Musing Mondays asks us this week about our treatment of books…
***Do you treat books carefully, or do you just treat them as any other object? Do you have certain things you refuse to do with books (write in them, etc)? If so, what are they?
Oh my, this is a good question. I am sooooooooooooooooo fussy about how my books are treated. So much so I do not lend my books out to just anybody. The only people who can borrow my books are people I know will treat them in the same way as I do.
I do NOT write in my books-I don’t underline anything or highlight anything. I was even the same with my school books. I use little stickies instead to mark a page I need for a quote or whatever else or I’ll keep a notepad handy and write it down. I have always liked to open a book and see the beautiful, clean pages in front of me. I do not dog ear a book-as a matter of a fact this drives me nutso. My mom is bad for it and I just cringe. I will not turn a book over to lay it down for even a second-I use my bookmark. My treatment of library books that have definitely seen better days is not any different. Yes, I am a little crazy when it comes to the care of my books.
The only thing that will cause me to occasionally bend a cover or some such thing like that is my wonderful little dog Buddy. Buddy has a tendency to go more than a little beserk when the mailperson comes, the postal truck-really anybody having the nerve to come up the walk and to the door. He’s hurt himself a few times doing, what I call the couch olympics, so when he starts going crazy I’ve been known to try to put a book down nicely only to have it fall or some other terrible thing like bending a page or dinting a cover. I know, I’m cringing myself as I write it.
So, what about you? What are you like when it comes to the treatment of your books? I’d love to hear about it so leave me a comment…
I’m with you. My books look like they’ve never been touched even after I’ve read them. My dad does horrible things to paperbacks — breaking spines, bending them in half. . . I could just cry watching him! 🙂
Lezlie
I used to always treat books as if they were special. I was taught at a young age not to crease the binding, fold pages, etc. However,I have noticed lately that the way I treat a book directly relates to how I feel about the writing.
I know that’s bad.
If I am not that into the writing then I seem to be a little more careless with it. There, I said it.
I loathe dog eared pages and highlighting! I use Post Its when I want to make notations in my books.
Sending some much deserved recognition your way…
http://breenibooks.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-love-your-blog.html
Lezlie, that just breaks my heart. I just can’t understand doing that.
lol Ti. If I really don’t like the book I’m still nice to it but then I promptly ship it off to the library.
Breeni, you’re a sweetie for the award. I appreciate it so much!
Great Post. First time Muser here. I’m fussy about my books as well and have a hard enough time parting with them, much less letting anyone borrow one.
Happy reading
Robin of mytwoblessings
I’m pretty fussy too. For example, when I carry a book around I always wrap it in a thick plastic bag and them put that bag inside my handbag, to make sure the book doesn’t get damaged.
I never dog-ear pages either. I don’t write in books, but I have been known to write down the page number of a particular passage I’ll want to look up later on the inside of the front cover – but always in pencil, and I normally erase it later.
Me too! I am SO anal about my books – I think it’s what happens when they are so important to you.
Nymeth, I thought I was the only one who did that-wrapping my books. Recently though I bought a couple sizes of those Bible covers you can get and I’ll put them in there. Things can really get destroyed in my purse. lol.
I agree Swapna. We respect our books-we take care of them.
With textbooks, I take notes on my laptop and put page numbers besides the notes – it actually works a lot better than highlighting because most of my classes now are discussion based, so I can find the answers to questions a lot more quickly than my classmates!
That’s a great idea Swapna. I even do that with books I’m reading. I put a stickie in the front of the book and record page numbers of things I want to remember.
Great question! I am particular about books as well. I NEVER dogear a page and am always careful how books are treated. I do swap books on several swapping sites and always ask the condition of the book to make sure I want it!
I have received some badly damaged books that it’s scary what some people do with their books. Some people like to read in the bathtub and post that the books may be water damaged! I guess that some people have the attitude that they want to enjoy things and not get so picky but that just isn’t me! Even my son has become particular about his books and he is almost 10! He loves old things and books and has started a collection of them that he has found at booksales he goes to with me. He doesn’t mind that they are damaged from age..he wants to lovingly take care of them and give them a home!
Hey Bonnie, books damaged from age is so totally different. That just makes them more special-it’s so great your son is so into that especially at his age.
I am so careful with my books by the tub. I make sure to set them securely on the bathroom counter before I do anything. lol.
I’m with you, Dar. I think the only thing I do differently is with books that are meant for educational purposes – I lightly underline passages in pencil, BUT my lines are as straight as I can make them. 🙂 It pained me – absolutely pained me when I decided to do that, but once I realized and accepted the benefit, I’ve been okay with it. (deep breathing helped, too) LOL
Wrapping my books in my purse is a must, but I don’t wrap library books.
Boy, I feel neurotic now!
lol Joy. I don’t wrap library books in my purse either-they’re going to get beat up and abused in the library system anyhow.
PS: I’m pretty sure all us book lovers are somewhat neurotic. lol.
Oh dear, Dar!! You’d hate to see my library. 🙂 I take better care of my books than I did, but I’ve already marked a few passages in Half of a Yellow Sun (with pencil at least). I used to highlight and mark a lot when I was in school but now I only do so if I am absolutely moved by a passage. Most times I try to use flags but they aren’t always handy. I don’t dog ear if I can help it and I try not to break my spine (I used to be really bad about it). But, I think the biggest sin that I commit and will never change is that I always mark my name in the front cover after I’ve finished a book (with the date I finished it). I know, bad bad Trish. But, I love picking up a book and being able to see the history of my reading. After seeing everyone’s comments I feel like such a bad bibliophile. 🙁
Word choice – it means a great deal! I’m going to change “neurotic” to “passionate”. How’s that!?! *BIG GRIN*
Trish, my mom does that exact same thing and drives me nuts. lol. I have a cute little box with index cards. I write down the authors name or have miscellaneous cards and record the book, date I read it and whether I liked it.
Joy, passionate sounds so much better…