There's a lot of talk in the book blogging community regarding the look and feel of books. A lot of people I know are precious with novels, particularly paperbacks. The thought of cracking the spines and dog earring pages give them serious anxiety. I'm not one of those people.
I love a pristine book as much as the next person, however, seeing a well-worn book makes me so happy. It means that people have read them from cover to cover, completely immersed in the story. There's nothing sadder to me than a perfectly presented book in a charity or second hand shop. It means that nobody's read it and have given it away before they've even given it a chance.
There's nothing more satisfying to me than cracking a spine. A lot of my books start to wear away at the sides as I'm traveling to and from work every day on the train and if you're anything like me, you have to have a book on you!
As much as I hate the initial "damage" to the books, it shows how much I've enjoyed the book. There's nothing like picking up an old book and noticing signs of life. Although I would never write inside a book, I love spotting quotes that have been underlined and secret messages inside the covers. My boyfriend once bought a copy of Pride and Prejudice from a car boot that had a handwritten love letter inside! You wouldn't get that from a chain book store, that's for sure.
I'm not saying that I don't love the smell of an off-the-press novel, but older and worn books have more character. They have a history and I like the idea of books being able to tell something about the previous owner.
I'm suffering anxiety at the moment because I'm reading a book borrowed from a friend, and when she lent it to me it was absolutely pristine with an uncracked spine, even though I know she'd read it. Now it's looking loved and well handled, as a book read and enjoyed by two people should, and I feel so incomfortable about returning it to her, knowing how perfect she likes her books to be, that I'm considering buying her a new copy.
ReplyDeleteSorry, pressed Publish too soon! It shouldn't be like that, books, like teddy bears, should show that they've been loved. Like you, I love the smell of a brand new book, but I love the smell of an old, familiar one even more
DeleteI'm the same, I get very precious with books that aren't my own!
DeleteI enjoy both pristine and well-loved books too! Your picture shows how beautiful they are!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. It's a shame that some people wouldn't read a well-worn book due to its appearance. I think they're lovely! :) x
DeleteYep I completely agree! I like to read when I get on the train so my books naturally get a tiny bit damaged in my bag - I wouldn't ever not bring it out with me just to keep it looking nice! Plus I love getting cheap second hand old editions of books which often aren't in the best condition :)
ReplyDeleteBeth x
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The thought of not taking a book out with you for fear of damaging it makes me so sad! What about the beach and coffee shops?! Haha.
DeleteI've found some lovely second hand gems in charity shops. Lovely hard back Jane Austin ones before :) x
I'm not overly fussy about my books to be honest. I try not to dog ear the pages, but it's not the most important thing to me! Most of my reading is done at work (on my lunch break), so my current book just gets shoved in and out of my bag throughout the day. Messiness happens - case in point, today's choice currently has suspicious brown splodges on the pages (funny how balsamic vinegar looks remarkably like blood when it dries!).
ReplyDeleteThat being said, there is nothing like the feeling of opening a brand new book and knowing that you are the first one to read it, explore it, love it. That's addictive!
Beth x
That's probably the reason why I always end up with about 3 books every time I go to Waterstones and my TBR will never be manageable. It's definitely addictive but so is trying to find out the history of old books. :) x
DeleteI love well loved books! While there are certain books of mine I'll try to keep pristine, for the most part I'm happy to let them look loved. I've starting rereading the Harry Potter series this month and I found an outlined passage in my copy of Prisoner of Azkaban which flashed me back to reading it out loud in my third year English class in high school. I hated solo talks, but remembering how much I stressed over reading that tiny little passage out made me smile now.
ReplyDeletex
p.s. I can't believe you found a love letter inside a book - how wonderful! My personal favourite inside second hand books is finding little notes inside the front cover from when they were given as gifts (particularly if they're dated).
I always jot a little note inside the cover if I buy a book for my boyfriend. I may start dating them now too! Haha. x
DeleteI'm totally with you on this! My partner and I bicker about this - he's a pristine book-reader while I maul mine to pieces.
ReplyDeleteOur copy of 1984 is falling apart but I can't even be annoyed because I know at least five people who have read and enjoyed that exact copy. It's almost an heirloom!
Exactly! I've not read 1984 yet, but I keep meaning to. Is it as good as everybody says? :) x
DeleteI love buying second hand books, I love the feel of worn in pages.. but if I buy a book new, I like to keep it that way. Is that weird? I don't know.
ReplyDeleteHaha. I don't think that's weird at all. My boyfriend is very much the same. :) x
DeleteI totally agree. There's something special about a book that has had a life of its own, especially when there are little clues inside from its past reader! x
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! x
DeleteI wouldn't say I'm especially careful with books, but I don't throw them about (much) either xD I actually love how old and worn my Harry Potter books look, however I also have a Roald Dahl set that I won last year and haven't touched yet and I love how new and neat they look! I think it just depends for me aha.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on how much you love the book I think. I want to have LOADS of version of The Great Gatsby. :) x
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