i let my baby go
well, one of my babies.
the social worker at work decided she wants to read 'les miserables.' she asked if she could borrow my copy. i was almost done, so what could i say? when i want so badly for people to read it, how could i refuse? i tried to tell her that it's a great undertaking, that i don't know if she's the kind of person who likes to read those difficult 19th century treatises on social justice, that she might get bogged down in victor hugo's ramblings. it was no use. she even cut off my 'but you're a smoker' argument before i got there - 'i don't smoke in my house, that's nasty.' so what else could i say but yes? as i gave it to her i warned her, though, that nothing better happen to it; no dog can chew on it, no smoke, no losing it. 'that has all my underlines in it. so i can't lose that cop...' 'what do you underline? things that are meaningful to you?' suddenly my fears seemed to abate a bit. i have to let her borrow it, whether i want to or not. 'yes, things that are meaningful.' and i sighed and walked away.
she's not a Christian. this book can get someone thinking. especially, i suppose, if things are underlined.
“The pupil dilates in darkness and in the end finds light, just as the soul dilates in misfortune and in the end finds God.” - Victor Hugo, Les Miserables
the social worker at work decided she wants to read 'les miserables.' she asked if she could borrow my copy. i was almost done, so what could i say? when i want so badly for people to read it, how could i refuse? i tried to tell her that it's a great undertaking, that i don't know if she's the kind of person who likes to read those difficult 19th century treatises on social justice, that she might get bogged down in victor hugo's ramblings. it was no use. she even cut off my 'but you're a smoker' argument before i got there - 'i don't smoke in my house, that's nasty.' so what else could i say but yes? as i gave it to her i warned her, though, that nothing better happen to it; no dog can chew on it, no smoke, no losing it. 'that has all my underlines in it. so i can't lose that cop...' 'what do you underline? things that are meaningful to you?' suddenly my fears seemed to abate a bit. i have to let her borrow it, whether i want to or not. 'yes, things that are meaningful.' and i sighed and walked away.
she's not a Christian. this book can get someone thinking. especially, i suppose, if things are underlined.
“The pupil dilates in darkness and in the end finds light, just as the soul dilates in misfortune and in the end finds God.” - Victor Hugo, Les Miserables
posted by melilotnfosco | 9:18 PM
7 Comments:
OH wow that is a poignant quote from Victor Hugo! Now I'm even more excited to read it :-) But I still have the Hogwarts Professor's book to finish. And a variety of nonprofit and humanitarian books to start. And several other classics to read. And the HP series to reread.
:: sigh ::
I love that quote. :) And I need to read it too. :) Even if you end up not liking the new movie, you should be appreciative of how it's exposing people to Les Miserables! :) And even wanting to read it... :)
maybe she'll enjoy it as much as you do
That is very unselfish of you. I'm not sure I could give away a book I've underlined. Granted I'm not a big underliner and probably the only "books" I've underlined are my journals so it makes sense that I wouldn't loan them out, but still... I think underlining meaningful text is a very personal thing. I hope that it opens a conversation with her. I'll be praying for you!
Maybe reading Les Mis can be one of my New Year's resolutions...
it should be.
she couldn't handle the pressure and gave my book back. poor thing. i told her it was fine, and she said, 'i got to thinking about how i would feel if i lent out my favorite book, especially if it had underlines, and i just don't want anything to happen to it. but i went to half-price books and found a copy, because i thought that if you underline things, then it must be that kind of book and i might want to underline things, too.'
she also proceeded to ask me for my number because she was going to start it this weekend since she has 4 days off and she might have questions about it or just want to talk about it some. ' :D
Nice! I thought you meant that she couldn't handle the size or density of the book -- glad to know that wasn't it!
Post a Comment
<< Home