To underline certain bits while reading books.

[LauraSaidIShouldBeNicer]

I LOVE reading and quite often have the urge to underline certain bits that resonate with me or is particularly powerful. It might even develop into margin notes. Is this odd?

I've never done it until today I have always not wanted to "deface" my book incase I want to pass it on and today I thought sod it it's my book if I want to I will......

Is a highlighter too far

There isn’t anything that isn’t wanky on mumsnet, is there?

Your book, your business! It's not "defacing" a book to mark it, as long as it's your private property. Of course you should never mark a book that you borrow, and I wouldn't mark a valuable antique edition (even if I owned it), but otherwise, it's perfectly fine.

I prefer ebooks, these days, but back in my youth, I loved marking passages in physical books, usually with brackets in the margins. I also liked leaving notes to myself in the margins. I think that type of thing can actually add interest and "soul" to a book.

Yes, it's very interesting

I use a notebook. But no, nothing wrong with doing whatever you like with your own books!

I write in books and break the spines and turn down the corners! I hate the idea of books being treated with reverence, they're just paper - read them and enjoy them how you want.

My favourite books are held together with sellotape and have umpteen dogeared pages. I like the fact they are well used and loved.

On that note I NEVER borrow books from people! 🤣

What sort of think do you put in the margin?

Highlight away. Scribble. Write notes. Just do it ;)

@Dogscanteatonions

I write in books and break the spines and turn down the corners! I hate the idea of books being treated with reverence, they're just paper - read them and enjoy them how you want.

My favourite books are held together with sellotape and have umpteen dogeared pages. I like the fact they are well used and loved.

On that note I NEVER borrow books from people! 🤣

Now you’re talking. That’s my kind of reading

@YvanEhtNiojYvanEhtNioj

There isn’t anything that isn’t wanky on mumsnet, is there?

Or pretentious

I have the same problem with puzzles and crosswords and things in magazines and newspapers. It just feels wrong. So I bought a printer with a copy function and photocopy them before doing the puzzles.

It just makes me think of Evangelical Christians with their bibles. That and homework in the Lower 6th when you'd just spent forty quid in WH Smiths, lasting all of about 6 weeks until you were back to mind maps and scribbled notes on loose leaf A4 lined and stained with coffee from your allnighters.

finding notes or underlined bits in books, or my favourite- dated notes from the giver are the best parts about books. I rarely buy new and finding a little note is the realest treat!

Do it. And write Yes! And How true! as well.

Also Kathy wrote her diary in the margins of a book. I remember lockwood (?) saying her having a blank page must have been a real treat. Thats probably why I love it too

@NeverDropYourMooncup

It just makes me think of Evangelical Christians with their bibles. That and homework in the Lower 6th when you'd just spent forty quid in WH Smiths, lasting all of about 6 weeks until you were back to mind maps and scribbled notes on loose leaf A4 lined and stained with coffee from your allnighters.

@NeverDropYourMooncup

It just makes me think of Evangelical Christians with their bibles. That and homework in the Lower 6th when you'd just spent forty quid in WH Smiths, lasting all of about 6 weeks until you were back to mind maps and scribbled notes on loose leaf A4 lined and stained with coffee from your allnighters.

I bought a bible which has wide margins specifically for doodling/writing. I'm not evangelical though. It has doodles of rainbows and stuff rather than religious notations

Am only at underlining at the moment but I feel I will write notes next time

It just makes me think of Evangelical Christians with their bibles

Arf.

Had forgotten this wankery and the fact the more beaten up your bible looked the more heav-cred you had

OP, I like second hand books. I don't like other people's ramblings in them but if they're currently yours you're free to treat them as you wish and I'll take my chances.

Pencil in the margin every time.

What are mind maps?

I'm kinda in the "it's a bit wanky" camp too OP

wouldn't do it myself but you know it's your life, your books, your business. Enjoy

Just remembered a thing at school - someone would write in a book

Turn to page x (so you would)
Turn to page x (so you would)

Keep doing that and then the last one would say 'nosey cunt'

I have a library, I never give books away only begrudgingly lend them and then demand them back, and I underline and page mark because they’re my books and I can do what I like with them. This means I will be universally despised in here probably.

It's the words and ideas that are important, the book is just paper and belongs to me. I also fold down corners, snap the spine, underline and make notes. It is my property,

I reread books, I read books my mother read and she did the same, it feels like we share thoughts and secrets though she has been dead a while, I love that thread of thought, of connection.

Not despised - what do you find to write in them? And what sort of books? Genuinely curious - I read books and will go back sometimes to a particular point but I'm getting the impression that I don't read books 'right' or books that are highbrow enough.

Was it something you learnt at uni?

Genuine curiosity.