To write in and highlight books?

[DaisyRaine90]

Not in library books I might add, but books around the house (all belong to me). I highlight, underline, write in the margins and notes in the back and generally deface them.

I love it when I get books second hand that also have some writing in, or read them at other peoples houses.

It's like old style academic twitter.

Lots of people tell me you should never write in books. #

AIBU? or do you do it too?

[DontKnowWhatToDo123]

If they belong to you then you can do whatever you please with them.

Out of interest (aka just been nosey), what type of books are you making notes in?
Imagining harry potter with the rat is really a traitorous twunt dont trust him ron, I hope crookshanks eats the scabby little thing

[Saucery]

I do that to mine too. They aren’t going anywhere and it’s interesting to see thoughts develop over time.

[DaisyRaine90]

pop psychology books/ self help, classics and gothic novels, non fiction, poetry, some other fiction.

I don't read fantasy anymore but looking forward to reading HP to the DCs when they're old enough.

[Jellybean85]

I do in mine, I think it’s totally fine!! Bette that they’re loved and annotated than left unread On a shelf

[DaisyRaine90]

I love re-reading something from years ago and reading my notes etc. and seeing where my head was at.

[WhooooAmI24601]

Oh no I wouldn't be happy writing in books, no idea why (though I can see if it's a psychology-type why you might).

I'm a bit weird about books though and don't let the DCs leave them on bedroom floors in case they get hurt, so am probably not the most sensible person to ask.

[sonjadog]

As long as you own them, you can do what you like.

[Bubblebubblepop]

Yes I do too, although mainly read by kindle now and electronically highlight

[DaisyRaine90]

I tend to read a few books at once
and never finish anything
so it helps me to place mark.

If one of the kids drew on their books though they would be in trouble
maybe I should change that but hey all parents are hypocrites

[DaisyRaine90]

in case they get hurt
tbf my books are like family members to me
after the kids and DP I would save the books

[CancellyMcChequeface]

I never do because it just seems wrong to me. I can't really explain that, though. I've been known to leave lots of post-it notes with comments in academic books, and I do like reading marginalia in second-hand texts. Lots of underlining in pen, not so much, and I've borrowed course books from my university library with so much highlighting and commentary that they're basically unreadable. That kind of thing is irritating.

Your own books in your own home, though, there's no rational reason why not, I guess. I just wouldn't.

[macaronip1e]

I do in cookery books - I add notes of what worked/didn't; what tweaks I would make next time.

[DaisyRaine90]

Ooh will be doing it in cookery books for sure now!! Even my expensive hard back ones because YOLO

[SurferRona]

I love marginalia! I used to write in mine as an angsty teen. Just awful and hilarious when I look at them now!!! I wouldn't highlight tho, that's a modern and ugly step too far- what's wrong with a line in the margin? Love them in secondhand books too. DontKnow - I remember being annoyed with my mum as a kid so I found her current whodunnit, read the last pages and wrote the surprise ending on her next page!!! Evil child!!!

[Tsundoku]

I used to do this sometimes, but, decades later, I find the notes more irritating than interesting. They're rarely the original and incisive comments I thought they were: mostly they're pretty fucking obvious, and clearly a hangover from heavily-annotated A-level texts.

The only time they actually add anything is in novels with really complicated family trees or a million characters with similar names (100 Years of Solitude?). Otherwise: nope. Shut up and read the book, is what I tend to think whenever I find them now.

[Ginnotginger]

Agree with PPs, your books do what you like.

I used to write in text books especially Law ones, but rather than insightful comments, mine used to be along the lines of 'this is boring' and across a land law chapter on easements 'crap, crap, crap'.

I went throught a phase of correcting errors in my books but got over that pretty quickly, now I just ignore or if it irritates me too much I stop reading. There are so many more to read

[DaisyRaine90]

Surferrona

That’s brilliant!!

[Ginnotginger]

I don't usually mind if other people have written notes etc in books but I hate dog-eared books with a passion and believe that there is a circle of hell reserved for people who do it!

[SabineUndine]

No, I don’t even put my name in any more. I buy fancy editions and first editions signed by the author though.

[IAmBreakmasterCylinder]

I do. Even with fiction I highlight bits of text that I like.

Poetry definitely and also non fiction.

My most written in and highlighted book that is almost always in my bag is Reasons to Stay alive by Matt Haig. I find so much comfort in it when my depression is bad.

I love my books and all their little scribblings!

[SabineUndine]

Surferona ooh that’s vengeance with a vengeance! I was once reading an Agatha Christie in which someone had done just that. On the title page. Was it you?

[DaisyRaine90]

I’m going to start doing it more I think not less.



Get me a highlighter and biro got some reading to do 😂

[AlpacaPicnic]

My name is Alpaca and I'm a bad librarian...
I break the spines of my own books and turn the corners down too. Only paperbacks for some reason. And only ones that I've bought. But most of mine are ex library stock so they're already pretty knackered when I get them!

I treat my hardbacks much better #bookfavouritism

[SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed]

I write in the margins of non-fiction books, but I've never done to fiction. They're my own books and I'm not planning to rehome them so why not?

[BlondeB83]

I’ve always done it.