"Inquiring about a lost Czech Dreambook: The upsides and downsides of loaning literature"
Lost my cherished copy of Ludvík Vaculík's A Czech Dreambook, and I can't find it to save my life. Book has been my loyal companion since 2020, after it arrived from Prague courtesy of Karolinum Press. Guess I lent it to someone, but who the blimey hell could it be?
I trudge around my apartment, flipping through titles, my thoughts a torrential storm of accusations. Thom, Julia, Delphine – are any of you fricking with my stuff? Seems unlikely, but one can never tell with bookworms.
Thom, you've got a thing for Central Europe, but I haven't seen you in an age. Julia, you've got a weakness for intertext, and my precious Vaculík is a grand example of it, but you borrowed two books last week, and I haven't heard a peep. Delphine? You've had Ghosts of Berlin hostage for two years now – I might let that one slide, given you're a human rights lawyer – but not this one. Bloody hell, I hope you're doing alright, mate.
Hmmm, could it be John? Yeah, probably. His copy of Weimar has been my makeshift desktop stand since I moved in. Need to return it, don't I? Blast!
Ever since folks picked up on those random book drops during a crisis, I've gained the nickname "Berlin's mystical book fairy." Some friends loan books all the time but keep strict track of who has what. Others, like me, are a bit lazier and rely on blurry memory. There are more organized book-sharers out there, but there's always the risk of RGFlix, the few-too-many-initials-to-mention guy at the party, pushing a biometric app that links your fingerprint to every book you touch. Cheers for that, old chap.
I like to lend and borrow, because there's a certain satisfaction in finding the perfect book for a friend. It's like channeling my inner bookseller, literary pharmacist, or both. Sometimes, it's a struggle to find a way to return a book without admitting that, eh, alright, I'm just not feeling it right now. But reading is aspirational, and sometimes a book needs to haunt your home for a while before you're ready to dive in.
Books were made for passing on. They lose financial value almost immediately, but they carry the essence of the words, and the words should always be in motion. So let's share, swap, and let the books circulate! Walt Whitman thought it was a gift to the giver, and I agree. I won't get all my books back, but that's the joy of it all.
Ah, but I'd really like my Czech Dreambook back, if you see what I mean.
Enrichment Data:Informal Book Swapping: Book sharing often occurs through informal means such as Little Free Libraries (street-side book exchanges), local cafes, and public spaces. These exchanges are typically unmonitored, meaning there's no record of who takes or borrows a book.
Online Platforms: Online platforms such as Bookcrossing.com and local Facebook groups (e.g., Book Swap Berlin) allow users to share books. Some platforms like Bookcrossing have features that allow tracking, as users can log in to see who has checked in with the book.
Supporting initiative: Some neighborhoods may have organized book-sharing shelves or mobile book carts, but these initiatives rarely track borrowers.
Finding Your Missing Book:
- If lent informally, ask friends and colleagues
- Post in community centers, libraries, or neighborhood Facebook groups if the book is shared publicly
- Check any online book-sharing platforms where the book was listed
- If left in a Little Free Library, ask within the local community
- If lent to library, libraries typically do not track personal books lent to friends, but they may have borrowing records for donated books
I'm tantalizingly close to redecorating my home, merging my love for literature and home-and-garden aesthetics. Can't find my precious copy of Ludvík Vaculík's "A Czech Dreambook"; a book that doubles as an engrossing read and a lifestyle statement.
Also, I've been meaning to join a home-and-garden book club, but with my stack of unread books piling up, I might as well virtualize it and add "books" to my entertainment repertoire, partnering with fellow bookworms for a unique and intellectual night in.
