Now I know for a fact that a lot of readers have a problem with lending out their books to other people. I don’t have exact numbers or anything, but I’m assuming about 90% of bookworms would rather eat their books than lend them out. At least, I know I would.

If you’re part of that 10% then you may be asking yourself, “But Rayna, why would you want to do that!?” Well, my friend, let me tell you why.

It’s like a curse. Almost every single time I lend a book out to someone to borrow they somehow manage to get damaged in some way. 97% of the time that includes the cover somehow being ripped in a corner or along the edge. That other 3% consists of either my book never being returned to me, something happened to one of the pages on the inside, or some other anomaly of some sort.

But why is it that this happens? I just… I don’t understand! Maybe it’s my personality, but I am very possessive of my belongings. I don’t want people touching my things (well, okay, they can touch it and look at it, but be gentle with it), or using my things, or driving my car… I mean, that’s normal, right? You know the condition of how these things are when you lend them out and then when they’re returned in less of a condition that you gave them out? You’re heartbroken! Annoyed! Enraged, even!

I know that when I borrow something from someone I want to make sure it stays in the exact condition that they gave it to me because I want to show that I can be trusted. I’ve always been that way – and I’m not saying I haven’t made mistakes, too. It happens; something inevitable gets in the way.

But sometimes, it’s 100% preventable.

A few months ago I let a friend borrow a book and still have yet to receive it back. I mean, I kind of regret getting the book in the first place, so I’m fine with it, but still… It’s the principal!

I’ve let people borrow my books and the covers have been demolished or their parents have used it as a coaster (like, who does that to a book, anyway!?). So I’ve had a lot of traumatic experiences when it comes to my books.

That’s why I’m extremely selective when it comes to letting people borrow anything of mine. I have a hard time trusting that they’ll take care of it, but I mean, I can’t be paranoid about it all the time. It also depends on the book, too, I think. If it’s one I haven’t read yet or one that I didn’t particularly like, then I might give a little leeway, but if it’s a favorite book? You bet your butt I’m not giving that out to anyone.

It’s a two sided coin, really.

Let’s Chat! ≧◡≦

So friends, I want to ask you: have you ever had these bad things happen to your books when you’ve lent them out? Do they come back pristine or are they destroyed afterward? Have you ever done this to someone else’s books? I need to know!