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Monday, June 7, 2010

Books in a landfill - the HORROR!

Have you ever thrown a book away?  I did - twice! Gasp!  I still feel guilty about it even though the past decade I have cherished the rest of them and collect them like trophies. I would NEVER do it again and quite the opposite, protect them and find the unwanted ones homes the day after I am done with them. I committed the crime before I had a conciousness about the life of a book. I remember buying a paperback one day, reading the first two chapters or so and being disgusted by the way women were portrayed in it - garbage can it went! I just couldn't bear to let another woman read it and knew no man would want it either. Recently, I saw that title mentioned as being a great book.  I've been taking a writing class and  have learned more about how stories often start with the opposite of what they are about to make a point. I remember donating my copy of Gone With the Wind because I couldn't swallow after reading the way the slaves were portrayed in the opening of the story. (I love the story now, but this was when I was trying to read it before seeing the movie). There was one more novel I really hated and with my mind a blur, tossed it because I was moving, overwhelmed with clutter, and didn't have the time to donate it (this was before all the awesome outlets for books came into my life).  Now, I won't even let one ripped up children's paperback get mixed in with the toys that get boxed up when they tire of them. I mend every book they've ever torn. Maybe I learned something from the guilt? How about you? Have you ever committed a crime against a book?

4 comments:

  1. Like you, I've tossed a couple that offended me on some level. But rarely. Maybe twice in a lifetime! Most often I give them to a charity that sells used books for .50. I give them away, then go buy more!

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  2. So glad I'm not the only one! I wonder if there's a PETN (People For Ethical Treatment of Novels)?

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  3. I've thrown a few away, but only because of major damage. Otherwise, I just give them to the local thrift store. :-)

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  4. After years of hording so many self-help books and other "maybe I will get to read it some day" books, my DH convinced me include them in the donation run to Goodwill. A few kids books that got barfed on and pages torn out of them did hit the trash. I agree with you---there is a guilt factor. Just like soda cans around here.

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