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]

Does watching other readers bend the cover all the way round make you flinch or squeal in pain?
FLINCH *actually* flinch - my whole body recoils in terror...


You cut books in half???? *gazes at you in horror*

[elebridith]

I always try to keep them as good as possible. No dog-ears, no spine breaks - though this is not easy with very thick paperbacks, they sometimes break even if you're very careful. Pet peeve is when a book is lying on a table and someone sets a cup on it. You can hear me growl...
When we set up our literature circle, I very adamantly insisted that the cookies we would bring for the coffee break should have no chocolate or any coating to keep the danger for the books to a minimum. They are now lovingly referred to as "compromise cookies". *g*
The hair in my neck start to rise when I see that people scribbled around in library books. Argh!!
The bending the cover thing gives me a little shiver too... *g*
I am guilty though of sometimes using a highlighter - for very memorable quotes - and I once did notes in pencil. It was a biography about Empress Elisabeth of Austria which was the base for the musical "Elisabeth" and I wrote the corresponding lyrics on the side of the page or between the lines.
Cutting books??? *shudder* *grins*

Oh, and I sometime pet books. Yup. Before I open it to read, especially when I'm very excited about reading it, I pet the cover. I wasn't even aware of doing it at first, until one of my co-mods pointed it out and now everyone's looking and grinning and waiting for it. Oh well. *lol*

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

I wish you would give some lessons to my patrons. I have charged people for highlighting / writing in material, and scolded them for dog-earring the pages. It is not your book and other people would like to use it in some decent condition! Please buy your books if you are to be so careless!

I am also speechless at your cutting your books in half, LOL. I never would have even thought to cut them for spacial reasons. Interesting!

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

[scratches head] I thought crosses were four-pointed by definition.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

I would never cut a book apart intentionally, because of early years when I had so little money for books that each one was precious just for the fact that it was now mine. But I can see the sense of your system, yup.

Highlighting... only when I'm totally overwhelmed by what's in the text and have to connect with it somehow, apart from the actual reading process. Highlighting co-exists with making marginal notes and symbols, for me. Each symbol has a significance in my own sort of hands-on shorthand.

[nishatalitha.livejournal.com]

I find a small plastic bag does wonders for keeping books (particularly other people's books) in good condition in my bag. Mine, mostly I don't worry about it. My paperbacks get covered in duraseal eventually.

Am very tempted by the cutting apart idea for the biography of Richard Burton I'm currently reading (thicker than my 3-in-1 Lord of the Rings I swear), but I might want to read it again and I got it at a bookfair... Besides, I'm nearly finished.