WIBU to unfold the pages of the HOME book gifted to me?

[Golfhotelromeofoxtrot]

SIL has given us a book as a housewarming gift, the pages have been folded so it looks like it says 'HOME' when turned with its spine away from you.

I am not a fan of these sorts of decorations, and actually it looks like a really good book that has been ruined, would I be unreasonable to unfold it and read it and just keep it as a book?

[pictish]

Ywbu. Sytuff with words like HOME on it is naff....BUT that's no reason to dismantle a well meaning gift.

[pictish]

*stuff

[Theycallmemellowjello]

If its a recipe book or something can you just unfold the pages you want when you need it? Or if you want to read it you can unfold and refold the pages as you go through? I think it would be mean to just unfold the pages, yes. It might not be to your taste, but she's gone to the effort to do something crafty for you so I don't think it's ok to just destroy it. At least you can just shove it on a book shelf and don't have to display it.

[Theycallmemellowjello]

Or better yet, just buy another copy of the book or get it out the library? I think it would be really nice to say "I liked the gift so much that I wanted to read it too" but not so nice to say "I dismantled it so I could read it."

[reni1]

Yanbu, undo it. We were given one of those, but ours is a trashy chick lit book, not sure if it is more embarrassing as a folded piece of shit ornament or an unfolded shit book. Never seen something like this before I was given it as a gift, unbelievable. Recycling bin I think.

[Theycallmemellowjello]

I'm kind of intrigued as to how she's managed this without cutting btw.

[Golfhotelromeofoxtrot]

Drat, I fear you're right.

Does it make any difference that she bought it, rather than folded it herself?

[reni1]

Oh, and do learn the art of folding and send her one that spells AWAY.

[pictish]

Me too. I think we need a photo of said item.

[Theycallmemellowjello]

Ha, that does make a slight difference! But I'd still keep it hidden away folded and find something else to read! No harm keeping the SIL on side.

[Starlingsintheslipstream]

I can't imagine it either. We need a photo to decide if YABU!

[MamanOfThree]

What's the point of giving a book away if you can't read it?

Or is it supposed to used as a decoration only and NOT to be read?

Mind boggles.

[reni1]

Google "folding books to make words" and prepare to be horrified.

[Theycallmemellowjello]

If you think that book's bad btw, my nan recently gave me a copy of a biography of Lord Byron's half-sister with the recommendation "he had an incestuous affair with her!" My own sister was sitting next to me at the time, stifling laughter.

[Golfhotelromeofoxtrot]

Oh no- what if she sees it! I know she isn't a mumsnetter, but I would be mortified if she knew I put a photo on the Internet.

It has been folded so it now doesn't close properly, it is permenetly wedged open, as if shouting in disgust at the malformation of its once beautiful pages.

Does it make a difference that it's a beautiful hardback classic book?

[pictish]

Yes our local library has a few of these folded book orhaments dotted around.

I dunno it's a weird thing...it's like a clever thing to do, but so pointless as to be stupid.

[reni1]

I think you will need an "accident" with a glass of red wine or something. Or have it in the bathroom, so easy to fall into the tub.

[PercyGherkin]

Like this?

Wow, that's a strange thing to do.

You are definitely allowed to put that in a safe place in the attic.

[Hygge]

I hate those books. I have a friend on Facebook who keeps trying to win one by liking and sharing the latest desecration from some local book torturer and they make me feel sad every time I see the pictures.

Poor ruined, badly folded books, usually with bows or eyeballs glued to them.

I live in fear of someone buying me one and saying "We know you like books so here's a ruined one folded to say the word 'read', with a bow glued to it ."

Even DS (age six) is aware of my aversion to them. We went in a fancy gift shop recently and he quite loudly said "Look! Murdered books, you hate them don't you Mum!" At least I know I won't be getting one for Mother's day though

Unfold it. Let it live as it was intended to, as a proper book. If she asks about it and you have a small child, blame them. "Oh, X unfolded it to read the pages and I couldn't refold it, shame that, aren't kids funny, haha."

[SoupDragon]

At least it isn't this.

[PercyGherkin]

Send her this one back

[SoupDragon]

Do you all go into house clearance type shops to rescue unwanted books before they are pulped?

[BehindEveryCloud]

Ugh I just googled this, it's horrendous. Makes me feel so sad for the books!

YABU to destroy a gift, though I see why it'd be hard to resist in this situation

[FirstOfficerDouglasRichardson]

I've googled. They're really not to my taste at all. But I don't think I could unfold her gift.