when you let someone borrow a book, do you expect to get it back?

qgirl · March 2009

When someone lets me borrow a book, I am the type of person that reads a book as fast as I can so that I can return it asap.

Maybe I missed a memo or something, but every time I let anyone borrow a book I never see it again.

How do I ask for my books back without sounding petty? One girl has had the book for over a year and another over 3 years (I have pretty much written that book off).

t.bird · March 2009

hell yeah- i'm anal about my books.

in fact there is a chick at work who's had my book for several months- i keep hinting & nothing yet. i'm going to have to resort to demanding.

sxu0007 · March 2009

I expect to and I return books. People are just jerks! That stinks!

Stefaniepr · March 2009

I never expect it back unless it's one of my favourites in which case I say "I want it back after."

volleydiva · March 2009

I know what you mean, that irritates me too. I am waiting for this one girl who says she'll bring it in everytime I see her or talk to her. It has been almost a year! Ugh, I actually wanted to read it again too!

jason&robin · March 2009

I expect them back unless I specially told them they could keep it.

HisLobster · March 2009

Definitely, that's why I emphasize the word "borrow" when I lend things out. I have to ask for a book back too. Grrrr...

qgirl · March 2009

I should say that these are maternity books that I wouldn't mind reading again.

lovelyophelia · March 2009

If it's a paperback, I don't care.

If I let you borrow a hardback book, I will hunt you down for it!

AutumnBride929 · March 2009

lol MIL lent me two books last summer and I'm still not through the first one yet. I haven't read in forever! I would just be like, "Oh, hey, do you still have that book I lent you last summer?" or whatever and see where it goes from there.

Stefaniepr · March 2009

Stefaniepr:
I never expect it back unless it's one of my favourites in which case I say "I want it back after."

I would like to note however, that I always return books that I borrow.

Mama Jan · March 2009

I always expect it back. I just shoot the person a quick email, "Hey, do you still have _____? I was thinking I might read it again this weekend." or "Did I let you borrow ______? A friend was asking about it and I couldn't find my copy."

I find it's not so aggressive and people usually get the book back to me right away.

MizMac · March 2009

Ask the person if they've had a chance to read it yet! ?There's nothing petty about that.

?I am really cautious about the books I loan out ever since I loaned a pristine hard-cover book (one of my favorites ever) to a co-worker years ago, and when I (eventually) got it back the spine was warped, the edges of the pages were dirty, and it smelled like cigarette smoke. ?YUCK!!!?

OutLawless · March 2009

I absolutely expect to get a book back that I let someone borrow. Hence the word borrow. I love my books!

Evelynsmom · March 2009

I do believe that the term "borrow" means you have it on a temporary basis. Hell yes I'd expect it back and in the condition it was given to ther person.

water-fairy · March 2009

Of course I expect them back. I would just ask anywho to return the book.

kimsy · March 2009

I love my books and get irritated by this too. I have started writing my name in the ones that are most important to me, b/c I figure if people see my name in it they might realize that it is actually one that is significant to me.

The worst is when someone passes it along to someone else without asking. I can't find several of my favorite books because people have assumed that I would be ok with them passing it to a friend.

Vixey529 · March 2009

I hate it when people don't return things they borrowed. And yes, unless I told someone I am GIVING them a book, I would be expecting it back!!

Pesky · March 2009

Yes and there are a couple I know I will NEVER see again. So now I am careful about lending them out (only to non-flakey people) and if it is to someone I don't know terribly well, I either don't lend it or just give it away. Otherwise, I call up and say, "Hey, a friend was asking to borrow that book and took me forever to realize that I think I loaned it to you last. Do you still have it and when might I pick it up?"

azucenalgp1984 · March 2009

That pisses me off! It's called borrowing a book not keeping it. I learned my lesson, though, I let someone borrow one once and never got it back. Last time I did that!