lend out books, I am super selective of who I lend them out to because I know only certain people in my circle of friends and family will understand how I show my books preferential treatment. I know some people who will even stick a little index card with rules into the book before lending it out, such as “no eating and reading” or “don’t dog-ear the pages” but to me that’s a tad bit extreme. When I lend out books I tell people ahead of time how crazy protective I can be about my books – my books are my treasures, collected through hard-earned money, gifts from loved ones, and some books are even very near and dear to me as they are signed, personalized, and come with memories attached to them. If I lend out a book then I’m lending out my treasured experiences, and I need the person I’m letting borrow the book to understand this.
If you are a book lender, you know what level of trust must be established before you let your pretties out of your sight. But the joy of it all is spreading the love and magic of these stories, letting others experience the first read and feel what you felt the first time you ever read that book. Imagine meeting your favorite character for the first time, all over again, the feelings of companionship and wonderment they left you with. Imagine the edge-of-your-seat action and suspense you went through; maybe even staying up into the early morning hours to finish the story, needing so badly to know what comes next. Being able to give a friend the same experience is something truly magical.
Now, if you’re the one doing the borrowing… I only hope you know what it’s like to so dearly cherish something and how deep the trust must run before you are allowed to possess this thing for a short period of time. Some tips for being a good borrower: Don’t screw up. Don’t dog-ear the pages, use a bookmark. I’ll use anything from old polaroids I have laying around to hairties to receipts if I can’t find a proper bookmark, and that’s perfectly fine. Don’t break the spine. I used to do this with my paperbacks, cracking the binding so that it was easier to hold as I read; but all this winds up doing is making the book flimsier and damaged irreversibly. The covers do that weird curling thing that no amount of weight will ever get it to lay flat again, and the spine shows cracks and breaks over time. Don’t eat and read. I’m guilty of doing this, but only if I’m feeling particularly adventurous. You can never predict spills of any sort, and god help anything in the splash zone when they happen. And lastly, just use common sense. Think about your actions in relation to the book and just make sure you’re taking good care of it. It’s like borrowing anything else from your friend, be it clothes or their tools or any other possessions. If you take care of it with respect and mindful care, you’ll be just fine.
Because in the end it’s all about spreading the love and joy of stories.
5 comments
Awesome post, Giselle!
ReplyDeleteI totally get what you mean - I used to never let anyone borrow my books, because I've had some bad book borrowing experiences before!
Especially spills. Man, you are SO right about how unpredictable those are! :/
Nowadays, I'm a lot more chill about it - just because I recently read an article about how a book's well-read look can be cool, because it shows how much a book has been loved! But yeah, I'm still going to hate anyone who breaks my books, and I still lend my books out on a very selective basis haha xD
Loved this post!
Geraldine @ Corralling Books
OMG SO MUCH YES. I'm soooo picky about who I borrow my books too, and that's only to in-person friends or family members (I've had books get lost or damaged while shipping them to borrow, so I don't do that anymore o.o) .. and only to SELECT in-person people. If you doggy ear my books, I'll never trust you again lol. Awesome post!
ReplyDeleteBrittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles
Ack, I always feel so nervous whenever I let people borrow my books... So usually I only lend them to people I really trust. However, if I lend someone a book and they return it in a not-so-great condition, they'll most likely never get another book from me. xD
ReplyDeleteOf course, when I borrow a book myself, I always treat them extra care - even more extra care than I do with my own books. I wouldn't want my friend's trust on me to break.
Actually, reading this post made me remember the time when I asked my friend to lend me her copy of Cinder, and a simple bookmark using a typewriting paper was inserted in it with her saying "Here, a free bookmark while you're reading it." I laughed because the bookmark had a edit printed in it with these "rules" I must follow while I had the book. xD Some include "no placing near liquids" and "NO DOG-EAR-ING." It was mostly just for laughs (which worked) but of course I followed them as well haha.
Awesome post, Giselle!
I am one of those people who really doesn't mind lending out books. Of course, I am not going to give it to you if you're a random stranger but with friends, I don't mind. I like it when theres a stain or a very little tear on a page. To me, it's like the book has had its own adventure! I do, however, take precautions with expensive hardcovers. There is NO. WAY. you are getting that hardcover with a dust-jacket on it.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Rekha @ Million Book Mill
Love it, and I totally agree! Although I do draw the line between a well-loved book and a total disregard for proper care /: I'm certainly not one to keep my books in total pristine shape but I enjoy just maintaining their quality so that I, and others I choose to share them with, can enjoy them for much longer! So glad you enjoyed, Rekha, and thanks for the comment! <3
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