Packing

[porphyry]

I am in the process of packing up our books and came across a copy of Moutlon's concordance to the Greek NT. The spine was damaged in some hideous way I don't recall it being when I put it on the shelf. The very fact that I have not seen it for years suggested what I should do with it. I actually do search the text of the NT quite often, but at any of various websites that offer the service. I can't imagine looking information like that up in a book again. So, also considering the damage, I resolved (per Mme. Malkhos' orders to reduce the size of the collection as much as possible) to throw it away. Then I had the idea of using the pages for packing material--I was running out of newspaper anyway. Since Andrew is eager to help, though there isn't really anything he can do, I told him I wanted him to rip the pages out of the book. At about 800 of them I thought it keep him occupied for some time. But it caused him to burst into tears. He said he wanted to read it, not tear it up. I pointed out to him it was in Ancient Greek. But he concluded that I was just trying to be mean to him. So I am tearing them out myself as I need them, though I wish I didn't have to. I can't think what else to do with it though.

Comments

[mercyorbemoaned.livejournal.com]

You could have sent it t seminarians in Africa, they would have appreciated it.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

And encourage them in their mistaken beliefs?

[mercyorbemoaned.livejournal.com]

I think a concordance would not necessarily have that effect on people who have inadequate access to texts.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

He means Christianity.

[mercyorbemoaned.livejournal.com]

um duh?

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

I just wasn't sure if you were aware of his inclinations towards pagan idolatry.

Mostly I'm just tired; it's hard to prepare to move and work at my job all that the same time.

[mercyorbemoaned.livejournal.com]

I hope you're hiring good help.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

We have hired help; can't say if they're good or not. I'll let you know after I see how many things get broken.

[gislebertus.livejournal.com]

I've never been able to bring myself to destroy a book. Any book, even the the most meager, meaningless book that I know I will never crack open again, or one I really and truly hated. Something deep inside of me wells up and I find myself revolted by the idea.

Hardwiring, I guess.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

I didn't like it either, but since i was throwing it away anyway...

I used to work in a library and one task of our department was to sell deascessioned books to other libraries or dealers. After a certain time unsold we had to dump them in the recycling bin. When the recyclers took them they cut the pages out with a sort of specialized table saw and sent them to be repulped, the covers went to the landfill.

[leopold-paula-b.livejournal.com]

In Vienna libraries frequently put the discarded books on a table near the exit for people to take with them, for a symbolic charge or even free. Of course, chances are that people use them as wrapping paper then. Some coffeehouses have tables to put and take free books.

Getting rid of books is a tricky thing. Nowadays I mostly try to give them away, in that library/coffeehouse style. About ten years ago I used to leave them on public transport. As far as I remember I only once voluntarily destroyed a perfectly good book. (Some Stefan Zweig, as a teenager. Because I violently hated the person who gave it to me.)

Anyway, I see your point. If a book is in an embarrassing state and beyond interest for myself, I just throw it away. (I use newspapers for wrapping up things. There's always plenty of them at hand. No need to drag out a somewhat painful goodbye.)

[filialucis]

What a gruesome thing to do to a perfectly good book, even setting aside the spinal damage -- and (forgive me, but I have to say it) what an undesirable example to set your son, whose attitude to books I can only applaud. If I'd known you were wanting to get rid of it, I'd have offered to pay the postage to Austria rather than consign it to such wanton destruction. :(

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

I didn't like doing it either, but you can see why the book is not useful anymore (rather like a phone book) and at least it is now protecting the rest of the collection. It seemed trivial after the number of books that have been and will still have to be sold to conform to the rather limited storage space we will have in the new house.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

I like that "Smite" button very much.

...at least it is now protecting the rest of the collection

[jouis-sens.livejournal.com]

Funny how there is something that does indeed feel so primal and instinctual (but isn't, of course) against rending books... but some consolation in this manner of demise, as you note - reminded me of the way a downed tree decomposes and nourishes the others.


[*Glances about half expecting to see a ghostly Will Burroughs pointing and laughing at us fool text-fetishizers*]