Tale of lost book doesn’t sit right for all

I am writing in response to the “feel good” article about the library book fine paid by Kenny Newell on behalf of his co-worker, PeopleFun CEO Tony Goodman (“Corte Madera library book penalty paid 48 years later,” Dec. 25).

Pardon me, and bah humbug, but I have a different take on the whole thing. You see, nowhere in the article did I see that Goodman returned the book, in fact, there was a picture in the IJ of the book on his bookshelf in Texas. He didn’t appear to express remorse for his nearly 55-year- old theft of the book from Corte Madera. And it wasn’t just any book, it was the “I can read it all by myself” selection, “Look Out for Pirates” by Iris Vinton, a favorite of my childhood.

All I can think of is the hundreds of children who were deprived of the joy of reading it over the course of the last 50 years by this wanton act. Adding insult to injury, Newell paid only $58, which barely covers the current cost of the book (I saw it for $50 on Etsy.com) and ignores the true dollar value of the fine: 178,650 cents.

Considering that Goodman is now the CEO of a successful company, it seems that it would be appropriate for him to pay the full fine plus the cost of the book, or $1,836.50. In fact, if Goodman makes good on his full debt, my wife and I will match 10% of the fine and invite other outraged advocates of the library to step up and match our donation.

By the way, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good book.

— Tom Andrews, Novato