Welcome to another Booking Through Thursday, our bookish place to explore intriguing topics.
Today’s Pondering:
Inspired by a conversation with a coworker the other day:
It’s time for summer reading, so … today’s question? What’s the worst thing you ever did to your reading material? Sand in the bindings from the beach? Dropped into the pool? Covers smeared with sunscreen?
And, if you’ve never done actual summer-time damage … have you EVER damaged your book/magazine/paper? Dropped it in the bathtub? Used it to kill a bug? Spilled with coffee?
***
Ah, yes, the food and drink on the pages! I am usually very careful, but unfortunately, sometimes spills happen.
Probably the worst one yet was one day when I was enjoying dinner and a glass of wine at Marie Callender’s, and also finishing up a book I was enjoying…well, I did fine. Until it was time to pack up the carton with leftovers…and as I began, I clumsily hit the still half-full glass of wine and toppled it onto the book. Thoroughly soaking the pages!
I was distraught. Not only because I was afraid the book was ruined—but that I appeared clumsy…and perhaps drunk? But I swear I was just clumsy…lol.
Fortunately, the book dried and I was able to finish it. But the pages are still stained. A memento, if you will.
It was The Turnaround, by George Pelecanos: click for review.
What is your worst tale? Was it as embarrassing as mine? No worries….just share.
SERENDIPITY 
Did you watch the glass drop as if it was in slow motion? Whenever I knock something over my ‘no’ becomes a ‘noooo’ as I fail to catch it. Here’s my post http://backchattingbooks.wordpress.com/2013/06/27/booking-through-thursday-summer-reading/
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Yes, I am sure I did, Vilia! Funny how that happens….and I was definitely stunned at the event that was out of my control. Thanks for stopping by.
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My worst disaster was giving the book I was reading a bath in milky tea, when I knocked over a nearly full mug of it and the book got soaked. It happened at home, so no one was there to witness the swearing, for which I am grateful. Fortunately it wasn’t a book I intended to keep, but I have wondered if the new owner (I gave it to a charity shop) is pissed at having a book with partially tea-stained pages.
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Laurel-Rain, no doubt you might have appeared tipsy! And Diane … you made me laugh out loud!
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I swear I wasn’t, though, Beth…lol; it was my first glass of wine! I’m sure it seems as though I’m “protesting too much.”
Thanks for stopping by.
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I think tea is better than wine…lol. Thanks for stopping by, Bibliophile…enjoy your week.
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Sure you weren’t drunk? Ha ha, just kidding! 🙂
Andrea K. @ Books and Bindings
Booking Through Thursday
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Ha-ha….Yes, that time I wasn’t…not that I haven’t been. But I’m not usually reading when I “party.” lol Thanks for visiting, Andrea.
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A memento … ok then 🙂
P.S. I had a look at your sidebar. You have beautiful books – beautiful cover, title (tapestry of fortunes) and authors I have never read before.
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Yes, a memento or a cautionary tale….
I try to put some favorites in the sidebars…glad you liked seeing them. Thanks for stopping by, Hazel, and enjoy!
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Funny story…I hear you about being more upset that people would think “oops, she had a bit too much”. I don’t read at my own dinner table because when I was younger my mother would scold me if I was reading at the dinner table. She wanted us kids to join in family conversation together, while all I wanted was to get back to my Nancy Drew in progress. It never became a habit with me 🙂
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I loved Nancy Drews, too; who didn’t, I guess. I read at the table when I’m eating alone, which happens a lot when I have an impulse to eat at one of the neighborhood restaurants. Thanks for stopping by, Rita….
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