There’s been some kerfuffle of late on my social media on the proper way to read, treat, handle, store, and own your books.

Now, it’s no secret here that I love books. I always have.

It’s also no secret that my love for books is not one that idolizes and reveres them in way that means I must treat them as precious objects. On the contrary, if I love a book inside and out, that love is easy to see.

What is this bookish kerfuffle about? What has the bookish side of social media gone to war with each other for?

Well, someone has had the temerity to make his books more portable, and thus easier for him to hold, transport, and read. (Trigger Warning: book violence ahead) Sometimes books are thick and unwieldy. They might not fit into our hands easily, or it may be too heavy to carry while commuting with all the other baggage we carry daily. For whatever reason, this man found a solution that works for him: He tears them in half, or thirds, along the spine.

I saw the photo, and thought, “Resourceful.”

Many, many, many, many people did not agree. Tweets were tweeted, posts were Facebooked, and articles were written. The sanctity of the Book was apparently threatened by this act by one man trying to read.

Now, I don’t rip my books in half. First, because the hand strength needed to do so is beyond me. Second, I have other options when a book is too unwieldy to hold comfortably. I have access to e-books to read on either a reader or my phone. Second, I read such a volume and variety of work that I can leave the heavy tomes at home, and slip the smaller lighter fare in my bag. But, I understood this man’s actions.

I don’t sit upright in a special chair, with freshly washed hands, and hold my books just so, so that the spine will not crack, and nary a speck of dirt or fleck of moisture from will sully its pages. No. I sprawl. I crack that spine so I can feel the reverberations up my arm. I prop those pages open on the table while I slurp my soup, sip my coffee, and scatter crumbs into the crevice. I lay in bed and drop it to the floor when I fall asleep.

I dog-ear pages. (I heard your gasp, but I have a system.)

I make notes in the margins. (In pencil, usually)

I use leaves and receipts and nail files and candy wrappers for bookmarks. (I don’t use actual bookmarks.)

I abuse my books.*

But I love them.

And if my way of loving my books is not your way, well, that’s fine. Because my way of loving my people may not be your way of loving your people. We’re different.

But, what I really want to say is that everyone loves their books, reads their books, the best way they can.

The physical book itself, while wonderful, is not precious. It’s not inviolable. It is a physical thing, a wrapper for the gift inside.

If you like to keep your book in pristine condition while you read it, do that. If you download your books and read on your reader or phone, good for you because porting thousands of titles with you at all time is amazing, and young me never dreamt of such riches. If you like to listen to your books, don’t let anyone tell you that’s not reading because it is. Studies show the brain thinks it is, so why let anyone tell you different? And if you almost let your book fall into the bathtub last night, that’s fine too. Nice catch by the way.

Therefore, you do you, let the book ripper do him, and let me be the book abuser I am, but what we should all do is the love the words printed inside. I don’t think there will be a kerfuffle if we all agree to this.

*The key word in this sentence is my. I only abuse my books. Library books or those I’ve borrowed, are almost always returned in the condition I received them.

Love, February

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    @kimbapnoona @justme @greenfields @leetennant @sicarius @wishfultoki @raonah @ally-le @moana @anothernicole @khalessymd @hotcocoagirl @katakwasabi @oppafangirl @bammsie @natzillagorilla @mindy @acacia @sweetiepie54 @yuyuu @waterhyacinth @isthatacorner @fatcat007
    @lugirl131415 @ndlessjoie @msrabbit @tsutsuloo @kat23 @maybemaknae
    @snarkyjellyfish @hebang @tspmasala @tspmasala @pinklolipop @suriyana-shah

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      I almost enjoy breaking a spine.
      How can you read a paperback with out sometimes folding it?
      Also, a well used book will naturally open to your favorite parts.

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        Exactly!

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          You know what’s really great? Is when you pick up a book that belongs to someone else, and it falls open to that place they loved. If it’s someone you know, it’s like a peek into their head. And if it’s an unknown person, it’s like they are pointing you to something wonderful.

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          @msrabbit Ditto!
          I aslo always feel hesitant about lending my books, because they’re very personal since I highlight things and take notes.
          It’s like the person won’t just be reading the book, but reading me as well!
          So I usually only lend my books to people who are close to me

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        I crack the spines of all my books. And then gently fold back the pages, starting from the middle and working to the end and beginning, so that it opens perfectly. But I love a nice wrinkly spine. Makes it look loved.

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    I’m from a long line of book lovers and used to fear what might happen to me if I harmed a book. I still feel that way about a few prized hardbacks, but now I see them as something to be used. So book ripper man is fine by me *hears gasps of my loving family*.

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      An author (I forget who) once said, they loved seeing their books all beat up and obviously read to pieces because that meant they were being read, and read, and maybe even loved to bits. So, I’m just honoring the author by loving my books so hard.

      I too have some books that I cherish as physical objects. For a various reasons, whether they were gifts, are signed, or are just plain beautiful. But for most of them I have an alternative copy.

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        Douglas Adams was gloriously happy to see his books that obviously had been read, and read, and read some more under “interesting” conditions (including some that did make it into the bath water). What mattered to him was the love of the writing, not any particular physical manifestation of the writing.

        I’ve now moved almost completely to e-readers. I miss the feel of paper, but the ability to take my library with me is priceless!

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    Have you heard of “Wreck this Diary”?

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      Wreck this Journal? I’ve seen it at the bookstore, but I haven’t picked on up.

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        Ah yes sorry, Wreck this Journal.
        Do you know the concept of it? “To create is to destroy”; on every page of the journal is an instruction.
        “Poke hole’s in this page”
        “stand here”
        “glue these pages together”
        “tear this page out, put it through the wash, stick it back in”
        “loose this page. throw it out. accept the loss”
        “tape this journal closed and mail it to yourself”
        It’s quite an interesting project, I have on myself, designed I think to make people take the destruction of such things less seriously, and to enjoy the process of destroying to create.
        Your book ripper made me think of it.

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          I like it. I think people need to learn that sometimes (a lot of times) creation is destruction. We sometimes get so caught up in the thing that we forget the spirit of the thing is not it’s physicalness, but rather the idea of it and the emotions it evokes.

          I’m not saying we should go to museums and start destroying works of art, but well, I think you might get what I mean.

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          That is neat. I want one now.

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            I think it would be therapeutic for me since I’m one of those people who do not know how to destroy things (see comment below).

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            @kat23, another thing to try is to find an old outdated dictionary or encyclopedia and just cut out the words and pictures you like. Make a small art project out of them. Make a bookmark, or I don’t know, whatever you like. These types of books just sit and molder, and I think cutting them up and using them brings them back to life.

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            Yes! They should be in most big book or stationery stores if you want to go find one.

            I want to learn book carving as well egads, which I think will help with the thing that holds one back from destroying something.

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    I should probably note that my way of loving people does not include cracking spines or any other physical abuse. However, I might spill coffee on them. Accidentally.

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    I love gore. In fact, the fastest way to get me to watch something is to tell me there’s loads of bloody scenes in it. Nothing is too obscene for me to watch! In fact, I’m only ever willing to be adventurous when it comes to gore and have never understood why anyone finds anything ‘gory’… till now. Why am I talking about this?

    Well, as an ardent physical book lover, (I aim to own my own huge library one day – in fact, I’m already building it), I went into this already on edge. I’d just read of the person that highlights their book as they read so it serves as a bookmark. I was still recovering from that.

    This – I wasn’t ready. This is gore to me. I’m in pain. I finally understand.
    But as you rightfully said, ‘…Therefore, you do you, let the book ripper do him, and let me be the book abuser I am, but what we should all do is the love the words printed inside. I don’t think there will be a kerfuffle if we all agree to this….’
    I will just continue to respect the ways of others as I always have or tried to.
    I’m overreacting, I know. But.. tearing the book? No, I’ll be rational. You did rightfully warn us. My motto is to not impose my way on anyone else since I detest being imposed upon. So, I apologize for my initial outburst.

    Side note: I also never use actual bookmarks. I use receipts of the book. I find it much more sentimental because I can always know the exact date and time I bought it. And crumbs are okay for me – I can just dust them away. Other than not using gloves, I’m a freak with my books. But I understand the beauty of a worn out old book – it smells different.

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      You are the very person I bolded that trigger warning for. You are entitled to your reaction. It’s valid. It’s fine.

      Now take a deep breath and run your fingers over the spines along your bookcase. You’ll feel better.

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      I also never use a bookmark.
      I use receipts
      An unopened sanitary napkin on more than one ocassion (they are always in my purse)
      candy wrappers
      another book
      I have never ripped the book apart.
      And look here, how lazy are you? HOW LAZY ARE YOU THAT YOU CAN’T HOLD A FREAKING BOOK?
      if you’re taking it with you?
      Put it on your lap
      Put it on a table
      Put it on the head of the small child in front of you (perfect height)
      Dont rip the book you monster.

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    Now while I would never “break down” my books to make them easier to carry(because I’ve never been a light packer anyway), I am a big proponent of doing you. I don’t understand the action of tearing books itself, but I understand loving a story so much you have to bring it with you, by any means necessary.

    I will not go on the man’s twitter account to berate him but I will permit myself to judge him…a little.

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      Part of it is also an accessibility issue. Some books might just be too big and unwieldy. And as easy as ebooks are to access, there is a technology and monetary barrier there. Also, some people have difficulty with reading from a screen. While I wouldn’t necessarily rip my books apart to read them, I find his ingenuity in finding a way to make reading physically easier commendable.

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    So whilst I was recoiling and and reacting to the book annihilation – which I personally will never do to any of my books – you are right – to each his own. How you read is your business – what you do to your own book is also your business. The beauty is in the words.
    (Although I do confess to trying to read the Bourne Supremacy without cracking the spine just to see if I could do it – – I did!) 😜
    I admit to gasping at the ‘dog ear’, although my personal pet peeve is – placing a book face down. I know, I know – it’s irrational – but that’s just me. 😀

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      *looks to my right. Umm, good thing you can’t see the book splayed open, upside down, on the floor by my feet.

      I mean, I literally cannot sleep if there is anything out of place on my kitchen counter or stacked in the sink, and my sheets and towels have to be folded in very particular ways, so I do not judge other people’s peeves.

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    I love my books too. I fall in between of keeping them spick & span & marking or cracking their spines.

    I did gasp at the dog eared page 😅

    Someone tore my book once & it felt like a piece of my soul was torn away. I never really tried to keep them in pristine condition before but from then on my attitude towards keeping them changed.

    I agree. I can keep my book however I want, spill tea or (saved it from 🛁 yes 😅) let it be strewn about haphazardly, or I may handle it delicately with feather touches & not smudge marks, but that’s my choice. It’s my prerogative to keep them in a condition I relate to during that time period, nobody else can say I treasure them less because of my manner of handling.

    While I could never tear one myself, I have had books divided & re covered in hardbacks. Different strokes for different folks

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    I use leaves and receipts and nail files and candy wrappers for bookmarks. (I don’t use actual bookmarks.)

    I identified with this so much. I love writing on scraps of paper whenever the idea hit me. And then I’ll use those papers to mark my book. It led to a lot of unexpectedly happy surprise whenever I re-read my books. Because then I would also find those scraps of paper full of musings, and it transported me back to the time I wrote it. Later, I started using actual bookmarks when my sister gifted me one in the shape of super cute chubby cat.

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    My cat used to chew on my books. Made them more fun to read. 😸

    I never tore a word book apart, but when sheet music used to come in books, I would exacto out the pages and 3-hole punch them and put them in a binder, otherwise the music book would never stay open for me. I have no issue with people doing this with word books either. As long as the words are still there, it’s all good. (Exception: don’t do this to a first edition, please.)

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    I get wear you are coming from, egads, but that man is a monster. I do all of the same things to my books. I don’t revere them, or worship them. There’s nothing I love than a book thats obviously been loved.
    But that man is a monster
    HES A MONSTER
    I’ve seen his insanity in many a librarian fb group and I dont care what anyone has to say.
    MONSTER
    Whats going to happen when he sets it down? He’s all compromised the spine. He’s going to be leaving trails of pages falling all yinder and yonder and those arent words but I am kerflunked or something thats not a word either my brain is broken.
    Hes a monster. A MONSTER. Thats all Ive got.

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      If you’ve seen the pictures, he rebinds them with a thin piece of cardboard so the pages won’t fall all yinder and yonder.

      It’s okay isa. It’s okay.

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    I must admit that I gasped when I read about the man ripping his book. 😳

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    I actually love second hand books which have well worn pages and margin comments ( I live to see what some one else loved) and if i have read a book, it looks like it has been read. I have torn a lot of books to be able to read them, especially math books, because they are too heavy to carry and work with. All my math books (not library ones) are filled with huge amount of notes on margins and with sticky notes, so i don’t have to redo all the computations again and again and I know where there are mistakes.

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    So I keep my books pretty pristine, but I kinda admire people who use them well. I hesitate to abuse my books but am not bothered by other people doing so. Well worn books with traces of their readers are so cool. I wish I could love my books in this way myself.
    I’ve always been particular with my things. As a kid, I was careful with my toys. They were rarely broken or marred. I think this stems from a combination of my own perfectionist/OCD tendencies and what I’ve picked up from my mom. She is even more particular than me when it comes to taking good care of her possessions.
    Anyway, I say this to say that I hope one day I can relax a bit and actually use the things that are meant to be used instead of tiptoeing around them. I image it would feel freeing.

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      Honestly, books are about the only thing I beat up. So, I get you.

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      The head of my favourite cuddly toy fell off when I was a kid; mum sewed it back on and I still have him heee.

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        Aw! I had a blankie that went everywhere and did everything with me. To the point that it had holes my mom had to sew (I guess I did have one thing I wore out). I think my mom still has it stored in her hope chest.

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          My blankie was so well loved it disintegrated! There was no hope for that one to be repaired.

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          I replaced the stuffing and back of at least two blankies (one of them more than once) that I know for a fact, my adult children still have.

          One kid had a baby doll that was a biohazard. My god that thing was gross, but she loved it so. It got lost in a move (she was already a late teen, so it wasn’t devastating) and years later she still brings it up.

          Children are good at loving things to pieces.

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    Okay, while I don’t treat my books as precious objects, I admit the book ripper made me gasp.
    I don’t think I’d ever go that far, but you’re right when you say everyone has their own ways.

    I was way more rigid when I was younger, and I never wanted to physically change my books. Idk exactly what changed, but now I’m the kind of person who highlights, bookmarks and takes notes in them. There might many copies of a certain book, but there’s only exactly one that was customized by me with thoughts in it, and I love going back to books and seeing what my initial reactions were!

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