I don’t… But I didn’t agree with the dismissive “why would I?” in the poll. I think it’s a perfectly reasonable thing to do, and if I were just a little more organized, I would do it.
My photo albums don’t have annotations either. I think it’s sensible to write, “Lake Huron, July 2005” etc.
(My computer files and folders are largely self-documenting, with long file names that indicate something about the subject.)
Archiving is a good instinct. I wish I had it!
Writing in a book always seemed a little wrong to me. Books were the nearest thing to sacred in the house where I grew up, and writing, underlining, highlighting, dog-earing, setting them down open with the spine up – they all feel like cussing in church. So, “No, why would I?”
Reference books that live in the office and may get borrowed - sometimes. If it was an expensive book that I paid for myself and didn’t put on expenses - almost always. Books for home - never. Since getting a Kindle I haven’t bought a book that I could write my name in.
This is exactly true of how I was raised, except for writing your name and date in the front. That was not considered defacing. In fact, it was part of the sanctification of the book.
No, I can’t write in a book at all. When I was forced in an English class to highlight and annotate part of a book (no sticky notes allowed, MUST be in the margins!) I was MORTIFIED. So I will kindly sit over here, while you heathens get dirty scribbles in your books.
No. I usually write the name of some famous person and the date. I like the idea that someone picks up my secondhand copy and goes, “Wow this is Russell Crowe’s copy of …”
If it’s a book I’m going to keep foreverandeverandever then maybe. But generally I think of books as ephemera. The content is important, not the substance.
Also they are currency when you travel: you can sell books, and many backpacker cafes have a “leave two take one” policy. Writing my name in it would maybe interfere with that ethos.
I have a stamp that embosses “From the Library Of BrotherCadfael” on all my new hardcovers. My wife gave it to me years ago, and it adds a nice touch.
As a kid I used to write in my books all the time, though never my name. When I grew up I realized how ugly that made my books look and that gave me a great recluance to write my name down in my books. Plus I never lend books to anyone.
On a related note, does anyone remember writing names down on your LPs? When I buy used LPs, I see tons of copies with names on the LP jacket or the record label itself. How come you rarely see this with CDs?
When I buy a book, it is for life. So yes, I mark my territory with my name and the date of the acquisition. I like going through my library and remembering when I got each of my little darlings. And when my moldering corpse is in the ground and my heirs are tossing all of my old tomes into a fire, they can laugh at me in the proper chronological order.
Yes, I love my books. Never give them away, never loan them. They are part of my personal story.
How were you forced to? I refused to all through college. That seems like something too stupid to be part of a grade, but considering how many unbelievably stupid things do get graded on, I won’t be surprised if you say that you would have had points docked if you didn’t comply :mad:
So you’ve bought…three books? Or have a mansion and several outbuildings for your many many books?
I read. I read a lot. At one point I thought like you “OMG BOOKS ARE MY BEST FRIENDS EVAR!” Then I noticed my mom was lugging the same five cases of books from house to house to house despite never having read them in years, solely because she was so attached to the memories felt while reading them. They are very, very popular books, easily obtainable at ANY library while she insists on hoarding her originals as they deteriorate.
At that point I pared down my must-have list to a dozen or so books I’ve read and loved multiple times and enjoyed so much that I know I’d enjoy reading them at least once a year. In fact? Those are the books you’d enjoy buying a for a new friend, if you knew them well enough.
Books are meant to be SHARED not HOARDED. Read it, pass it on, grab something different and unfamiliar.
I pretty much only buy ebooks now, and writing my name on them would be way more effort than it’s worth.
I never wrote my name on ink’n’paper books back when I bought them either.
It would never dawn on me to write my name on anything unless I thought I could lose it. Plus only now have I actually started to feel any sort of attachment to any books, and, even then, it’s only for the nostalgia, and not because they are especially good books.
I’m the type of person who preferred TV not because I didn’t like to read, but because I could be guaranteed new content of the same kind. If fiction magazines had been a big deal back then, that would have been the sort of thing I’d be into. Call it lazy, but having to go hunt in a library for a book I’d like just wasn’t appealing.
I have a very large collection of cookbooks. I write my name on those, especially as family/friends often borrow a few and it could be a while before I see them again. It’s a not so subtle reminder to the borrower to return at some point.
I also have a lot of fiction & non fiction books but never bother writing my name in those.
I use bookplates, but mine only has my name, no address or phone number.
I sign the receipt and gently peel apart the case and slip it in under the disc carrier part. Anybody claims it is theirs, I can ask a third party to peel it apart and check.
Writing in a book not associated with school or that’s given as a keepsake has always seemed almost…sacrilegious. I can understand why someone would do it but I have trouble doing it myself. Kinda like putting books on the ground-it was instilled in me early on that it was somehow disrespectful.
I try hard not to be too weird about it with my kids, but I cringe a little when I find a marked up book or one on the ground.
I’ve never written in a book, even when I was in college. I do, tho, take copius notes. And later insert the sweaty pages into said book like a bookmark, or a landmark. Because if I’ve cared enough to want to record my reaction it’s become a marker in my journey.