Book Buying Addicts Anonymous discussion
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Is a book in pristine condition loved or unloved?
At your suggestion, Bob, I repeat my angsty question:I like to have 2 copies of special books-1 to keep "pristine" & one to "love." Now I feel like I'm cheating on one of them.
The question is: which one?
I'm thinking of 1 book I had from the age of 8 (& let my daughter read it 2 years ago). It literally crumbled into pieces during its last reading.OMG: I killed it!
I guess there can be no better way for a book to leave this world than to have been literally read to death! May I ask which title it was that had this distinctive honour?
Oh-now you're really going to laugh at me. It was a book I read as a little girl (well, obviously-I said I was 8) about another little girl with cerebral palsy whose mother was told to institutionalize her but instead got all inspirational & ended up founding UCP- Karen by Marie Killilea. Go figure I'd end up teaching kids with special needs & have one with his own. But, re-reading it with my daughter, I thought it really was well-written & sweet without being cloying.
I think the answer to that depends on the person. Even though I love my books and read them repeatedly I try to keep them in the best shape possible. I don't like my books to look worn. However when buying used books I feel bad if they look untouched. And have been drawn to many books because of how worn they looked thinking it means they must be loved. So who knows? Aparently I can't even decide on my own set opinion. (Lol)
It's loved! I keep my books in great condition (usually) because that's the way I like them. I want my bookshelf to look good. Also, god forbid, if I decided to sell them someday, they would be worth a bit more in better condition.That's not to say I don't have some crappy looking books, but that's either because I bought them used, I lent them out, or it's my big ol' Edgar Alan Poe book...'nuff said.
I like to keep my books in good shape, because I'm a nerd like that. I don't like for my books to look destroyed or the covers to be damaged or anything.But I honestly don't mind if the spine is creased or a page is wrinkled of a book that I love and read a lot. My paperback "Pride and Prejudice" is like that...obviously loved and read a lot, but not torn to shreds. Can't there be a balance? :)
Mod
most of my books are falling apart but most of my books have been handed down to me by my father and they passed through my brothers for a little while there my copy of the hobbit it sticky taped together and im never going to buy a new copy i read it once a year it was dads and i love it :D
I understand the want to keep books in amazing condition and I spose its what type of person you are to show how you love your books, mine will probably be read to death but im sure other will live very long loved filled lives in beautiful condition. either way they know they are loved :D
I understand the want to keep books in amazing condition and I spose its what type of person you are to show how you love your books, mine will probably be read to death but im sure other will live very long loved filled lives in beautiful condition. either way they know they are loved :D
For me it partly depends on the book. I bought some really expensive special edtions from Subterranen Press, and those I'm very careful with. I also have some very old books that I don't want to be damaged. And I really disklike broken spines!!! But apart from that I don't mind them to look well read, although I remove dustjackets while I read a book, and then put them back on when the book returns to the shelve - so it can look nice :-)
How lovely to have a thread started from a comment I made! Thank you!Since I want to read as many books as humanely possible (and then a few more!) I tend to shop around and buy books for as cheap as I can, which means unless I can source a book from online or at work, I will buy them second hand from charity shops, book stores or boot fairs. So the books I pick up tend to be a bit battered when I get them.
If I buy a book new then I naturally keep it in mint condition; I won't bend the spine (I actually have a phobia about watching people do this), dog ear the pages or purposefully damage the book. But I'm quite happy to buy damage or battered books; I think well-read books have a certain charm to them. Like another commenter said, there is a story to the books themselves not simply the one they contain!
I don't mean to say a book isn't well-loved if it doesn't look a bit battered.. I simply prefer the look of old, worn out books; they have a certain charm that brand new books simply do not have.
There have been some wonderful responses here. I guess the truth is that bibliophilic love takes as many shapes and forms as human love.Reading these comments, though, makes me feel that I'm a little too precious about keeping my books in pristine condition. I've also realised that the degree to which I care about a book is directly proportional to how much I enjoyed that book in the first place, and how much it meant to me. Those books that I most value as a reader are also the ones that are revered most as physical objects. Indeed, the books that have most influenced my thought as a writer are books that I hold in my hand with a palpable reverence.
But Sophie is right. There is this charm to a well worn book. This is a book with its own story to tell, not just the author's story. When you read such a copy I guess you are tangibly connected with all the other readers who have turned the very same pages.
Following Ellie, I think I am now going to hunt down second-hand copies of my most valued books, hoping that my original pristine copy won't get jealous. One's love of books can be a rather complicated affair!
PS to Sophie. I share that phobia of yours! Just thinking about someone bending a spine of a book makes me physically shudder. I've had previously to exercise immense self-control not to go leaping across tables to prevent this kind of violation. I've not always been able to stop myself ... but I've rarely been quick enough. I've picked up the book a fraction too late, as if picking up a lame bird that's been caught by a cat. I like to think that the look of sorrow and loss that I bore on my face was enough to ensure that this person would never treat a book in the same way again!
I always take good care of my books, but I rarely buy them new. I have a few books that aren't in stellar condition, like my water waffled pages to Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. However, it only cost 50 cents and I loved reading it. I enjoy dustjackets on hardcovers so even while reading them, I leave them on. (In a house full of three boys, I'd be more worried about a lone dustjacket without a book getting damanged.) I have a special shelf on the top of a wooden bookcase where well-loved copies of old hardback books were purchased used and sit. I don't even know if I'll read them. lol I just loved the look of a few really old well read books to give a little age and distinction to my library. The very few leather bound editions I have are shelved right along with them. I think the only thing that really bugs me about books (especially as I buy almost all of them used) are books that reak of cigarette smoke, have broken spines, lots of turned corners or ripped pages, or water/mildew/mold damage. If possible, I never buy anything that falls into these categories but I do get some off PBS with broken spines now and then, or turned corners.
And as far as cookbooks go, the stained the better! lol That's how you know which recipes were favorites. :)
Bob wrote: "PS to Sophie. I share that phobia of yours! Just thinking about someone bending a spine of a book makes me physically shudder. I've had previously to exercise immense self-control not to go leaping..."It makes me feel physically sick; I can't watch, I have to turn away. I'm not entirely sure this is a natural reaction to have!
Don't worry! I feel like that is a perfectly natural reaction. It's the utter lack of respect that we are reacting to in this visceral way. We are empathising with the book - because, for most of us here I think, that book is far more than just paper and ink. Our books have a soul!
If a book in my room is falling apart, then you can tell I adore it. :D That's what my Dragonriders of Pern and Temeraire books look like.
I have some books of my parents & from my childhood that I'm afraid to open-the paper doesn't stay great even if you don't touch it. And when I want to read those books I get a new copy. I love those books in their "books-as-objects" status: objective correlatives of an earlier me or of my (long dead) parents. Just holding them & smelling them (yes, oh well) is like a madeline (although no I don't eat them since that would obviously defeat the purpose). But the reality is, I think, that books are perishable. It's what they carry that lasts. Longer than we ourselves do, I'm afraid.
Depends very much on the owner! Some people like their books to have the 'abused' look. They get far more enjoyment out of breaking open the spine for easier reading.But some people treasure their collection's condition more and want to keep them in good shape.
It can be both. Like I said, it's the individual's idea of a loved books that makes the answer.
Being on a limited budget, I can't afford my books to fall apart on me as I won't be able to replace them, so I keep them looking as good as possible. If you are a very careful owner, your loved books can still look as new as an unread book!
McKenzie wrote: "Depends very much on the owner! Some people like their books to have the 'abused' look. They get far more enjoyment out of breaking open the spine for easier reading.."I think "abusing" a book (which some people I suppose do) and liking the look of second hand books is totally different; there is no way you would catch me bending the spine or folding the corners or any of that business but I don't mind the look of battered books. I won't go out of my way to damage a book, I try to keep them looking as nice for as long as possible.. but I don't weep if the spine accidentally gains a slight crease running through it (I actually support the spine of a book with my hand as I read it; if it naturally happens, so be it) :)
Meagan wrote: "good question. no doubt a bibliophile like myself likes that brand new book with that intoxicating smell from untouched, clean pages"
Oh, believe me, I am a die-hard bibliophile.. and I prefer the smell of old books. They have a completely different smell!
I try to be very careful with my books because i do not want them falling apart. However, I do like to write in them, so I guess I don't want them "pristine." But I will not get rid of the copy of the book that I read, even if I purchase another copy to have as a "nice copy." The one I read is special to me. However, I cannot stand it if someone else breaks the spine on my books. So. I appreciate a "loved" book, but, still prefer to have a "good" copy as well.
I want all my books to look new or like new. I take good care of them and swap them often.
The first thing I do when I get a new paper back book is bend the spine. I always feel its like a dog or a cat having a good stretch. Watching the book stretch makes me relax. To me if a paper back hasnt got creases in the spine it hasnt been loved. Hardbacks are another story.. I can not understand how you can break the spine on those unless somone was really manhandling them. and dust jackets are looked after.
Depends. All of my absolute favorite books just happen to have a few small wears and tears, save for one that I won't even take out of my house. I never take dust jackets off while reading the books and often will use their flaps as a bookmark. The one thing I can't stand are creases and tears in the bindings/spines of paperbacks.
Oh Samantha, I wonder what Sophie made of your post? She has a phobia about such behaviour! Is bending the spine really the very first thing you do when you get a new paperback? I feel a little shudder at the thought of it myself.I've actually been reminded of something my father once told me, which I've never forgotten. He was talking about cameras, but it can be applied across the board. He said if you get a new camera the very first thing you should do, before even putting the film in (memory card now, of course!), was to get a penknife and put a scratch write across the body. That way you would never be too precious about it and have it ready in any circumstance, in any conditions. I think that's your same philosophy.
Oh dear, I think I might have to try this out, just to see if I can actually bring myself to do it. I have just a very few books that I never got very far with because they were frankly pretty awful (worrying really that I still have them!), so that would be a good place to start. Baby steps. I'll let you know how it goes.
Bob wrote: "Oh Samantha, I wonder what Sophie made of your post? She has a phobia about such behaviour! Is bending the spine really the very first thing you do when you get a new paperback? I feel a little shu..."Haha, Yes its the very first thing I do. All my paperbacks have creased spines. The ones that are most creased are the most loved. Its gotten to the point in some of my books that you can put the spine on your palm and the pages open more at my favourite parts.
My books are usually pristine other than the spine creases, unless ive carried it around with me alot.
Ok, I never thought I'd ever contemplate such apparent sacrilege, but you've inspired me to try this out ... but not right away. I'm going to have to get in the right frame of mind first. Sophie, you'll just have to look away!I love that notion of a book opening at a favourite page. I'm not sure how it works in my case, but I find the same thing with the books I've read the most. It's almost as if they know where I want to be taken! These books of ours do indeed have a soul.
Samantha wrote: "The first thing I do when I get a new paper back book is bend the spine..."Oh my. What a terrifying prospect!
I let the spines crease on their own; often I can get through the entire book without creasing it - not that I try to prevent it happening, but I do support it with my hand.
My entire Stephen King collection has completely creased spines, most of the books are black and the spines have gone white from all the cracks running through them! But these are ancient and have been through several hands before they found me.
I don't try to hurt the spine but it inevitably happens, at least with my paperbacks.
The deed is done! It took me a long while to summon up the courage but I held the book firmly in quivering hands, took a deep breath, and bent the spine apart. A book of mine, for the very first time, has a creased spine.It was horrible. I feel guilty, even though it was a book I didn't much care for. I don't think I want to do this again. I now have to try to sleep. Alas, I fear I may have nightmares!
I can't believe you have just said that about me, someone who has never before hurt a spine in his entire life. Well, I paid for my misdeed with a fitful night's sleep. Never again. I was led astray by Samantha!
Bob wrote: "I can't believe you have just said that about me, someone who has never before hurt a spine in his entire life. Well, I paid for my misdeed with a fitful night's sleep. Never again. I was led astra..."Haha! Strange person. Each to their own I suppose. I will keep helping my books to have a nice stretch, although in return for you trying, the next book I havnt bent, I will try and read the whole thing without bending the spine. Ill let you know how it goes. I dont know if I would have the self control but I will really try.
Bob... ive done it! I read the whole of hogfather by Terry Pratchett without bending the spine. It took me about three times as long to read as a book of this size normally would. I quiet like the feeling of it still being almost new looking... But I struggled alot, and got distracted very easily because I wasnt settled.
Samantha ... I'm so proud of you! While reading the book I just finished yesterday I tried to be aware of how I held it in my hand, something that is normally quite unconscious. I suppose it would be less than natural if you were not used to it, but after so many thousands of hours of practice I think it's irreversibly programmed into my brain. So, that's to say really that I'm very impressed that you tried and succeeded in altering such a strong habit of mind. Are you on the way to being converted?
Samantha, you put into words exactly how I feel whenever I start a book -- I'm just not comfortable until that spine is broken, and it really is the first thing I do when I start a new book.
This occasionally leads to complications, however -- my oldest daughter won't even break the spine on a magazine (?!), so I have to be VERY careful when borrowing her books, and I usually only borrow ones I KNOW I will never ever buy myself.
If there's a book on my shelf without a broken spine, I haven't read it yet!
I also dog-ear pages, but that's the extent of my book abuse. Better than my 9 year old -- she nibbles on the pages as she reads, and her favourite books all look like a mouse has been at them.
This occasionally leads to complications, however -- my oldest daughter won't even break the spine on a magazine (?!), so I have to be VERY careful when borrowing her books, and I usually only borrow ones I KNOW I will never ever buy myself.
If there's a book on my shelf without a broken spine, I haven't read it yet!
I also dog-ear pages, but that's the extent of my book abuse. Better than my 9 year old -- she nibbles on the pages as she reads, and her favourite books all look like a mouse has been at them.
My books appear to be a mixture of both wear-and-tear and pristine upkeep. If you look at my copy of Sleepers the poor thing is battered from several readings. Half my collection seem to be new books and the others seem to be secondhand. It depends. I'd like more of my books to have that worn appearance to them, but I get so many new ones that I've neglected rereading the old ones. But some of my books are in pretty editions so I would like to keep them looking good.
For me a pristine book is loved. But that's probably because I have a strange thing about not bending the spines...
I think that books are like The Velveteen Rabbit. The better loved, maybe more tattered/worn but with the appearance of being well loved.
Ellie wrote: "You spine hurter you!"*giggles*
I feel a horrible shudder at the thought of deliberatly hurting my book! Funny, I'm cool with buying or trading second hand books in any condition but I'm ANAL about keeping my brand new books looking as new as possible for as long as possible. I was carefully reading a book for the first time this week and when I finished I noticed a tiny crease along the spine and I was really gutted!
Lea wrote: "Samantha, you put into words exactly how I feel whenever I start a book -- I'm just not comfortable until that spine is broken, and it really is the first thing I do when I start a new book. Thi..."
Dog ears??? *screams in horror*!!!
Robert and Chuckles, it's good to know that I'm not the only strange person here. I was screaming in horror too at the dog-earing! I guess we're all a bit odd here, in our different ways, the love for our books and the words within taking such a variety of forms.
For me it really depends on the book. My hardcovers are all well-read but in pristine condition. They are the only books I buy new (I only have two used hardcovers in my collection) and I absolutely don't break the spines, don't crease the pages, don't even take them out of the house...And of course I'm very careful with other people's books.
However. My paperbacks. Oh dear. Many of you would be horrified seeing them. Most of them I've bought used anyway, and the more battered the better since I won't feel so bad about abusing them! I love to just tuck books in my bag to take them wherever without worrying about them, and usually the moment I put them in my bag is when they end up looking battered! And like Samantha, there's nothing as comfortable as a creased spine on a paperback.
The only exception to terribly looking paperbacks are my Dutch Harry Potter books, which I'm also immensely careful with.
chucklesthescot wrote: "Lea wrote: "Samantha, you put into words exactly how I feel whenever I start a book -- I'm just not comfortable until that spine is broken, and it really is the first thing I do when I start a new ..."
Haha! Who'd have known dog earring was so bad?! I've never gotten the hang of using a bookmark -- I know, you'd think anyone could master that, right? It's just easier to turn the page down!
It's funny, but my kids DON'T dog ear the pages -- they just remember what page they're on!
Haha! Who'd have known dog earring was so bad?! I've never gotten the hang of using a bookmark -- I know, you'd think anyone could master that, right? It's just easier to turn the page down!
It's funny, but my kids DON'T dog ear the pages -- they just remember what page they're on!
I don't use bookmarks or dog ear: if I don't remember where I was, I figure I should go back to the last spot I remember.
I found this quote online:"A book is to me like a hat or coat - a very uncomfortable thing until the newness has been worn off. ~Charles B. Fairbanks"
..so i guess i can forgive those who say that they "MUST" break the spine of a book before or during the reading process. However, I think that a book should be kept in pristine condition for as long as possible unless it is loaned out to friends (they never give the book back in pristine condition anyway) or when the book being purchased is already used, like when you buy them from a used bookstore. Other than that I try to keep my Borders purchased books in new looking condition, which is why I have started to remove the jackets of off my hardcovers while reading them, but of course when I finish I put them back on again.
I'm a firm believer in using book markers. They keep my place without damaging the book's spine. I am unfortunately constantly misplacing the book markers. Instead of doing something positive to alleviate my forgetfulness, I regularly raid the wall paper samples and cut them down. The aren't just pretty but also helpful and FREE. In this time of ever increasing prices, you have to try to improvise.
a well LOVED book is in not so good shape. If you love that book as much as you do and read it so often it will eventually fall apart because off all the time u read it. A book in pristine condition is only well cared for not Loved
Book Buying Addicts Anonymous
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The Velveteen Rabbit (other topics)Karen (other topics)
All my hundreds of books are in pristine condition, and I consider them much loved indeed, but Sophie prefers her books to look well read. A book with a bit of wear, like a pair of old slippers I guess, is a truly loved book, a book read many times, by many people, a book with its own story to tell, not just the author's story.
I do get her point. Most of my books have only been read by me, and many have never been picked up again once finished. There have been too many new books to read. Perhaps that is an unloved book. What do people here think?