Why, why, why?

[swatkat]

Am I the only person who finds the concept of burning a book simply horrifying? Maybe it's because my books don't even get touched with a pen (pencil when I need it), unless it's for writing down my name (and I hate doing that too); maybe it's because I've had too many encounters with torn and defaced library books - but this is just... *is speechless*

Comments

[seventybyheart.livejournal.com]

... *twitches*

I couldn't do that. Even to a book I hated. I find it equally awful.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too. And the thought of flaunting it in a LJ comm... meh!

Swatkat

[mincot.livejournal.com]

I couldn't burn a book--or anything like that.

That said, my books are written in, commented on, in both pencil and pen.
Possibly it's because I teach--having notes in the books, ON the page, is often the difference between a so-so response and one that makes students think. I think mostly, though it is because I see books as dynamic, not static. They are a conversation between the writer and me, the reader. My notes are my reply--questions, comments, "see page so and so," etc. I don't see it as defacement, but as carrying on the medieval tradition of glossing a book.

Besides, I love opening a book I have not used for years, and finding on the flyleaf, below my name, a brief description of what I was doing that day. "The dog wants to play grrrr today." "It's been raining for a week, and the sun came out today!" "Dr. So and so made me buy this book. Says I'll be glad later." (I was!) And so on. I love finding books that my mother annotated--it's a conversation with her, years after her physical death.

That said, I would no more consider writing, even in pencil, in a library book than I would consider walking up and throwing mud at someone, just for fun.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

That said, my books are written in, commented on, in both pencil and pen.
Possibly it's because I teach--having notes in the books, ON the page, is often the difference between a so-so response and one that makes students think. I think mostly, though it is because I see books as dynamic, not static. They are a conversation between the writer and me, the reader. My notes are my reply--questions, comments, "see page so and so," etc. I don't see it as defacement, but as carrying on the medieval tradition of glossing a book.


Oh, I understand. All my professors do the same thing, lol!

I love finding books that my mother annotated--it's a conversation with her, years after her physical death.

That's simply lovely. *g*

That said, I would no more consider writing, even in pencil, in a library book than I would consider walking up and throwing mud at someone, just for fun.

You will not believe the number of times I've used correction fluids in library books to make them look a tad respectable. And don't even get me started on tearing away pages. Why? Why do people do them, students, especially? Knowing that they won't need it ever again after a couple of years? And if they're too lazy to copy it down, there's a thing called the xerox machine, isn't there? [/rant]

Swatkat

[delle.livejournal.com]

I've thrown out exactly *one* book in my life (The Bitch, by Jackie Collins, if you must know. Do. Not. Buy. That. Book.) The idea of burning one? I'm with you - it makes me twitch.

Hey, been meaning to ask - does your F_W pseud *mean* anything?

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Jackie Collins? Not buying anything by her, lol! Although, I'm curious now - why was it so bad? *g*

My F_W pseud? It's not very interesting (unlike jaybee65s, or mscyanides), but it has a nostalgia value attached to it. Ruaha is a wildlife sanctuary somewhere in Africa (Kenya, I think); there's a book by this name, a book I used to adore back when I was a teenie fangirl. When I first started using the net, I needed a pseud in the chatrooms, and I thought this was 'kewl'. The number doesn't mean anything (unlike the 24 in my LJ id, my birthdate) - I just added it in random because 'ruaha' was already taken. I used that name for a long time. So, when I was trying to figure out what name to use for JF, I suddenly remembered this and I *had* to use it. *g*

Swatkat

[msgenevieve.livejournal.com]

I saw that the other night.

Words still fail me.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain.

Swatkat

[ashfae.livejournal.com]

Book burning = SACRILEDGE!

I used to work in a bookstore. We switched locations and annihilated a lot of stock in doing so. I was told to rip the covers and first few pages off of hundreds of books, becuase they were overstocked and couldn't be resold and couldn't be donated and the only thing to do was recycle them, but they couldn't be recycled unless the first few pages/cover were ripped off. My bosses, fortunately, were all book-lovers and understood immediately why my reaction was "Nooooo! I can't do that!"

I did though, in the end--because they also knew me well enough to hand me the true crime books first, and I just hated those.

But I still wibble thinking about all those books I mutilated. Even if they were going to be recycled into fresh, shiny books. Merf!!!

Anyway, back to book burning. Given how many people still do it seriously, I think it's unacceptable.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

But I still wibble thinking about all those books I mutilated. Even if they were going to be recycled into fresh, shiny books. Merf!!!

Eeep! It must've been a very, very traumatic experience. *hugs*

Swatkat

I'm not sure if this is still there

[sk56.livejournal.com]

When I click on the "Legolas" link, I get an error message.

Nevertheless, that's probably fine with me, since I've no interest in watching someone burn books. That happens often enough in the world.

Re: I'm not sure if this is still there

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Mmm, maybe the OP deleted it? You're better of anyway - it was horrible.

Swatkat

Being that I'm anal in regards to books, among other things...

[mscyanide.livejournal.com]

I'm not at all fond of watching people burn them, regardless of what I think of the book, or books, in question. There are plenty of books I wish I hadn't read, "Tess of the D'Ubervilles", "War and Peace"...

I love the written word and cannot image ever burning or defacing a book in any way. I've a whole set of rules people must follow if they wish to borrow one of my books, and I've a rather large libary spread over two countries. I still grieve for the lose of my first copy of "Catch 22" which a certain person, who shall never be lent another book, lost six years, two months, and twelve days ago.

Btw, unrelated, but would you care to make me an icon for f_w. Something dark and snarky... *bg*

Re: Being that I'm anal in regards to books, among other things...

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Ugh. Tess.

I've a whole set of rules people must follow if they wish to borrow one of my books, and I've a rather large libary spread over two countries. I still grieve for the lose of my first copy of "Catch 22" which a certain person, who shall never be lent another book, lost six years, two months, and twelve days ago.

I think I'm too nice about lending my books. I've lost quite a few that way. I did well with the HP books, though - absolutely refused to lend them to anyone. *g*

An icon? Of course. Have any ideas?

Swatkat

Re: Being that I'm anal in regards to books, among other things...

[mscyanide.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, well I like these quotes...

Nothing can be made foolproof because fools are so ingenious.

Irony is the hygiene of the mind.

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do.

"More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarrette."
from Radio ad circa 1948

As for picture I'm thinking either something morbid or disgustingly happy.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

The quotes rock, lol! I'll have to think about appropriate pictures, though. Would you like an icon with hyenas on them too?

Swatkat

Ooooooh!

[mscyanide.livejournal.com]

I'd love a hyena icon! Sent you some pictures. *bg*

[mommysusan.livejournal.com]

I cringe if I see my kids dog-ear their books! I know for me, my books are my good friends, the culmination of months or years of hard work, and must be respected. Book-burning? *shudder* The sign of a society in trouble, IMHO.