Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Scruffy books!

Argh - it's Tuesday! I almost forgot which day it was. Just in the nick of time - here's my thoughts for the week.

I was going to call this post 'dirty books' but that might have given the wrong impression...

I am a book batterer - that sounds just awful, but what I mean is, I love my books to look like they belong to me - or someone. I love them to look loved and worn and beat up. When I buy a new book, I try to be vigilant and use a pretty bookmark, but within the first sitting, it gets lost and I fold down a corner. I even write or draw on books sometimes.

Does that make you cringe? Do you like your books to be pristine?

I had a good think about where this comes from - I have friends who treat books as if they are sacred and to be kept in perfect condition. I don't borrow books from these people, you'll be glad to know! Then, I remembered at Sunday school when I was small, the teacher had a battered old bible with every margin and tiny space crammed in her handwriting. It was thick with her own thoughts, ideas and inspirations that she'd felt when reading the text. I remember running my fingers over the bumpy pen marks and feeling exhilarated that she'd owned this book so well.

I loved her bible.

And I love my books. Just because they are scruffy - they are definitely NOT neglected. They are much loved.

Believe it or not, I still read ebooks on my computer, I don't own an e-reader yet - maybe when they have a 'fold down corner' option and the casing takes biro!

I find it fascinating - how do you treat yours?

See you next week - if I don't get lost in time and space again...

T x x x



5 comments:

  1. I do tend to "break the spine" on books. I will generally start reading a book, trying to be very careful not to do this, trying to keep them new looking. But after about 1/3 or 1/2 of the way through, I get lost in the book and forget. But I can't stand the thought of bending the pages or writing on them. And don't get me started about the labels put on some books....I hate those stickers!!

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  2. You totally made me cringe. I love my books to look new all the time. However, I am okay if someone borrows them and they don't come back perfect. If I have a book I really want to stay perfect, I just don't lend it.

    Great post!

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  3. Loved this post, especially your memory of your Sunday school teacher's well-loved bible. The only books I buy in paper format anymore are self-help, reference or cookbooks, and I definitely do mark those up with highlighters and notes. I buy fiction in ebook format only now and hate the Kindle highlighting feature.

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  4. I am an offender in the worse way. Prepared too be fully grossed out by my confession. When I'm reading, I poke my cuticles with the page corners, which sometimes even draws blood. Ewwww. It's a habit I'm trying to break because all my book pages end up with bloody corners. I get so lost in the book that I never realize what's happening until it's too late!

    For this reason, I never borrow books!

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  5. I love all your reactions! Wow - isn't it amazing? Oh Jen, you made me giggle - we could swap books with each other! I think June, if you break the spine, you must be truly engrossed in the story - that's a good sign... and Lacy, I think you wouldn't want the book back if you leant it to me - tee hee! Pepper - you reminded me of a fab book I read about a recipe book - if I remember it, I'll let you know. I love books made personal. Thanks ladies x x

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