The condition of books...

[fajrdrako]

From October 30, 2008:

Mariel suggested this week’s question. Are you a spine breaker? Or a dog-earer? Do you expect to keep your books in pristine condition even after you have read them? Does watching other readers bend the cover all the way round make you flinch or squeal in pain?

I am very careful with books I borrow. Which is one reason I read borrowed books very, very slowly. I'm generally too busy to spend as much time reading as I'd like, so I read at every stolen opportunity - on the bus, in the lineup at the bank, or at lunch at work. Which means I always have a book with me. I often make paper covers for them, which helps to keep them from being dog-eared, but kicking around in my purse or backpack isn't generally good for them. I never turn down a page deliberately, but dog-earing sometimes happens.

I used to - and still might - cut a paperback apart if it's too big to fit in my purse. Carry half of it, or less, at a time. I read Shogun in six parts. This appalls my friends who are bibliophile purists, but it seems to me a sensible way to handle large books. If the book is good enough to keep and read again, I'll buy another copy and pitch the fragments.

Except for that, I don't deliberately break spines, but sometimes a book falls apart in my hands. Especially extremely old paperbacks. I find that Penguin books don't age well. The old Everyman series, small hardcovers, are delightfuly sturdy and handy.

I don't ever, ever highlight books, not even when it's a book I don't intend to keep. I find highlightly counterproductive to learning something: If I want to learn it, I make notes.

If I find a quote I like, and can't write it down at the time, I sometimes put a little five-pointed star in the margin beside it. More often, I jot down the page number on the handiest scrap of paper, or just try to remember it. This works well if I can get back to the book within a day or two. A week later - no chance or remembering the number.

Sometimes I have 'special case' books. Like the Karin Lowachee novels. My favourite character by far was Captain Cairo Azarcon, but he wasn't a constant presence in the books. So to be able to easily find his scenes, I jotted down the page references in the inside front covers.

I never worry about how other people treat their books. Life's too short.

Comments

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

You put them in albums? That amuses me no end :D

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

To snigger at mercilessly. The appalling 'historical costumes', anatomically contorted poses, ubiquitous mullets, and hilarious blurb… And yet the sad thing is, technically, some of the painting is actually excellent. It seems to me sad that the dominance of the abstract/conceptual trend in art (which is now hardly 'modern' after a century) forces talented naturalistic painters to whore their talents in this way.

[itsarift-thing.livejournal.com]

To snigger at mercilessly
Yes, I got that :D

OMG Historical costumes - I'm no expert but sometimes it's like the only two clothing styles to exist before the modern day were Victorian and Georgian...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Often they pull out 'stock' pictures and redo them for different books. Regardless of when they're set.

Bizarre, really bizarre.