In Anne Fadiman's "Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader," a group of friends shares a story about their house being rented to an interior decorator. Upon returning, they find their library meticulously reorganized by color and size, a move that doesn't sit well with them. The situation takes a dark turn when the decorator later dies in a car accident, leading to a collective feeling among the friends that justice had been served for the disruption caused in their home.

This incident highlights the strong emotional ties people have to their personal spaces and possessions, particularly when it comes to books. The friends' reaction suggests a shared belief that certain actions, like meddling with someone else's belongings, can have serious repercussions. Fadiman’s narrative underscores the significance of literature in personal identity and how its treatment can evoke a fierce protective instinct.