I’ve written pretty extensively on here about all things books. I know I’ve mentioned in numerous posts that I do NOT lend out books. At all. I believe I’ve let someone borrow one of my books just once. It was my senior year of high school and the book borrowed is still the fourth best book I’ve read according to my personal list. It now appears there will be a second time that I lend out a book.
A couple of days ago I wrote about Lone Survivor being the best book I’ve read. Well yesterday afternoon I did something I don’t normally do. I recommended a book to someone. *gasp* That’s right. And she’s not a big reader. But for whatever reason, I’m sitting there in the break room at work and decide that I need to recommend this book. I know why it happened (it’s the best book I’ve ever read), but I don’t know why it happened the way it did. We weren’t talking about books. As a matter of fact, she was telling me how horrible I look just a few minutes before. (Still sick) But when I told her about it she asked if she could borrow my copy so she wouldn’t have to buy it. Let me sum up my initial reaction for you. “MY copy?!” *insert crazy stare* I even said something about people damaging books.
BUT I ultimately let her talk me into lending her my book. I sound like such a guy, letting a girl talk me into something I don’t want to do. HA! Guys, that’s sarcasm there. Don’t get upset.
Tell me what your policy is on lending books. I’m normally 100 percent against it, but I guess exceptions are made when the person asking is a girl I’ve known a few years. Eh.
On this day in 2014 I published Am I a Book Blogger?.
Johnny Reads 
Hmmm I’ve always been quite keen sharing my books – if I want someone to read something, I’ll shove the book down their throat if I have to :’)
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The major difference between the two of us is that I don’t want anyone to read anything. Cause what do I know about anyone else and their reading?
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True but sometimes by recommending a book to someone else, you open up a whole genre to them that they previously hadn’t discovered (similar to recommending a movie you enjoyed, your favourite food etc.)
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I’m not responsible for doing that.
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True… but if you like something you’re usually gonna bring it up in conversation? And from there is where we differ (I’d personally go out of my way to give them my copy just cos I tend to get overly into things like that). It’s cool we’re different people
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Nope. I don’t talk books with anyone off WordPress. No point.
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Ah fair enough, I don’t usually but if I know the person reads quite a bit, I’ll usually suggest something if I liked it and think they would.
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P.S. I’m a writer myself, and I write short stories and poems (Got a novel in the works). Feel free to check me out if you have time, any feedback is appreciated. Thanks 🙂
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I only lend books when I trust them completely. I HATE it when they get grease marks on the pages and horror or horrors – misplace the books. I should be more like you though. And never lend anyone any book I own.
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Ha! You should be more like me. Everyone should be more like me. 😉
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Hahahahahaha.
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Well at least you didn’t disagree.
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You’re right, so I didn’t 😛
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Um. I’m always right. Duhh. 😂
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The only books I loaned out never came back to me. Sad face. So I don’t lend them anymore. And I don’t borrow books from other people because my reading style is so wonky they may not get it back for a while.
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Pretty sure I knew this.
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Probably. But, again, I don’t remember everything I’ve told you, so some things may come back again. I’m like an old person who tells the same stories over and over again because she can’t remember what she’s said.
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I’ve stopped lending books to anyone a long time ago. I love my books and not getting them back is just not an option. But, just to be fair, I don’t borrow books from anyone either. 🙂
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You’re me. I hate reading used books, so I wouldn’t want anyone else’s books.
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I only lend my books out to my friends. And all my friends know how much I love my books and that they have to return it without any damages or damaged ears. – and they know if they don’t do it that way, they have to buy me a new undamaged version. haha those are my rules. Kind of OCD right?! Well at least I haven’t had one damaged book returned, so it kind of worked haha!
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Haha I have no friends I’d lend a book to. They don’t read and I don’t want to be hunting anyone down. I like your rules.
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I lend books knowing that I may never see them again. I don’t have room for them all anyway and why put them in a box in the attic. I figure I’m sharing the joy.
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I can’t see myself ever doing that. But I also imagine you have many more books than I do.
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I’m with Wallace. I only lend books with no intention of getting them back. If it’s a book I can’t do without, then I don’t loan it. I actually received a book one time–“Same Kind of Different as Me”–and the person who gave it to me said it was given on condition I give it to someone else when I was done with it. I loved that book. It was a real eye opener on the issue of homelessness in this country. But I did as I was instructed and I gave it away, with the same instructions that the person I gave it to had to pass it along.
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That’s an interesting concept. But I’d never just give away a book, not even with instructions for that person to pass it along to someone else.
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The idea of lending books sends a jolt of anxiety through me. The only people I trust with my books are myself and provably my three best friends (I kind of trust them with my books). I dont have a policy, but I do expect the book to be returned in under a month. If not, I’m coming for it.
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“If not, I’m coming for it.” Translation: I’m hunting you down. 🔪 I think a month is plenty of time to have that be the ultimate consequence. 😂
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it depends on the person, I would only lend books to someone who is a) trustworthy and b) lives with me to eliminate the “I forgot it at home” excuse when they are supposed to give it back
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Why would you live with someone who isn’t trustworthy? Kind of redundant reasons.
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You don’t always choose who you live with
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You don’t? I guess you’re referring to a lifetime living in a college dorm? Otherwise I have no idea what you’re talking about.
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I’d rather buy them a copy of their own- I know every book I ever lent out because of the gap that still remains in my bookshelf. No more lending!
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Ha! Make a list and let’s get those books back!
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Beth has my copy of Labyrith by Kate Mosse, was lent in the summer of ’11.
Let’s go huntin’
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🔫🔪 I’m ready. For anything. Even a fight to the death for it.
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Let’s ‘Strangers on a Train’ it- you go get Labyrinth, what do you want me to retrieve?
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I don’t understand what you just said. 😳
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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044079/
This, but with book retrieval rather than murder….
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Ohhh. So now you have to get a book for me, right? I’ve only lent one out and I got it back, so…
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Wow! The exception that proves the rule.
I’ve heard legend of books being returned but I hardly dared believe…
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Ha! It was a long time ago and we saw each other everyday. I wonder what else I could have you retrieve? Hmm.
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At least count, I have 5 books roaming the wild so you can name 5 items 😄
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Oh man! That’s a lot. I don’t think I can even think of that many things. Can I ask you to steal some things? 😉
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You can always ask – don’t hold your breath though! 😄
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Hmmm. Can I ask you to buy me things?
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Theft is looking more likely – I recently went on an amazon binge
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Haha! I first would like for you to come to Houston and steal someone’s Texans season tickets for me. Because I know the organization better than any person I know, and I’ve never been to a game. 😳
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Consider it done!
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Would you like to join me for the first game for your trouble? 😂
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You’ve twisted my arm, though I am *horror* a Jets fan
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Then you’ll welcome some higher quality football into your life. And you’ll get to see JJ Watt.
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The cheek! I am formerly a Jags fan, so I am raising my standards
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Well are you from Florida or New York? Or do you just pick random teams to root for? 😂
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I’m British with no US affiliations, so Jags were picked from ‘select random team’ on a game of Madden- the UK jags rep angered me at a conference so I jumped ship after 5 years of disappointment 😄
I’m morally allowed to support Jets now Vick has gone 😄
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Ohhhh. Okay. If you’ve ever been to one of the London games then I’m going to be angry. I think you should root for the Texans. Just saying.
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I’ve had tickets a couple of times, but by some cruel twist of fate I’ve had to bail each time
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WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU? I actually had season tickets once. But we sold them before the season started. Just punch me in the face.
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They come round every year and it’s not quite popular enough here yet to sell out instantly, so the chance will come round again!
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Nooooo. You can’t go before me!
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Become a book bounty hunter. Make your millions and come to Wembley.
Simple!
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I’ve already recovered your first book! I’ll get it to you shortly.
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I’ve lent out books to close friends and family a couple times. I don’t think I’ve ever lent out a book to someone I barely knew. But it’s such a hassle to lend out books (not getting them back, getting them back half-ruined, etc., etc.), so I’m more inclined to drop the “just buy your own copy, jeez” hint…
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Good philosophy. You’re not a library.
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