Another week, another discussion post!
Though this week’s topic isn’t a “serious” topic, I still think people have a lot to say when it comes to this.
Plus we need a light-hearted topic every so often, right?
So…writing in books. Do you do it?
Why would people write in books?
Well, that’s the thing. I don’t know many reasons why, but I can guess a few:
– Because they like a certain part of the book, and want to comment on it.
– Because they ran out of sticky notes and it’s the next best option.
– Because they want to underline or highlight favourite quotes.
– Because they just feel like doodling, and it’s paper.
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Do I write in books?
Absolutely not! I have a notebook to write my thoughts in and sticky notes to tab my favourite quotes. I have no reason to write in my books.
Plus let’s face it, I’m one of those people who loves keeping their books pristine. I don’t crack the spine, I don’t dog-ear the pages. And I don’t write in them.
Though I have done before. When I was taking an English Literature course last year, I had to take so many notes on the books we studied, and post it notes became too much of a hassle. There wasn’t enough space to stick them, while being able to still see the text. So I just began writing in them with pencil. Now my copies of Jane Eyre and Tess of the D’Urbervilles has hundreds or tiny notes dotted around the pages.
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Join the discussion!
Do you write in your books? Why?
Or maybe you only write in books sometimes?
What would convince you to write in a book?
Have you ever written in a book?
Join the discussion in the comments!
Until next time…
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Come and visit me!
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A frolic through fiction 
I did an English literature BA and MA and to be honest the people who DIDN’T write in their copies were the odd ones – everyone had falling apart copies with dog-eared pages and pencil scribbles and post-it notes everywhere. All of it helped to really dissect a text and keeping it in one book was easier than having different notes everywhere.
However, now I’ve graduated I make a point of not writing in my books at all. If I like a quote, I’ll put a sticky tab in it. I think part of it is new found freedom – I don’t HAVE TO dissect quotes in minute detail any more. If I do happen to dissect a quote, it isn’t necessary to study and memorise it for a test, so it’s oddly liberating for me to not HAVE TO write in a book now.
Weird how that happens haha. 🙂
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Yeah that’s what my copies of Jane Eyre and Tess are like. They’re in such a state from having to take apart every single word!
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I am exactly the same! My books are all in perfect condition, apart from Jane Eyre from when I did AS Lit which is now tatty and filled with notes 🙈
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So many people seem to have tattered copies of Jane Eyre haha!
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Like Emma I did an English literature BA and MA as well, and yup, the vast majority wrote all over their books. I don’t know, for some reason I really enjoy writing in books, particularly when studying. It made me feel very… student-y and helped with the motivation in some way, hahaha. Kind of like well-organized stationary makes you feel motivated and student-y.
I rarely write in non-syllabus books though, but mostly because I don’t feel the need to take notes as I don’t have to analyze them in any way. I dog ear pages with quotes I like though, or if there’s something on the page that I want to remember for my review.
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It’s so much easier when analyzing just to write in the books themselves! I get what you mean though about not analyzing the books you’re not studying – there just no need to, simply enjoy 🙂
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Noooo! I could never write in a book now. I’m like you and I like to keep my books in pristine condition.
I will admit though, I have written in books in the past, more when I was a child though so I’ll let myself off 😛
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Pristine books just look stunning, I can’t damage any!
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Personally I would never write in books. A couple reasons why are because I like my books to be as pristine as possible for as long as possible. Also I like being focused on the actual book and appreciating the beauty of the writing. HOWEVER! I do like reading books that have notes written in them purposely. Such as “S.” and “Illuminae”.
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Books that have different formatting are AMAZING! I adore them! If you haven’t read it already, and don’t mind creepy/pyschological type books, I’d recommend The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich. It’s written through interviews, messages, camera footage etc. 😀
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Oooooo! That might be one I’ll have to read in the day time lol I’ll check it out! Sorry for the insanely late response.
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I don’t usually write in books, and the Shadowhunter books are probably the only ones in which I have actually written stuff in! (I did that because I was obsessed with this new highlighter set that I had bought, which now that I reflect back on it, is a very stupid reason!) My English teacher at school does tell us to make running notes during class, but I really can’t write in a novel! I have a separate journal for my thoughts as well *high five*! I do write a lot in textbooks though, as in little notes and definitions 🙂
Also, I think it is better to write notes separately because sometimes, my notes turn into essays and take up all the space! Also, the journals that I have are just too pretty to not write in and even if I don’t have to write in them, I do end up filling it.
Now I am going to stop… Sorry for the huge comment! Hope I did not waste any of your time!
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Don’t apologize! I love reading through huge comments 😀 ❤
I completely agree with you about writing in a separate book. I buy wayyyy too many notebooks, need to use them somehow so why not for my book thoughts! Especially when they turn into rambles haha 😀
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I wrote notes in the margins of my English texts, and also the books I was reading in French and German, but aside from making the odd vocab note in my french novels, I don’t do it anymore.
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It seems that when it comes to study books, we just have to to make things easier. Personal enjoyment though? Nahh…
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In every English & Lit class I’ve take, I too have found that it’s actually odd not to write in your books. I got in the habit of annotating to analyze which is hard to break.
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It’s just easier to write in the books themselves when it comes to studying, instead of adding extra paper to everything you already have stacked up!
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Nop, ,no, nop, NO. I just can’t, it is actually a pet peeve of mine, I like my books to be all shiny and perfect.
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Same, same! I’ve never written in one voluntarily haha.
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I will never ever write in my books !! I like them to always be in perfect conditions !!
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Same 😀 they just look too good to damage!
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I can’t say that I’ve ever written in a book! Even in English class but that was because they only allowed us one copy which had to be kept blank for exams. I tend to write notes either on my phone or a notebook, with tabs for quick reference – if I remember XD lately I’ve come out of the habit but I do like looking back at what stood out to me, so in that way I can understand why people write in books. I still don’t think I ever will though!
Enchanted by YA
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We had to photocopy a blank copy to take into exams – there was SO much paper on one table! Such a stupid idea! And I love leaving my post it notes in books to find them later and see why it stood out to me so much 😀
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I would never right in books that I read recreationally! Just no, I hate seeing pencil marks in books or worse- pen marks (I have seen library books which have been marked like this unfortunately.). If you are reading a book for study though, that’s a different story and that’s acceptable.
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I Agree 🙂
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