Someone told me that she always buys new books. “Library books breed germs, you know,” she said. I guess she thought the occasional brown fingerprints could be poop and yellow blobs could be boogers. But I didn’t press for details because she wasn’t the type to tolerate questions of a sanitary nature.
She reminded me of my mom who insisted on reading the newspaper first for the same reason. She said a fresh newspaper was the cleanest item in the world. At the time, I wondered if this obsession might shave minutes off of her hour-long handwashing routine.
I considered their arguments. And that new books keep our precious bookstores afloat.
But it’s just too lonely for me to read a fresh book. I love to find a daintily folded corner especially in poetry volume. Or nearly invisible pencil marks -- a check or an underline, a rare exclamation mark. Someone is helping me see magic! Someone traveled this road before me.
I’m not alone.
She reminded me of my mom who insisted on reading the newspaper first for the same reason. She said a fresh newspaper was the cleanest item in the world. At the time, I wondered if this obsession might shave minutes off of her hour-long handwashing routine.
I considered their arguments. And that new books keep our precious bookstores afloat.
But it’s just too lonely for me to read a fresh book. I love to find a daintily folded corner especially in poetry volume. Or nearly invisible pencil marks -- a check or an underline, a rare exclamation mark. Someone is helping me see magic! Someone traveled this road before me.
I’m not alone.
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