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Do You Write in Your Books?

 
gardener
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I once did not. Now I almost always do. And in the last week I have started applying Bullet-Journalesque techniques to my underlining and note-making in my books. I am pleased. (Pictures to follow, when I can get technology to work.)

I use #2 pencil for my notes. Colored pens and highlighters are fun for the notebooks, but pencil lines are far less obtrusive when I intend to reread my books.

I mark up my own books, and book loans from family members who have given me permission to add my notes to their margins, but I never mark up library books, if anyone was wondering!
 
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Yes, same here. I was taught NEVER to deface a book by writing in it, advice I have discarded like so many other useless restrictions. It is my opinion that the rise in junk journals and altered books has encouraged this trend.

I am most interested in your usages, especially the Bullet Journal-esqe idea. Please share when possible.

I have wanted for some time to work up an altered journal honoring the memory of my dear late mother, but have not worked out a design. Perhaps I am stalling as I fear I will not do her memory justice.
Cheers, Jean
 
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I like to keep my books like new so if/when I pass them on to others there still is a new feel.

I do have a little cookbook that I right recipes in. Though it also has recipe added on pieces of paper.

An example would be how to cook rice, the secret to cooking rice.  Or a favorite recipe that I want to keep handy.

The book lives to the right of my keyboard.
 
steward & author
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School books, often.   But small in the margins. Not on the text like underlines.

Personal library,  I didn't used to but now I am hosting a legacy library, it turns out people who want to access the books cannot follow simple instructions and now the two libraries are intermingled.
 
steward & bricolagier
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If it's a book I am keeping, yes. If it's one that is going away someplace, no.
I highlight parts by putting vertical lines in the margin on the page edge, at the sections or lines I want to find again. I don't underline, I hate underlining in the flow of reading.

I put commentary sometimes, correcting typos, or outdated information, or, if what they say annoys me I sometimes write things about that. "That is a LOVELY idea, unfortunately in the real world, there's no way it can be done!" Stuff like that.  
 
master steward
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Depends. Like so many others, my parents told me to never write in a book.  My profs told me it was impossible to properly read a book without a pen in hand.  I ended up falling somewhere between the two extremes.  If I buy a book for entertainment, I rarely write in it.  Normally, I buy a book for specific information I hope it will contain.  If so I will underline or highlight key passages.

I know of one person who reads with a collection of highlighters.  Each color has a specific meaning that has stayed consistent through this persons’s life.   I have never been that organized.
 
gardener
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If it's a book I plan to keep and reference, then absolutely. For now, so many of the books I read are library books, so I have few of my own to make notes in. I hope to change that in the not-too-distant future. For a little while, I had a hard time writing in my own books since it was so ingrained from childhood to not to it.
 
Rachel Lindsay
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Latin textbooks, with simple drawings and notes.

(Would have loved to give whole page views, but I am hereby respecting copyrights!)
Bullet-Journal-style-Book-Notes-Copy.png
[Thumbnail for Bullet-Journal-style-Book-Notes-Copy.png]
 
gardener
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I do make notes and highlight in my books. I prefer a paper book but am acquiring pretty large e-book collection finding it far easier to carry. Note making and hilighting an easy process.
 
Steward of piddlers
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Like some previous posters, it depends!

If it is a 'learning' book, such as a textbook that I own, I might write on the pages to help digest the information.

If it is a more casual read, I generally don't.

 
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First it was Tool Abuser Anonymous.  Now it would appear that we need a Book Abuser Anonymous.  Please, please do not tell me that you also lay your opened books face down!!

Yes, each of you "should" be made to wear the paper bag of shame over your head while out in permies.  But I guess you would just write all over the bag too!!!


Still laughing,

Peace
 
Rusticator
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I rarely do, in fiction. But, I often highlight, sketch (relevant stuff), write notes, and make cross-references, alter recipes, etc.  in text books, cookbooks, my Bibles, reference books, etc - even when I know I may give them away. I've had several folks - with my kids being pretty emphatic about it - who have been given the option, when I've had multiple copies of a book, they almost always choose the one I've made notes in. So, why would I have multiple copies of multiple books? Because if I REALLY love a book, there's a strong chance I'm going to lend it or give it to someone I love or want to help, in some way - but, I'm a bit selfish, and still want a copy for myself, especially with my herbal books.

 
master gardener
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If it's a book worth keeping, it's probably worth writing in. I like to hope that my notes and annotations improve the work -- by making it easier/more interesting to parse, by presenting corroborative/combative evidence, or by stimulating a continued mind-map.

Like some of those up-thread, writing in books was a crime until college and constant companion ever since.
 
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