Not to read in a hurry, or even to have forever and ever--

The San Francisco Public Library had an amnesty day, where people could return long-overdue library books without a fine. They list some of the best excuses that they got for why books weren't returned

I liked this one:

"I found the most splendid book object ever in the shelves of the main branch: India's Past, a green hardcover from the early 20th century, written in high style on paper that was nice to touch. It has fun “plates” as illustrations, and loads of different little chapters and articles about various items of interest from India's past. The inside cover has one of the old “otium sine litteris mors est” sfpl insignia stamps: absolutely fabulous! Oh, like an emerald pool on a hot day, I need this book on my too-long shelf, dear librarians, not to read in a hurry, or even to have forever and ever, but to be able to pick up on a whim, having spotted it and feeling in the mood for its pages."

– Ka'ala

Indeed; "like an emerald pool on a hot day, I need this book on my too-long shelf" -- I've felt that way about books sometimes, too!

So what's your excuse?