Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Disappointed

I'm so disappointed at myself! I lost a book, a library book.

I went to 'fess up today, and they're going to try to call the train line to see if it was turned into the lost and found.

The librarians were nice about it, but it's still embarrassing to have to tell three people that you've lost a book, and explain where, on up the line of authority. I filled out a form, and if it was turned in, I'll get to pay to get it shipped back. And if not, I'll pay to replace it, of course.

I feel like such a jerk.

In other news, I wasn't much enjoying The Tale of Genji anyway. It felt like a row of little sexist episodes of a male (that would be Genji) seducing one woman after another. There was a lot of telling how amazingly wonderful Genji was, but I wasn't much convinced, I'm afraid.

I'm sure I'm missing something, but I think that's also part of the narrative style. It was cool that it happened in areas of the old capitol where I've been, but other than that, it didn't do much for me.

Still, I'm disappointed in myself for not being more careful about it!

5 comments:

  1. Oh, so your subconscious told Genji to get lost, and he did?

    Hmmm.

    I think you're allowed one book left on a train per decade. Even if, or perhaps especially if, you're a lit person who always always always has a book.

    That's my understanding of the rule, anyway.

    Here's hoping the book is found and returned safely to its library. Or, failing that, that it falls into the hands of a person who really will appreciate it.

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  2. Ooo, revenge on Genji the fictional!

    I think part of my shame was that Genji is pretty much the "great Japanese" literature. It's like losing a copy of Shakespeare from a UK school library, somehow, and it's worse because I'm a foreigner and it maybe looks disrespectful in all sorts of ways.

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  3. Anonymous7:27 AM

    I take it you didn't get to the part where he rapes the twelve year old? Yeah, you didn't miss much.

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  4. Human, Nope, I didn't make it that far. I had the first volume of a two volume edition. I might have tried to throw it off the train if I'd gotten there.

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  5. At least you have only your own self disapppointment to deal with.

    Me losing a library book would constitute grounds for divorce in my marriage.

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