The part that stood out to me most about our last reading was the stealing of books. As I think about it now, unless the book stolen from me had sentimental value or was a rare book of some kind, I wouldn't be too upset. If someone stole my copy of "Tuesdays with Morrie", I'd be marginally annoyed, but when all was said and done, I'd just waltz right over to Borders or Tattersalls, or even whiz right around in my chair and order it off of Amazon. Either way, that book being stolen would not be such an enormous deal. When you think about it in the very old days, back when books were rather rare, cost a lot, and quite frankly, treasured more, the act of stealing a book becomes that much more fiendish. I particularly liked the excerpt from the library of the monastery of San Pedro, in Barcelona:
For him that steals, or borrows and returns not, a book from its owner, let it change into a serpent in his hand and rend him. Let him be struck with palsy, and all his members blasted. Let him languish in pain crying for mercy, and let there be no surcease to his agony til he sing in dissolution. Let bookworms gnaw at his entrails in token of the Worm that dieth not. And when at last he goes to his final punishment, let the flames of Hell consume him forever (Manguel 244).
That seems incredibly extreme. I don't think I would wish that even on someone who had wronged me above the level of stealing a book, but it really makes it clear how big of a deal it was and how irreplaceable books were then.
That excerpt is pretty unchristian too, for being found in a monastery. When it comes to the books I value the most, however, I find sharing them is the best part. Not that I'm particularly happy to never have a book returned, but it would be better than hoarding them.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way that if someone steals a book for me it's kind of "not a big deal to me" and I too would just find myself "annoyed" to say the least. I do however, find it quite hilarious and entertaining, the Spanish way of handling such a theft.
ReplyDeleteThat excerpt is definitely a little extreme, but as you said it just emphasizes how important books were to people back then. As you also mentioned, books are so much more accessible now that it's hard to be able to understand how I would feel or if there's even anything I could compare it to now. Maybe I'd be that upset if someone stole my dog, but even then I wouldn't wish that much pain on them. It's an interesting subject to think about though, because now I wonder why books haven't kept that important role in a lot of people's lives (probably because of stereotypes and people getting teased, but then that just makes me wonder why you would tease someone just because they learned or enjoyed something that everyone should be able to experience) and if history will ever repeat itself in that sense so books become a prized possession again amongst most people.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the above excerpt describes an extreme punishment. However, I would be extremely upset if someone stole one of my books. I don't even like lending my books to friends because I want to make sure they return to me. If a certain book of mine went missing, I wouldn't just be okay with buying a new copy. I have books that are worn and torn from repeated readings, have sand and water stains from being read at the beach, and books that i have highlighted and made notes in the margins of. I would never want to get rid of them because I love these things about my books.
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