Back when I was in college, I would write in the margins and underline. Looking back on those books now, I have no clue why some passages are underlined and my world view has changed. They’re interesting to look at now and see the person I once was, but I would not write in a book now. Some of the things I wrote are quite embarassing to read.

I scribble all over my books – highlighter, pen, post-its – and dog-ear the pages but I have a weird thing where I try to keep the cover as clean as possible. It’s an odd thing but I don’t like it when the covers crease (can’t do much about the spines on paperbacks) or curl. I have a friend who scribbles at least as much (or more than I) in her books but gets really bent out of shape if the pages are dog-eared.

However, if it’s not a book I own it gets returned to the owner in the same condition I received it.
.-= MelissaW´s last blog ..Teaser Tuesday: The Girl Who Played With Fire =-.

i would go as far as to say that i am suspectious of any books in other people’s houses that are in pristine condition ( unless those are collectible or family heirlooms).

I’m guilty of dogearing pages especially in library books. I use to write in my books when I was younger but I rarely do so now.
I have some books that are tattered and barely hanging on by a thread. I love them and would never replace them! It’s a like an old comfy blanket.
.-= Linda´s last blog ..Library Loot =-.

Definitely neat and orderly. Use a journal if you want to take notes, but respect the books and don’t mark them up or bend their pages.

I agree, with dmitriy — I’m also a bit suspicious of other people’s books that are in pristine condition, like they are just for show. It’s hard for me to believe that all those books could have been read and loved/hated without leaving a mark…but then, I’m one of those who leaves a lot of marks on my books. Partly its my lifestyle – reading a lot while on the train – and also my choice of books (paperbacks). Oh and I’m also one of those people who folds back the corners on the pages I like. I even go back and underline them. Why? It’s not convenient for me to write it all down in a journal…but I want to easily revisit all those passage I found interesting/inspiring.
.-= Christine´s last blog ..High Society =-.

Besides my copy of The Witches I also have a copy of The Great Gatsby from the 70’s where every blank page at the beginning is filled with notes about the book by my high school senior English teacher, Mrs. Theibert. Mrs. Theibert was an INCREDIBLE woman who vacationed in Cairo and graded AP exams and gave away books on the shelf behind her to her students. I will always treasure my beat up “Theibert Annotated Edition” of Gatsby, which is already one of my favorites.

I’m in the minority it seems! My books are in really good condition – the worst they get it the occasional curled corner from traveling in my purse or some creasing in the spine. When I was younger I was never much of a writer in books, didn’t even like to highlight in text books. If something strikes my fancy, I’m most likely to sit and contemplate for a while before continuing. At most I’ve written some quotes that really hit me in a journal, but that’s about it. Most recently, I’ve taken up journaling, but even that is rare.

I’m an admitted dog-earer. It does depends on the “original” condition of the book, and by “original” I mean the condition when I acquire it. I love to buy already beat up books at used book stores, and appreciate not having to worry about turning down a page, or tossing it in the backseat of my car. However, with hardcovers or new trade copies, I’ll take the time to find a bookmark.

Something about a well-worn paperback just makes me really happy.
.-= Toni´s last blog ..Jump-small =-.

Gah! Maybe it’s a holdover from my comic book collecting days, but I totally can’t abide shredded books! The worst mine get are also those in-the-bag-too-long bent corners which do bother me but I soldier on.

I think a book can be read 8 times without destroying it — it just takes careful reading. I see people mauling their books all the time, cracking the spines, rolling the covers back, smashing books down onto tables to make them lie flat — that doesn’t mean you loved the book more or less, it just means you mauled your book. To each his own. :)

The only books that I forgive some mishandling of are the books I love that are just so old that they aren’t sturdy anymore — vintage paperbacks with worn spines and yellowed paper that crumble a bit when you touch them. They still deserve a reading life even though they’re old.
.-= Jesse Post´s last blog ..Hey Kids — It’s the Book Blog Awards! =-.

Jesse, your second paragraph just made my eyes bleed. Thanks. Maybe we wouldn’t notice that as much if we didn’t live in the city where every Tom, Dick, and Harry reading on the subway is mauling their book.