Got things to do, but I'd rather book meme
Sep. 3rd, 2007 01:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pjthompsonStolen from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
magicnoire.
Not a hobby, but a sickness...
1. Are you careful with the spines? Or do you crack your books open to make them lay flat?
Not always. I don't crack the spines to make them lay flat—anathema! But I do open MMPs up so the spines tend to get wrinkled. Generally, not too badly, but for the thicker books, there's more spine wear. This happens with trades, too. Hardcovers, no. Their spines tend to remain in good shape. This is partly because hardcovers seem to open more cleanly than paperbacks, especially MMPs.
2. Do you use bookmarks? Or do you dog-ear the corners? If you do use bookmarks, do you use those fashionable metal ones? Or paper?
I use bookmarks and I use paper. I never dogear. Those metal ones are hard on the books and if left in for any length of time—like when you put the book on the shelf to get back to it later—will sometimes leave rust stains. As to the kinds of bookmarks—anything that's the right size: ticket stubs, doctor's cards, actual bookmarks, playing cards, etc. I've got a basketful that I've collected over the years and use on rotation. Another of my stupid little rituals. :-)
3. Do you write in your books? Ever? If you do, do you make small marks, or write in as much blank space as you can find? Pen or pencil? Highlighter? Your name on the front page?
Only in pencil, but yes. I generally make small comments here and there, but not frequently, and not in all books. If I happen to be doing research, the book will have much more notation in the margins, and I used to be really horrible about marking up in pen and highlighter, but I've stopped doing that.
4. Do you toss your books on the floor? Into book bags? Or do you treat them tenderly, with respect?
I place my books on the floor and book bags, but I don't fling. I wouldn't say I treat them with tenderness always, but I don't abuse them too badly.
5. Do you ever lay your book face-down, to save your place?
Once in a rare while, but mostly not. That's what the bookmarks are for. I do squash them in the copier sometimes, though. It's unavoidable if you want to get a good copy. Mostly I don't copy. Not my own books, anyway. :-)
6. Um–water? Do you bathe with your books? Hold them with wet hands? Read out in the rain? Anything of that sort?
I like to read while soaking in the bathtub with a towel just beside the tub so I can dry my hands before picking up the book. Mostly, I've avoided getting them damp. No reading out in the rain or anything like that, though.
7. Are your books lined up on a bookshelf? Or crammed in any which way? Stacked on the floor?
My TBR pile currently occupies nine shelves with the books laid in crossways (but orderly so I can see all the titles!) to get more books into the space. I used to stack them on the floor, but that got way the hell out of hand if I had any intention of moving freely about my apartment. I live in a smaller space now so have to be even more conscientious. I have shelves dedicated strictly to TBR and shelves dedicated to permanent collection. My current rule is that if I run out of space, old stuff has to be purged—recycled, donated, given away, et al. No more piling on non-book designated areas.
8. Do you make a distinction–as regards book care–between hardcovers and paperbacks?
Mostly, no, but see spine question above. I take the dust covers off hardcovers when reading them because they're irritating, but I like having them when the book is shelved.
magicnoire.Not a hobby, but a sickness...
1. Are you careful with the spines? Or do you crack your books open to make them lay flat?
Not always. I don't crack the spines to make them lay flat—anathema! But I do open MMPs up so the spines tend to get wrinkled. Generally, not too badly, but for the thicker books, there's more spine wear. This happens with trades, too. Hardcovers, no. Their spines tend to remain in good shape. This is partly because hardcovers seem to open more cleanly than paperbacks, especially MMPs.
2. Do you use bookmarks? Or do you dog-ear the corners? If you do use bookmarks, do you use those fashionable metal ones? Or paper?
I use bookmarks and I use paper. I never dogear. Those metal ones are hard on the books and if left in for any length of time—like when you put the book on the shelf to get back to it later—will sometimes leave rust stains. As to the kinds of bookmarks—anything that's the right size: ticket stubs, doctor's cards, actual bookmarks, playing cards, etc. I've got a basketful that I've collected over the years and use on rotation. Another of my stupid little rituals. :-)
3. Do you write in your books? Ever? If you do, do you make small marks, or write in as much blank space as you can find? Pen or pencil? Highlighter? Your name on the front page?
Only in pencil, but yes. I generally make small comments here and there, but not frequently, and not in all books. If I happen to be doing research, the book will have much more notation in the margins, and I used to be really horrible about marking up in pen and highlighter, but I've stopped doing that.
4. Do you toss your books on the floor? Into book bags? Or do you treat them tenderly, with respect?
I place my books on the floor and book bags, but I don't fling. I wouldn't say I treat them with tenderness always, but I don't abuse them too badly.
5. Do you ever lay your book face-down, to save your place?
Once in a rare while, but mostly not. That's what the bookmarks are for. I do squash them in the copier sometimes, though. It's unavoidable if you want to get a good copy. Mostly I don't copy. Not my own books, anyway. :-)
6. Um–water? Do you bathe with your books? Hold them with wet hands? Read out in the rain? Anything of that sort?
I like to read while soaking in the bathtub with a towel just beside the tub so I can dry my hands before picking up the book. Mostly, I've avoided getting them damp. No reading out in the rain or anything like that, though.
7. Are your books lined up on a bookshelf? Or crammed in any which way? Stacked on the floor?
My TBR pile currently occupies nine shelves with the books laid in crossways (but orderly so I can see all the titles!) to get more books into the space. I used to stack them on the floor, but that got way the hell out of hand if I had any intention of moving freely about my apartment. I live in a smaller space now so have to be even more conscientious. I have shelves dedicated strictly to TBR and shelves dedicated to permanent collection. My current rule is that if I run out of space, old stuff has to be purged—recycled, donated, given away, et al. No more piling on non-book designated areas.
8. Do you make a distinction–as regards book care–between hardcovers and paperbacks?
Mostly, no, but see spine question above. I take the dust covers off hardcovers when reading them because they're irritating, but I like having them when the book is shelved.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-04 01:02 am (UTC)And yes, again I admit to nerdiness. (shrugs)
no subject
Date: 2007-09-04 01:09 am (UTC)