"Neither a borrower nor a lender be," Polonius advises his son in Hamlet. When it comes to books, I'm not sure I'd take his advice that far (after all, I'm a huge fan of libraries), but I have a confession to make: I don't really like lending out my books.
There. I said it. I'm coming clean with my pent-up bookish secret. Some would argue that it's nothing to be ashamed of, but as a total bookworm, I feel like I should like lending books. Why wouldn't I want to share my favorite titles with friends? Why wouldn't I want to spread the word about a novel I couldn't put down? And isn't it hypocritical for me to borrow books but not lend them in return? It looks like I'm not alone in my hesitation, though: this recent Book Riot piece addresses the risky business of lending books.
From a young age, we're taught to share, and in all other aspects of my life I really try not to be selfish. But when it comes to books, I'm admittedly territorial and overprotective. To me, books are prized possessions; letting one out of my sight comes with the risk that I may never get it back. When I borrow books (either from the library or from friends), I do my best to treat the book respectfully and to take good care of it. But I worry that others don't revere books the way I do. What if they crack the spine or dog-ear the pages or accidentally spill coffee on the cover? I prefer the "recommend, don't lend" mentality.
And yet, all this said, I really like borrowing books, whether it be from the library or from friends. I love the feeling of well-worn pages and seeing faded notes in the margins. I like the clues the previous reader left behind: what passages are underlined, what corners have been folded back, where the telltale teardrop stains are. Hypocritical it may be, but it's part of what comprises my identity as a reader.
How about you? Do you like lending books? We'd love to hear your thoughts!
