As some of you know, I have much respect for books. Due to a certain unfortunate event over 10 years ago I deemed it fit to create and inform one who would borrow books from me about some, shall we say, guidelines. Which I did. To the oblivious of you here they are again:
1. Thou shalt not read books while ingesting nourishment.
2. Thou shalt not read books while imbibing beverage.
3. Thou shalt not read books while performing one's ablutions.
4. Thou shalt not read outside lest the weather is fair.
5. If there are insects buzzing about outside then read only indoors.
6. Thou shalt not read in a fashion that will result in the breaking of the back of the book.
7. Thou shalt not handle the book with hands unclean.
8. Thou shalt not lend, show, hand, give permission to handle or leaf through the books lent to you, to third parties. Even if they have your full and complete trust.
9. Thou shalt not store or transport the book in a fashion that will damage, soil or bemire it.
10. Thou shalt care for borrowed books as thy wouldst want thine lent books to be cared for.
11. Anything else I can think of.
Unfortunately, it seems that this kind of helpful hint can be overlooked by some people. A while ago, somewhere around the end of September I lent a book of mine to someone at the time seemingly on his best way to becoming my friend. As it was a rather short novel, a month or so later I asked that someone, let us refer to him as X, did he find it enjoyable. X stated in reply that he was overworked and that he was reading it on lunch breaks at work. Two weeks later having been invited for dinner, at X's I noticed said novel standing on the bookshelf. To my surprise after removing it from said shelf, I discovered the cover and some of the pages were covered in what looked like mud, but (as I was later informed) what was in fact coffee. X apologized and stated that he would buy me a new copy. Hunky-dory. At this point the reader may ask: And...? So...?
So: Said dinner was about a month ago and from then on absolutely nothing happened. No contact from him whatsoever. Even though my edition is out of print a copycan still be could have been bought online. It just required a little effort. Typing a search query and clicking for confirmation a few times.
What gets my goat here isn't that the book was, shall we say 'caffeinated'. It isn't even the fact that I still don't have a new copy. It's these kindergarten antics, this childish cloak-and-dagger spiel of not saying anything as if it would magically amend the situation. Then putting the book on the shelf, where the probability I find it is more than 0%. Finally, apologies stated, doing absolutely nothing about the situation. I'd understand if it were the case of a six-year old. You know how it goes, "The dog broke the vase with its tail", "The cookie jar fell from the shelf" (of its own volition and its own power mind you). But no, this is a seemingly adult and responsible person.
The keyword being "seemingly." The remaining bitter sense of disappointment is quite far from the realm of seeming and quite near to the realm of "I want you to contact me in, around.. never!" Disappointment. The human race in a nutshell.
1. Thou shalt not read books while ingesting nourishment.
2. Thou shalt not read books while imbibing beverage.
3. Thou shalt not read books while performing one's ablutions.
4. Thou shalt not read outside lest the weather is fair.
5. If there are insects buzzing about outside then read only indoors.
6. Thou shalt not read in a fashion that will result in the breaking of the back of the book.
7. Thou shalt not handle the book with hands unclean.
8. Thou shalt not lend, show, hand, give permission to handle or leaf through the books lent to you, to third parties. Even if they have your full and complete trust.
9. Thou shalt not store or transport the book in a fashion that will damage, soil or bemire it.
10. Thou shalt care for borrowed books as thy wouldst want thine lent books to be cared for.
11. Anything else I can think of.
Unfortunately, it seems that this kind of helpful hint can be overlooked by some people. A while ago, somewhere around the end of September I lent a book of mine to someone at the time seemingly on his best way to becoming my friend. As it was a rather short novel, a month or so later I asked that someone, let us refer to him as X, did he find it enjoyable. X stated in reply that he was overworked and that he was reading it on lunch breaks at work. Two weeks later having been invited for dinner, at X's I noticed said novel standing on the bookshelf. To my surprise after removing it from said shelf, I discovered the cover and some of the pages were covered in what looked like mud, but (as I was later informed) what was in fact coffee. X apologized and stated that he would buy me a new copy. Hunky-dory. At this point the reader may ask: And...? So...?
So: Said dinner was about a month ago and from then on absolutely nothing happened. No contact from him whatsoever. Even though my edition is out of print a copy
What gets my goat here isn't that the book was, shall we say 'caffeinated'. It isn't even the fact that I still don't have a new copy. It's these kindergarten antics, this childish cloak-and-dagger spiel of not saying anything as if it would magically amend the situation. Then putting the book on the shelf, where the probability I find it is more than 0%. Finally, apologies stated, doing absolutely nothing about the situation. I'd understand if it were the case of a six-year old. You know how it goes, "The dog broke the vase with its tail", "The cookie jar fell from the shelf" (of its own volition and its own power mind you). But no, this is a seemingly adult and responsible person.
The keyword being "seemingly." The remaining bitter sense of disappointment is quite far from the realm of seeming and quite near to the realm of "I want you to contact me in, around.. never!" Disappointment. The human race in a nutshell.