After my discussion on book art (which you can check out HERE) I thought I’d continue along a similar theme and talk about my book reading etiquette. All bookworms undoubtedly have little quirks regarding the way they treat their books and with these quirks comes the spectacular annoyances towards other people’s treatment of literature.
When reading books, I hate the thought of the spine developing creases, or becoming cracked. As a result, I read books without actually opening them fully so as to not affect the spine. (You can’t see, but I’m blushing). Yes it's bloody uncomfortable and awkward to read BUT no creases or breaks. *Sexy and winning wink*
I remember going on holiday with my cousin many years ago, and it was a long car journey to get there. I offered him my beloved copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to read. He accepted it, opened the book as wide as he could, bending it in half so the back and front covers were touching. I was too shocked to speak. Needless to say, none of my other Harry Potter books have suffered the same spine-breaking fate.
When reading books from school, or from the library, I used to hate the fact that people had written in them. People always thought the school textbooks were fair game (especially the science ones for some reason). A classic was: 'Turn to page 350'. I'd always dutifully flick, just to see what gems the fools had come up with. You'd get to the end of the 325 page book and they'd have written 'There is no page 350 you ……….!' (Insert an expletive of your choice). Bravo. Or, if they hadn't been written in, there tended to be rather dubious looking stains smeared on the pages. Lovely.
I think, in my view, the worst crime a reader can commit is....
...folding over the corner of a page to mark where they’re up to. Oh, the horror that I feel. FOR GOD'S SAKE MAN, GET A BLOODY BOOKMARK. OR A SCRAP OF PAPER. A BIT OF TISSUE. WRITE THE PAGE NUMBER ON YOUR EFFING HAND. ANYTHING.
Sorry for that maniacal outburst. I used to lend books to my Mum, and I would get them back with huge visible lines across the pages. It made me see red, so much so that I banned her from reading any more of my books.
If I do lend people my books (pretty rare) I do a mental risk assessment. Am I likely to actually get the book back? What state will it be in when they return it?!
I wish I was more relaxed. I know that much-loved books can disintegrate over time. I just don't want to speed up that process. I fully appreciate how books with ragged covers and broken spines have a rustic, well-read look about them. I do think they can be very pretty, especially older books which justify the look. (I am a big fan of the classic Penguins). However, with my own modern literature, I'd much rather stick to my boring routine of crease free spines and smooth pages, so I can adore and read them that little bit longer.
Is anybody else as bad as me? I feel that I am a traitor to bookworms everywhere. Shouldn't I be enjoying books rather than worrying how the spine and pages are holding up? I’m odd aren’t I?!
What are your pet hates? How do you read your books? Bookmarks or page folding? Break the spine?