I am a bibliophile, a self confessed book addict, it is not a hobby but a passion. To the envy of some and bafflement of others, I have managed to build a sizeable collection. It has been an expensive labour of love spanning more than a decade and a half. I have spent countless hours (and rupees) in bookshops, second hand book shops and street bazaar to build an eclectic, eccentric and Interesting collection (even if I say so myself). Not only do I spend time reading, but invest time maintaining the books as well. I am finicky, fussy and persnickety at my mildest, but when it comes to my books I take fastidiousness to another dimension of anal-ness. My books are never dog-eared, spines are never broken, there is nary a mark on them anywhere, dust jackets are bright and shiny and get periodically wiped with mild cleaning solution to keep them that way. They are a constant source of pride and pleasure.
However, I live in shadow of a constant threat, I dread the dangerous specimen commonly known as the ‘Book-Borrowers’ . To them books and borrowing seem synonymous. Their eyes turn red when they whiff the mildew, otherwise mild mannered individuals seem to demand that you lend them books and reserve the right to be annoyed if you delay. Refusal is not an option.
I would not mind lending my books so much if they are returned in the same condition they are taken, except for a couple of satisfactory lender-lendee relationships most of them have proved to be a disappointment. My books have been returned damaged, torn, dirty and in some cases they haven’t been returned at all. And then there are those of the special breed who borrow books for interminable lengths of time fully aware they don’t like reading and will not read it, but nonetheless would like to ‘start’, so they can quote book reading as a hobby on their CVs and in their interviews. After much internal debate, i think the best solution all around would be to start a lending library, and let’s see how much of a discouragement the phrase ‘nominal monetary fee’ proves.
However, I live in shadow of a constant threat, I dread the dangerous specimen commonly known as the ‘Book-Borrowers’ . To them books and borrowing seem synonymous. Their eyes turn red when they whiff the mildew, otherwise mild mannered individuals seem to demand that you lend them books and reserve the right to be annoyed if you delay. Refusal is not an option.
I would not mind lending my books so much if they are returned in the same condition they are taken, except for a couple of satisfactory lender-lendee relationships most of them have proved to be a disappointment. My books have been returned damaged, torn, dirty and in some cases they haven’t been returned at all. And then there are those of the special breed who borrow books for interminable lengths of time fully aware they don’t like reading and will not read it, but nonetheless would like to ‘start’, so they can quote book reading as a hobby on their CVs and in their interviews. After much internal debate, i think the best solution all around would be to start a lending library, and let’s see how much of a discouragement the phrase ‘nominal monetary fee’ proves.
