Today’s question comes from Conspiracy-Girl:I’m still relatively new to this meme so I’m not sure if this has been asked yet, but I’m curious how many of us write notes in our books. Are you a Footprint Leaver or a Preservationist?
I have never been the type to write in any book. When I started reading The Well-Educated Mind I was surprised that Bauer recommended taking notes in the books. She says it's a sign of ownership. To me it just looks messy. If I spend money on the book I want to preserve it. Instead I write my notes in journals and writing pad.
Another reason I don't write in my books is because when I buy a used book, it really bothers me to find someone else's scribblings all over it.
7 comments:
It seems like the majority of us are preservationists at heart. I rarely write in books, but there sometimes comes a time when I feel I must. It's always in pencil, which I can go back and erase later.
I never used to write in books and would cringe to see others do it. Reading How to Read a Book changed my mind about that, and now I write in books all the time, underlining, making notes, and interacting with the text. I like that it really makes the book mine. Since I've been reading through the Great Books with my children, I've marked up more books than I can count. I also tab them with the little post-it write-on tab thingies. It makes it easier when I want to go back and find something.
Like Literary Feline, I only write in pencil.
I agree that it looks messy. If I HAVE to write, it'll be in pencil, but I try to avoid even that.
Too funny! I am definitely a Footprint-Leaver. I write in books and LOVE to find books that have been written in. It's like a conversation between the author another reader and me.
Hello Petunia,
I do write one letter one the cover page upper right corner (R) so that, yes I read you!
Best Regards,
joeB
Feline-I have written in a couple of books in pencil but I had to force myself.
Anne-I have tried to read How to Read a Book twice but haven't gotten past halfway. The Well-Educated Mind is based on it but it written in a much simpler voice. But I still won't write in my books. =)
Nymeth-it makes me think of the books I had when I was a kid and my sister scribbled all over the pages.
Dancingirl-I've read some of the notes left in my used books but most of the time they are illegible or incoherent. But it would be cool to read writing in a book read by my grandfather or something like that.
JoeB-that is a great idea. I may have to impliment it for myself. Thanks!
I ALWAYS write in non-novels or in classics -- usually in pencil but not always. I've even been known to write (in pencil) in library books (shhhhh!). It's my way of interacting with the text, and people who borrow them later say that they enjoy reading my comments. I'm more of a bigfoot-print leaver (snowshoe-print leaver? tractor-print leaver?).
Susanne :)
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