Grrr.

I am thoroughly annoyed, people of the internets. I've read my copy of DEATHLY HALLOWS exactly once - the night it came out. Each of my parents has read it once, and then it sat on my bookshelf for two years, which is probably the longest my Harry Potter books have ever sat on a shelf untouched, and then I lent it to a friend. As far as I know, she and her brother each read it once.

It was in perfect condition when I lent it to her. And when I got it back, the pages were barely attached to the cover anymore because the binding had come undone. And MM is not someone who mistreats books. She's very nice to them. And it wasn't like there were any pages bent or anything - except for the fact that the binding had basically come completely undone, it was still in perfect condition.

Well, now I've sat down to reread it, and the binding problem has gotten even worse, and the pages are now coming apart as well, so if the one tiny strip of paper that's holding them together comes undone, I will have Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Deathly Hallows Part 2. Part 2 will still be shabbily attached to the cover. Part 1 I'm not so sure about.

"Well, Becky, it's a book," you say. "Easy enough to replace. There's a Barnes and Noble five minutes from your house. You're in there so often half the employees know you. Just go buy a new one."

Well, I would, only...the one I have is a hardcover first edition that I got at the midnight release. It's special because it's a first edition, yes, and also because - well - I got it at the last midnight release party for a Harry Potter book ever and it's kind of got some sentimental value.

It has not been mistreated. It's barely even been read. The library copies have been read loads more than this one and they're still fine. So why is my book falling apart?

If I write to Scholastic, they'll replace it. I do not want it replaced, I want it repaired. Maybe this is childish and impossible, but that's what it feels like. Is it stupid to feel like I'm losing a friend when one of my favorite/most treasured books is falling apart?

Here's to my copy of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, which I may not be able to finish reading again.

Love,
Bex