Give me back my books!
I know I have such awesome literary taste. I know it so much that I want to spread it around and convert people to trashy romance novels and chick lit.
Alright, I don’t really. I just lend books to my friends if I think they’ll like them. But I think I’ll have to stop. My friends have practically stolen my books! I totally expect that they will give them back to me once they’ve finished reading them, but they don’t! One friend has had FOUR of my beloved books for OVER A YEAR. Despite my constant reminders for her to give them back, I still don’t have them!
And I know it’s not because she’s too busy or whatever. It’s because she’s too lazy and can’t be bothered to round up my books from wherever she put them. While my heart cries out from the lack of soppy romance, I’ve given up all hope of ever having them returned and so to ease it’s pain, I’m actually buying all of my books all over again. I’m going to become broke, but I WANT MY BOOKS BACK!
# Sabrina, 1 year, 2 months ago.
I once gave my friend a library book to peruse over the weekend.. She took it with her on a school trip, and a few days later, a fellow classmate of ours was clasping it in his hands (I angrily swiped it from his clutches, promising never to share a book with a classmate again).
I would add more urgency to your pleas. Try saying that your sibling (or cousin/neighbor/anything) desperately needs the books and while you hate asking for the books so incessantly, it’s even worse to go home and tolerate his/her cries for the books. Good luck!
# Leila, 1 year, 2 months ago.
I read somewhere (probably a syndicated advice column, but don’t tell anybody) that if you have problems with people who like to “borrow” books for indefinite periods of time (i.e., forever), you should write something like “THIS BOOK IS THE PROPERTY OF TRACEY: RETURN OR DIE” rather than putting your name on the inside cover of the book. I’ve never done it because nobody around here reads, but it sounds like a good idea…
# Kaylee, 1 year, 2 months ago.
Luckily, my friends used to return books after I continuously nag them about it for a few weeks. However, once a friend borrowed a book and moved away! I never saw them again, yet I missed the book more than I missed the friend.
# Nirthikaa, 1 year, 2 months ago.
I always have the same problem when lending anything to friends, usually they are just to lazy to return the item and I don’t want to always nag. That’s why I always make sure the people I give my books to will give it back as soon as they are finished. I once gave my favourite book to my friend, and I asked a month later for the book; she had accidentally given it to one of her cousins who had given it to his friend. So I doubt I would be expecting the book back.
Oh the woes of borrowing :P.
# Kycoo, 1 year, 2 months ago.
Storm over to her house and take them back yourself? :D
I’ve never had this problem, as I generally don’t lend books to people. Now that I think about it, it’s probably because I don’t own that many books.
# Kat, 1 year, 2 months ago.
Oh I can top that! I let my friend borrow the Da Vinci code back September 2004 and I still haven’t gotten it back!!
# Tracey, 1 year, 2 months ago.
Sabrina - No matter how much I plead and beg and make up stories for her to give my books back, I doubt she ever will! :(
Leila - She’d see past the threat. I’m harmless!
# Brittney, 1 year, 2 months ago.
I have this problem too. I love books, and I’ve been eager to share my books with my friends in the past, but I don’t know why no one understands the word “borrow.” It’s not Christmas, it’s not your birthday, so it’s NOT A GIFT! Give it back! I once asked my friend to return one of my books, and she said, “Oh, it was the cutest thing. My baby nephew was teething so he chewed on the corner of it. I don’t think you want it back.” But of course, she didn’t ASK me if I still wanted it back, nor did she offer to buy me a new copy.
And I hate when you ask for it back and the thief says, “I’m not finished yet.” First of all, you’ve had it for six months now, so if you haven’t read it yet, you probably never will, and second of all, I don’t care if you aren’t finished. It’s my book and I asked for it back, so your slow reading skills are not my concern.
Wow, I sound really bitter. I need to take some happy pills.
# Amber, 1 year, 1 month ago.
I don’t lend my books any more! I hate thumbed pages, creased spines, and anything being spilled upon them. I see books as sacred. :P