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My friend Becca is not only generous with her loans but also with her gifts. I quite often come home from book-club with a pile of extra books she's picked up second-hand with the comment 'I knew you wanted to read this...it was only 20 cents...I just had the get it for you!'
But here's my guilty secret...I'm not a fan of loaning out my books. In the same way I'd rather buy than borrow books in order to possess them, I'd rather not loan them. They're like children and I worry when they're having a sleep-over.
Having said that there are some people I would never hesitate a loan. After many an excited conversation that usually goes like this 'ooo this book is soooo good, you have to read it...I can't wait to talk to you about it...here take it and let me know what you think...(all my work friends know how this conversation goes). In the same way any of my fellow students were often on the receiving end of my largesse, because some of our uni texts were just too expensive to be sitting on my shelves when they could be out there doing good.
I don't have a system for keeping track of who has which book, perhaps this would enable me to be more generous but for now I'll just stick with loaning to the friends who've never let me down and are always good for hours of happy book-talk after they've returned my baby.
Speaking of which Becca did you loan my Bec Twilight? I've seen her reading it (& Rick too) maybe we borrowed it last Bookfreaks? We did come home with a lot of extra books and that startled look you mentioned!
8 comments:
Oh that's it, your guilty secret's out now!
I can understand that sentiment, though. There are some people (you, Renae, some friends from school) who I wouldn't hesitate in lending books too - but last week Alex asked if he could lend one of my books to his friend... well, I don't even like lending books to him.
And no, I don't think you guys have Twilight. I know Bec has New Moon and Eclipse... but did I? I have no idea anymore, my system is falling down around my ears!
I don't borrow books from friends because I hate lending mine in return.
It seems to be a general theme that people will lend to people they trust, but worry if they don't know where books are.
I only lend books to kids.
Lending books
I don't like to lend books out either. And I really don't like to borrow, even from the library. I'd much rather buy them for myself and build my own collection up. Of course, if people want to give me books as gifts, I won't say no. ;)
Musing on Lending Books
My teenage son let one of his friends borrow one of my books(before I told him of my feelings on the subject). Instead of freaking out, I bit my tongue and went out and bought another copy, so if I don't get it back, I'll be okay.
I'm so glad we agree. It's HARD to let them go.
Wow this blogging thing is great! It's so good to find out you're not alone. That others don't like to loan out their precious books makes me feel so much better. And I love your approach, Nise'. Accepting your son's generosity and pragmatically buying another copy is a lesson both in good parenting and thinking outside the square.
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