(no subject)

[giddygeek]

Right, so, I had a couple thousand books. I think that probably for a span of seven years or so, I bought two or three books a week from the used bookstore and never threw one away because, you know. Books! Reading! Rereading! As everyone who knows me understands, I loved them. A lot.

In preparation for moving, I cut it down. Like, I threw away and gave away and packed away almost all of them. I brought about 500, 600 with me to this new apartment. These are the books I love the most, although many have questioned my taste on some of them. ;-) These are my Douglas Adams and Chuck Palahniuk and Kurt Vonnegut and Peter S Beagle. These are my my CS Lewis, Susan Cooper, SJ Rozan, Dennis Lehane, Dean Koontz, Steven King, some Ayn Rand and then a random mix of other good books. Also, every book by Nora Roberts because dammit, I like romance novels. And her alter-ego JD Robb too. And others because dude, romance novels! Good entertainment, hey, don't knock 'em.

Anyway, I love these books.

My landlady came in this morning to touch up paint and I was telling her about how I'd brought in the last box of books and finally felt moved in, even though I still have stuff coming. Tonight she says to me, "My husband and I were talking about your books. We'd like you to cut it down to a hundred."

I'm like, "what?"

"One hundred books," she says. "Because this house is old and we have a problem with sagging floors. We don't allow waterbeds either."

Lots of places don't allow waterbeds. Waterbeds are monstrous heavy and leaky and completely stationary and they can be a hassle. But two bookcases? With about 600 books? Causing the kind of damage that a waterbed might cause? I don't think so.

I didn't say anything. I really kind of couldn't. And so she said, "Well, you think about it, I know I kind of sprung that on you."

Well, yeah. Yeah, I would say so.

One hundred books! Trying to cut down from the number that I have right now would be like trying to cut off my arm. This is, I think, an unfair thing to ask of me and I refuse to do it. It said nothing in my rental agreement about what I could or could not own in my apartment, excluding the waterbed, and I can't even. No. No no no no no.

*throws a temper tantrum like a five year old*

..........

OK. OK, out of a sense of compromise, I am going to see if I can go through and refill one box of books that can go live at my mother's house until I can have them again. But in no way, shape or form am I even attempting to cut down that far. And if she asks again, I will tell her that I find the restriction unacceptable. I will move out before I will limit myself to one hundred books.

My mother thinks that the level of upset I'm feeling over this is unreasonable. Other friends are like, what on earth are you so mad about, it's just books. But it isn't just books--it's the idea that now she's going to ask something like this of me. What next, get rid of some of your videocasettes? And hey, while you're at it, that computer desk looks pretty heavy. And so does the hutch with all your dishes, you might want to cut down on those too--

OK, so it's mostly the books.

Am I being unreasonable? I've never rented an apartment on my own before and it's been years since I lived in one at all. I need advice. Someone, anyone with more experience, let me know if this request of hers is as unfair as I feel it is.

Or, you know, just rant with me about people who are obviously insane!

Comments

[joeynerd.livejournal.com]

I don't know if she has a right to ask that of you or not, but it does sound really unreasonable. Pfft. :P Evil landlords.

[giddygeek.livejournal.com]

Evil, no kidding. I've been living in the apartment for like three days and I'm already feeling hostile. Doesn't bode well, I don't think. *G* But I'm gonna try to work it out because I really love this apartment already...still. Sigh. Why are people crazy?? ;-)

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

I think it sounds perfectly reasonable for you to be upset. Hello, moved in now. Lease signed and all that. If she was going to have a problem with weight of *anything*, she ought to have said something up front, when you were looking at the place. After the fact, I'm not sure she can make that sort of restriction on you.

You could always check with your local Tenants Rights Association.

And yeah--exactly. Today some books, tomorrow video tapes or disks or pieces of furniture.

*hugs giddy*

[giddygeek.livejournal.com]

You could always check with your local Tenants Rights Association.

You know, I might just do that, if only because hey! I don't know my rights as a tenant! And that seems like, you know, something I should definitely be more aware of.

And yeah--exactly. Today some books, tomorrow video tapes or disks or pieces of furniture.

Tomorrow, they'll knock on the door and be like, "hey, you know what? We were thinking about it and we decided that you. You are too heavy. So your stuff can stay, we'll keep on chargin' the rent, but you've gotta go." I just know that's the way it's headed! Those jerks, I'll sue 'em for. Fatism? *g*

*hugs giddy*

*hugs back!* And also, I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better! :)

[sparklewitch.livejournal.com]

I'd be freaking out if anyone ever told me to get rid of my books. I definitely think that that is an unreasonable request.

I had read up to the dotted line before I discussed the situation with my sister. I said something about anyone that told me to get rid of my video tapes or books would get a response of, "No way in hell, you Nazi b@st@rds!" (because Nazi's burned books)

What next, get rid of some of your videocasettes? And hey, while you're at it, that computer desk looks pretty heavy. And so does the hutch with all your dishes, you might want to cut down on those too--

That is too funny, my sister and I were both laughing our butts off.
Good luck and stay strong.
Oh, and your mom and friends are crazy if they don't think that that is an unfair request.

[giddygeek.livejournal.com]

I'd be freaking out if anyone ever told me to get rid of my books. I definitely think that that is an unreasonable request.

Really! I'm just sitting here with my mouth open, three hours later now, going...huh? What just happened here? Did she really just tell me that my books are dangerous? Good Lord!

"No way in hell, you Nazi b@st@rds!" (because Nazi's burned books)

I'm just gonna say, No way in hell, you crazy old hag! I think it'll work just fine. *G*

Good luck and stay strong.

Thank you! :)

[merryish.livejournal.com]

Just confirming - yeah. It is absolutely unacceptable of her to ask that of you at this point. If it's not in the lease, she has no legal grounds to ask for it unless she can prove that the house would be damaged by the added weight of the books. And you might actually have grounds for a civil suit, because it sounds like she just admitted to you that the house is structurally unsound to an extent she did not reveal to you before you signed your lease, and you can tell her that if she's willing to make that claim in court you're more than willing to countersue her for non-disclosure.

At any rate, if I were you, I wouldn't do a damn thing about the books. If she mentioned it again, I'd ask her to put the request and the reason for the request in writing. And then I'd use it to sue her pants off.

If nothing else, that would alert her that you are not a tenant to be fucked with -- and that's something many landlords need to know. If you give in on this, who knows what she'll want you to give in on next week?

(Ok, just because I'm still mad -- even if you *do* decide to comply with her request, insist that she put the request and the reason for the request in writing. Tell her you don't feel comfortable doing it without a clear record of what you're doing and why. Then, if you ever need it in the future, you have it.)

[giddygeek.livejournal.com]

(Ok, just because I'm still mad -- even if you *do* decide to comply with her request, insist that she put the request and the reason for the request in writing. Tell her you don't feel comfortable doing it without a clear record of what you're doing and why. Then, if you ever need it in the future, you have it.)

Merry, excellent. I did just go through and box up a couple dozen of books to go to my mother's--she agreed to act as 'library'--but I was fuming mad the whole time I did it. Your suggestion makes a lot of sense to me.

Also, I will delight in asking her to put it in writing. Typically, I'm like. Well, OK, so I'm the girl who gives in and does everything asked of her, but I don't want to set up a bad situation here. Asking her to put it in writing and then bringing the big (half-empty *G*) box of books out to my car would kind of. Hmm. Let her know that a) I'm willing to work with her but b) not to the point of utter ridiculousness.

Thanks! :)

[lisan.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, devil house, get out, _now!_ Come live with me, I just got rid of a lot of my books and have space again. (And I already rescued the Nora Roberts -- mostly The McGregors stuff -- on the request of another friend.)

Shit, sweetie, no advice whatsoever for yuo here. In high school my dad told me I was spending too much time reading and if I didn't get my grades up he'd burn all my books, and I went looking for a job and an apartment. I love books that much. You have my sympathies.

::shakes fist:: evil witch!

And oh, I do have advice after all, just hide them in a closet and pretend they're not there!

[giddygeek.livejournal.com]

In high school my dad told me I was spending too much time reading and if I didn't get my grades up he'd burn all my books, and I went looking for a job and an apartment. I love books that much. You have my sympathies.

My goodness! See, people have told me all my life that I read too much but mostly with a kind of bemused affection. No one has ever, ever threatened my collection before. If my mom had said something like that, I probably would have done the same thing.

Well, no, maybe not. I'm a wimp like that. *G* But still, very brave of you.

And oh, I do have advice after all, just hide them in a closet and pretend they're not there!

I thought about that but then I was like, oh, right. In my lease agreement there is a thingie about how they reserve the right to come in and do an inspection every three months or so, which I found out today isn't entirely cool, but I did agree to it, so. I might like, put them in one of my clothes bins or something.

It's so sad that I'm considering hiding my books. Hiding books! Like they're bad! Ughhhh.

You know, I might hop a plane, me and my bad dangerous forbidden books. Just have to get someone to explain passporty type stuff to me, and I might be gone, man! ;-)

[lisan.livejournal.com]

Well, no, maybe not. I'm a wimp like that. *G* But still, very brave of you.

Well, I didn't really do it, you understand. I was 13 and the grades never really became that bad, but it was one of the great standoffs of of my life. But I was serious, which freaked out my Mom, made my dad leave me alone (until the Great Standoff regarding my college of choice) and I kept my books.

It's so sad that I'm considering hiding my books. Hiding books! Like they're bad! Ughhhh.

i still say it's an evil evil house. bring a wooden stake, just in case.