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.

[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.

[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. :(

...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*]