December 21, 2007 • Print This Post
If you’re reading this blog this morning, it’s probably because you have a love of books. Perhaps you even have an obsession with books. I know I do. I buy way too many books. Well, not really, but that’s what my husband likes to tell me, especially after he’s tripped over one of the many TBR mountains in my office. He’s even suggested :::gasp::: that I should give some of them away.
And yes, for those interested, he’s still alive. 
Barely. He now walks with a limp, but that’s for another post.
Like most writers, I have a lot of books. A great a number of those books are for my reading pleasure, and I will get to them all — eventually. And then there’s the keeper shelf, or rather, bookcase. It’s loaded of course with well 
loved novels, most of which are romances. I have early Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s books there, Vicki Lewis Thompson and JoAnn Ross’s first Temptations (with the yellow covers, anyone remember those?). Every Lisa Gardner novel she’s written, some Tami Hoag, a few of the old Loveswepts along with early Judith Arnold, Jennifer Greene and Anne Stuart novels, among others. I love them all. Dearly. They’re dogearred and yellowed and well, let’s not talk about the dust, shall we?
In addition to the keeper bookcase, I also have two bookcases filled with a ridiculous amount of research books that I just can’t live without, even though I might not crack any of one them open but once every couple of years depending on what the subject matter of my latest might be. These books are loved with equal enthusasium of my keeper bookcase but with one exception. Marginality.
I had a professor in college once tell me that a book that doesn’t have marginality hasn’t been well read. And just what is this marginality? It’s notes in the margins. Yellow highlighted passes. Dog earred pages for easy to find information. Anything that says “I’ve been well read.”
Appalled by this treatment of something so treasured? 
Yes, I was, too — initally. But I soon got over my apprehension when I learned that a portion of our grade was on how much marginality our textbook for that particular class contained.
Now I happily jot notes in the margins of my research books. I can’t bring myself to do this to my beloved keepers, but it’s a rare find to open one of the research books and not find notes of some kind within the margins. I have plot ideas for possible books that came to me while reading a particular research book, characterization notes, setting notes, scene possiblities and thoughts in general on the subject of review. Some notes are illegible or faded with time, but they’re there, showing my interest for a particular subject.
So tell me, how much do you love your books? Do you keep yours stored in those acid free containers? Are they in the same condition as the day you bought them? Or do you subscribe to the theory of marginality? Do you jot notes, reminders, thoughts in your books? Inquiring minds want to know!
Posted by Jamie Denton @ 2:00 am • Filed under: Jamie Denton
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Good morning - I have lots on a bookshelf and several in boxes. No fancy protection. I don’t jot notes inside them. I used to write a synopsis of each one and keep a list of each one read on cards. Don’t have time for that any longer.
Also I understand you are a computer guru - I am having a problem trying to log in with my blogger account and google account - telling me password is not good. Can you help?
Thanks.
I have lots and lots of books, but no, they are not sealed up but at the mercy of the environment, where I can easily grab one within reach if I have an urge for an old beloved keeper or the newest Brava. My books are not in pristine condition, but I don’t write in them either.
Happy holidays Jamie
PatL - I’m getting ready to head out the door to go to Pittsburgh today. Lemme see what I can do/find out about the Blogger issue when I get home tonight.
I used to write a synopsis of each one and keep a list of each one read on cards.
I used to do this, kinda/sorta back when I was first learning how to write. I used to study books in order to get a better grasp and educate myself on plot, conflict, characterization, etc. I even had a little form I’d fill out that a friend gave me. Gosh, I learned tons that way.
My books are not in pristine condition, but I don’t write in them either.
Stacy - Mine aren’t pristine, either, so don’t feel bad. I can’t bring myself to write in an actual novel read for enjoyment, but they do show their love in the cracked spines, doggeared pages and coffee stains
And a very Merry Christmas to you, too!
I have lots of books that I have to read and keep buying more to add to them. I keep them in boxes (like the size that photocopy paper come in) all stacked nicely but I do have a scribbler book where the books are written into so I know which box they might be in.
Have a Merry Christmas and hope that the new year is good for you.
The research books are full of highlighter, not so much scribbles. I prefer my scribbles on paper I can shuffle around and file where I’ll need them.
Most of my novels look like they’ve never been read, even the 20-year-old ones that are yellowing with age and I practically have memorized. I don’t think I’m obsessive about it (I’ve just never seen any need to crack the spine to read the book), but borrowers have been known to return a brand-new copy when they fear my wrath for book abuse.
For the record, I have never chastised anyone for dinging one of my books. Refused to loan them another, yes, but never chastised…
When I had textbooks I would highlight until the cows came home. Loved yellow highlighter! HA! HA!
My pleasure books look like they did when I bought them. I happen to be very fussy about that. Of course they age, but they all are special to me. I can’t give them up. I store older paperbacks in boxes in my attic, but the hardcovers and “keeper” books (autographed ones I’ve won in contests) are kept on one of my many bookshelves or bookcases around the house.
Most of my books are not in pristine condition thought I try my hardest to keep the spine free of creases and not to dog ear the pages. The spines always get creased so I haven’t been successful there. I put the books in bags and boxes. Wish I could keep the pages from turning yellow on the older books.
Mu books are not stored in anything but a bookcase, but I don’t write in them.
My books are marked by folded corners, but I’ve never written in my keeper books. I have written in history books. *g*
Sure, Jamie, no hurry and thanks. I have been signing in as anonymous.