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Do you let people borrow your books generally? I used to enjoy lending people my books only to discover that more often than not, they were never returned unless I hunted said borrowers down and went and got them myself.
Then I started prefacing any book-lending by telling the borrowers in a jokingly serious way that I absolutely hated it when people didn't return books in a timely manner. This in turn would lead to the borrowers eagerly telling me just how much they hated those kinds of book borrowers too - which gave me false hope, as these haters-of-book-borrowers-who-don't-return-books still never returned books.
So what do you do about people like that short of taking up arms? I love to share books I've enjoyed but I want them back. And I find it really hard to say no to good friends.
Location: Montreal -> CT -> MA -> Montreal -> Ottawa
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I feel exactly the same as how you feel.
What makes me more upset is when, after a lengthy time, I ask, "So, how did you like MY book?" and they respond with, "Oh, is that yours?" and then, "I haven't gotten around to reading it yet."
I have a group of 7 friends I will loan my books to. They know that the books are my babies and they return them to me....I have personalized book plates in all of them.
However, when the Twilight series came out (ok,ok, I LOVE those books) it got kind of hairy and the books were not coming back to me. So, I bought another complete series to keep at home, safe, secure. Of that first set I never did get the 3rd book back. So, what did I do? I bought another one. I can be OCDish about books. In other words, I ended up buying 3 copies of that one book. Yeah, I'm odd. Just don't mess with my books.
I would not loan out a book unless I really didn't want it back. If I'm done with a book I usually do not have a problem giving them away or trading at the local used book store.
I have one signed copy of Lucky You by Carl Hiaasen that I have held on to for years (it was a present from my dad as well).
I would not loan out a book unless I really didn't want it back. If I'm done with a book I usually do not have a problem giving them away or trading at the local used book store.
I have one signed copy of Lucky You by Carl Hiaasen that I have held on to for years (it was a present from my dad as well).
I absolutely agree lol. I read so MUCH I usually do the same, give away or trade but the ones that I KEEP either nonfiction or ones I could reread happily, they stay with me.
I would not loan out a book unless I really didn't want it back.....
I only "loan" a book when I can say, "I don't want it back."
Otherwise, buy your own.
I find the more difficult problem is to make people understand that I do not want to borrow the book that they insist I would like. My own TBR pile will probably still have books in it when I croak.
I tried to find the exact quote on the internet but was unable to do so. But one of my favorites about this subject goes something like this....
"It annoys me when I loan people books and they do not return them. It has gotten so bad that the only books left in my library are those I have borrowed from other people. (or something like that).
I do not loan books unless I don't care if I get them back. My books are like family to me and I love them all dearly. If I want someone to have a particular book, I will usually buy them a copy rather than loan mine out.
Do you let people borrow your books generally? I used to enjoy lending people my books only to discover that more often than not, they were never returned unless I hunted said borrowers down and went and got them myself.
Then I started prefacing any book-lending by telling the borrowers in a jokingly serious way that I absolutely hated it when people didn't return books in a timely manner. This in turn would lead to the borrowers eagerly telling me just how much they hated those kinds of book borrowers too - which gave me false hope, as these haters-of-book-borrowers-who-don't-return-books still never returned books.
So what do you do about people like that short of taking up arms? I love to share books I've enjoyed but I want them back. And I find it really hard to say no to good friends.
Oh, how I completely understand, and agree with you!!!
I don't volunteer to loan out books anymore, because they are NEVER returned!!!
To me, to not return a borrowed book to its rightful owner is just common thievery!
I only "loan" a book when I can say, "I don't want it back."
Otherwise, buy your own.
I find the more difficult problem is to make people understand that I do not want to borrow the book that they insist I would like. My own TBR pile will probably still have books in it when I croak.
This one guy insisted I read a particular book. I tried to read it, but I really didn't like it. Come to find out he moved. He is still somewhere in town, but I don't know where. It's been about three years since I have seen him. I saw his son in the store a couple of weeks ago gave him our new number and told him to tell his dad that I still have his book if he wants it back.
My mom is always trying to give me books to read as well.
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and then, "I haven't gotten around to reading it yet."
