April 13, 2001 --- Have you ever borrowed a book from someone and purposely not returned it?

Skittles11223344@aol.com
No, I haven't. When I borrow a book from someone, I always return it because I wouldn't want anyone to purposely not return my book to me.

Lwgate@aol.com
Once in highschool and once from a work library. No excuse is good enough but no one had ever checked out the one book and the other was in a cupboard with books that were not even shelved. I would never do this to a friend. What is it about companies that you feel it is not "really stealing"?

SSKUFCA@aol.com
No, Never. I would never do that. It does not belong to me. If I liked the book that much I would go out and buy it.

BillieM633@aol.com
No, no, no! And I detest people who do that!

ATESSL@aol.com
NO! I've never purposely not returned a book, and as someone who has had many books unreturned to her, I think those that do it on purpose ought to be hung and beaten with pulp romance novels!

archrev@gwi.net (burgess/lagueux)
NO! However it may be rationalized, it's still stealing.

GBHARDIN@aol.com
I borrowed a book from my sister, "Dream Girl, My Life as a Supreme" by Mary Wilson. I am a big Motown fan and I must have read the book seven or eight times. Besides it being Mary Wilson's autobiography, it was a wonderful look back to the 1960's during the civil rights movement in the midst of Beatle Mania and the Johnson Administration. Whenever I hear a Supreme song on the radio or such, I reflect back to her book and can almost picture the three soulful sirens standing on stage doing what they enjoyed the best...making their fans happy!

NancyKWilson@aol.com
No. I could not manage the guilt of keeping from someone something precious they risked sharing with me. If the book is one I want for my library, I will find another of my own. I return borrowed books to their rightful owners.

pbennett@westga.edu
I borrowed the FATHER BROWN OMNIBUS in about 1982 and I still have it and still read it. I have never mentioned to the owner that I have it and I hope she has forgotten who has it or perhaps she is too polite to ask for it back.

Cipsi2@aol.com
Nope, can't say as I ever did.

DCCJ1@aol.com
Never would I do that. I love my books too much to take from someone else.

GldMorrow@aol.com
NO, I must admit I have been tempted, but I have gone out and purchased it due to my wanting it so badly. It kills me to buy a book "I have already" read, but some are so special I just have too. I would never keep anyone's book as mine are all so special to me. I would want the same common courtesy. Thanks

bluhrig@inct.net
No, I have never borrowed a book with the intent not to return it. Once I forgot I'd borrowed a book, then had to track down the person through her family because we'd lost track of each other after she left town. Another time, I had a library book out for 3 years. I mailed the book back to the library (found it when packing for a move,) Luckily, they excused the fine. I did have a friend who stole a book from me and have lost many more by lending them and forgetting who I lent them to.

BFBrooks@aol.com
No, I would not do that. Books are very personal to me.

Elittlefinn@aol.com
I borrowed Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom from my Mom. I broke the spine, because I read it so thoroughly.(All women NEED to read this book!) But I did buy her a new book.

CBAST@aol.com
YES! I don't have a good reason. Sometimes the book is out of print, but sometimes I fall in love with it and can't part with it. I try to give the lender something of equal value without mentioning the intentional pilfering.

Busylizzie42@aol.com
I'm not sure if it was a "borrow" or "give" but the Pelican Brief by John Grisham is still on my shelves and I believe she has my audio of The Testament also by Grisham. Hmmmm did we switch?

Cairo1953@aol.com
Never.......A very dear friend gave me a gift set - The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R.Tolkien many years ago. When a co-worker borrowed one of those books and later denied having ever received it, I felt a sense of sadness. Although many may say, "It's just a book," the sentimental value is far greater. Therefore, I promised myself many years ago to never borrow something without returning it.

deedledeedum@msn.com
I never did, and never would, borrow a book and not return it. I would be very angry at anyone who would do that to me. My books are my friends and I love to have them around.

MUNFORDF@aol.com
I always return books. I feel it would be like keeping someone's child. My books are cherished and I can't imagine keeping something so special as someone's book. If I really like a book that has been loaned to me, I almost always buy it to add to my library.

MalaikaNM@aol.com
Have I ever borrowed a book and purposefully not returned it? No. I have loved a borrowed book so much that, as it was out of print and the loaner was not as attached to it, it was given to me.

Sblokzyl@aol.com
I borrowed a book in the 60's and still have it, words of Kahill Gilbran. I've had it so long I think it is mine.

MalaikaNM@aol.com
No. I have loved a borrowed book so much that, as it was out of print and the loaner was not as attached to it, it was given to me.

JEarh13191@aol.com
I have to say yes.....I "borrowed" a 1919 signed copy of Walter Steven's semi-bio of David R. Francis from a university library and kept it....it was worth the $55 dollar charge....especially since the only other copy is in the rare books collection of the St.Louis Public Library.

Chriszen@aol.com
Only when people have gotten out of touch with me have I neglected to return books. Books are sacred to me..if need a copy I buy one.

Neysa7777@aol.com
No, I would never borrow a book and not return it. I guess the old saying, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" lives big in my life, expecially when it comes to book borrowing.

Bigshermama57@msn.com
Oh my gosh, no! If that's not one of the seven deadly sins, then it definitely should be. Only if I am asked specifically to "pass it on" would I ever not return a book to its rightful owner.

theaerie@SkyBest.Com
No, never, but I'm sure some of those I've loaned have been purposely kept.

JCAMP2020@aol.com
I borrowed the book "Hawaii" from the parents of a friend of mine when we were in high school. I don't remember actually keeping it "on purpose," but here I am 35 years later and I still have the book. At least I can say that I have read it three or four times over the years. It is still one of my favorites and Michener was always an author I enjoyed reading.

EvieD@aol.com
Yes, I once borrowed a book from my best friend, who later died, and I have kept it as a memento rather than returning it to his wife. I don't think she minds, but I haven't asked her either.

CibbyKitty@aol.com
I've never borrowed a book and purposely not returned it. When a person reads a book, it becomes a part of them! Not returning that book is like taking and keeping a piece of the person. Now, if they tell me I can keep it, I willingly keep it if it's good.

Soutenus@aol.com
I cannot imagine not returning a borrowed book (on purpose!!) That would be like stealing someone's friend. I have, on occasion, returned a new copy if the copy I borrowed is damaged.

Pamframe@aol.com
Yes, it was Three Plays by Lillian Hellman

KJ4FM@aol.com
Believe it or not, I have returned every book I have ever borrowed unless I was told to just keep it.

Mbreen1493@aol.com
No. I think that is wrong.

WestBoundwomen@aol.com
YES, THE BOOK WAS : REBUILDING, after your relationship ends

clingdfvgp@aol.com
I wanted to do that but could not. But one time I had a really bad back ache and the library had a book of exercise cures and I kept the book and got it in bad shape and rather than give it back I told the library I lost it and paid for it.

DGoldb5760@aol.com
Yes. I have borrowed a book from someone and purposely not returned it. Why? Because I fell in love with the book's content. The impetus to do this, essentially stealing except that if the owner were to ask for it back, it would be returned, is closer to affection than greed for a material good. For a book in and of itself (unless it's a coffee table book or a signed original or first edition) is not worth much in and of itself. Again, one feels a need to have its content close to oneself. This need is strong; it overpowers the guilt at not returning the book. It's a testament to the power of books that such things are cherished so greatly. But this is really nothing new. We all know what communication and new ideas can bring, us Internet users, don't we?