Like you, I started making notes in cookbooks. Then I started inserting complimentary recipes, wine pairings and prep schedules. My cookbooks are held together by sets of book bands (they are like super wide rubber bands) that a friend gave me.

I’ll occasionally make a small notation, in pencil, in others books, but usually, the margins are too small or the binding isn’t strong enough to hold all my inserts. But really, I don’t like marking books, or breaking bindings or, even folding down the corners to mark my page. It seems somehow sacrilegious!

Like you, I started making notes in cookbooks. Then I started inserting complimentary recipes, wine pairings and prep schedules. My cookbooks are held together by sets of book bands (they are like super wide rubber bands) that a friend gave me.

I’ll occasionally make a small notation, in pencil, in others books, but usually, the margins are too small or the binding isn’t strong enough to hold all my inserts. But really, I don’t like marking books, or breaking bindings or, even folding down the corners to mark my page. It seems somehow sacrilegious!

I never wrote in a book until I went to college. Then, I saw my English professors do it, so I, naturally, wanted to copy them. Now that I teach, I write in books all the time!

I never wrote in a book until I went to college. Then, I saw my English professors do it, so I, naturally, wanted to copy them. Now that I teach, I write in books all the time!

I write in cook books at times. I don’t really write in too many books, BUT one book I found myself highlighting and writing in was Al Gore’s The Assault on Reason. I loved this book. I wrote essays on this book. And I wasn’t in school.

I write in cook books at times. I don’t really write in too many books, BUT one book I found myself highlighting and writing in was Al Gore’s The Assault on Reason. I loved this book. I wrote essays on this book. And I wasn’t in school.

I am with you on writing in books. I love to highlight the ARC’s that come to our bookstore and that we pass around among the staff. It’s my way of communicating with the next reader, as in: “I liked this, did you?” Then the next time we see each other, we’ll remember to talk about our favorite passages from the book.

I am with you on writing in books. I love to highlight the ARC’s that come to our bookstore and that we pass around among the staff. It’s my way of communicating with the next reader, as in: “I liked this, did you?” Then the next time we see each other, we’ll remember to talk about our favorite passages from the book.

I also love writing in my books, including “How to Cook Everything”! I usually write in pencil, and I use the notes when I write blog entries. I much prefer buying books to borrowing them from the library.

Tanya mentioned bindings… I love loosening bindings, too. When Elizabeth McCracken signed my well-worn copy of “The Giant’s House,” she commented that she could tell the book was well-loved.

I also love writing in my books, including “How to Cook Everything”! I usually write in pencil, and I use the notes when I write blog entries. I much prefer buying books to borrowing them from the library.

Tanya mentioned bindings… I love loosening bindings, too. When Elizabeth McCracken signed my well-worn copy of “The Giant’s House,” she commented that she could tell the book was well-loved.

In CHEEVER, A Life Story (by Blake Bailey), there is an account of John Cheever, having been presented with a “well worn” copy of his short story collection to be signed and being outraged that the book had received so little respect.

My husband, absolutely mutilates books! Not only are the spines cracked and the bindings often broken, he does *something* with the corners of the pages (I’ve watched him read and I still can’t figure out what it is he does) that causes the corners of the pages to disintegrate! Borrowing from the library or other people is out of the question! And the books he reads, when he’s done with them, are often in pieces and we are unable to donate them.

If I receive a copy that has handwriting inside, I’m actually annoyed. I find the comments hard to ignore and I’d rather not have my reading colored in that way. Which is not to say I don’t care what other people have to say about the book, I’d just rather wait ’til afterwards to read or hear comments.

In CHEEVER, A Life Story (by Blake Bailey), there is an account of John Cheever, having been presented with a “well worn” copy of his short story collection to be signed and being outraged that the book had received so little respect.

My husband, absolutely mutilates books! Not only are the spines cracked and the bindings often broken, he does *something* with the corners of the pages (I’ve watched him read and I still can’t figure out what it is he does) that causes the corners of the pages to disintegrate! Borrowing from the library or other people is out of the question! And the books he reads, when he’s done with them, are often in pieces and we are unable to donate them.

If I receive a copy that has handwriting inside, I’m actually annoyed. I find the comments hard to ignore and I’d rather not have my reading colored in that way. Which is not to say I don’t care what other people have to say about the book, I’d just rather wait ’til afterwards to read or hear comments.

Of course I write in books! Usually, I take notes w/page numbers on the inside back cover, but sometimes……

I wrote about marginalia on my blog awhile back. At the time, I’d stopped writing, but since I’ve started again, and I’m much happier. If I pass the book on, the recipient can ignore the notes, or wonder why on earth I thought that was interesting…

http://teabird17.blogspot.com/search?q=marginalia

Of course I write in books! Usually, I take notes w/page numbers on the inside back cover, but sometimes……

I wrote about marginalia on my blog awhile back. At the time, I’d stopped writing, but since I’ve started again, and I’m much happier. If I pass the book on, the recipient can ignore the notes, or wonder why on earth I thought that was interesting…

http://teabird17.blogspot.com/search?q=marginalia

I write all over my cookbooks – changes I’ve made, who in the family doesn’t like it, if a certain picky family member DOES like it, big YUK’s across failed recipes, happy faces. Other than that I don’t usually write in books but I have a little notebook where I copy down quotes or lines from books that have appealed to me. It’s fun to go back and read old entries and enjoy them again.

I write all over my cookbooks – changes I’ve made, who in the family doesn’t like it, if a certain picky family member DOES like it, big YUK’s across failed recipes, happy faces. Other than that I don’t usually write in books but I have a little notebook where I copy down quotes or lines from books that have appealed to me. It’s fun to go back and read old entries and enjoy them again.

I don’t usually write in books, but I often highlight phrases or entire paragraphs that I like. When a friend saw me doing this, she was shocked and accused me of book abuse (a major crime, in her estimation) but I own the books, and feel that I can do anything I want to them. I don’t do it in books I’ll be passing on, but only those I plan to keep and reread.

I think it would be fun to look through a book and read someone else’s comments, though – would they like (or dislike) the same passages that I did? Did they notice something I’d overlooked?

I don’t usually write in books, but I often highlight phrases or entire paragraphs that I like. When a friend saw me doing this, she was shocked and accused me of book abuse (a major crime, in her estimation) but I own the books, and feel that I can do anything I want to them. I don’t do it in books I’ll be passing on, but only those I plan to keep and reread.

I think it would be fun to look through a book and read someone else’s comments, though – would they like (or dislike) the same passages that I did? Did they notice something I’d overlooked?

oh, man, my first thought when I saw your blog title was “How dare you!” Then I realized that I write in cookbooks all the time. How else are you going to remember your tweaks?

Do I write in other books? Textbooks? YES, but others? Not usually. I have written in my scriptures (not just underlining) but I don’t read a lot of life changing kinds of books.

Is a “fall apart” book well-loved or did the printing mess up? I feel that depends on how many times I’ve read it

oh, man, my first thought when I saw your blog title was “How dare you!” Then I realized that I write in cookbooks all the time. How else are you going to remember your tweaks?

Do I write in other books? Textbooks? YES, but others? Not usually. I have written in my scriptures (not just underlining) but I don’t read a lot of life changing kinds of books.

Is a “fall apart” book well-loved or did the printing mess up? I feel that depends on how many times I’ve read it

Oh hallelujah! Finally, someone else confesses to being in my camp!

I write in books. All the time. And I always have. Well, at least since high school.

Whenever I read something that I find really striking, or which I want to come back to for my review, I underline it. I also make notes in the margins, draw family trees on the blank pages at the back of the book, and employ my pen however else I need to in order to get the most out of the book.

And yes, it’s a sign of love!

(even if my husband thinks it’s next to sacrilege)

Oh hallelujah! Finally, someone else confesses to being in my camp!

I write in books. All the time. And I always have. Well, at least since high school.

Whenever I read something that I find really striking, or which I want to come back to for my review, I underline it. I also make notes in the margins, draw family trees on the blank pages at the back of the book, and employ my pen however else I need to in order to get the most out of the book.

And yes, it’s a sign of love!

(even if my husband thinks it’s next to sacrilege)

How funny. I just told a developer at work the other day that I can’t borrow programming books from our company library like everyone else as I always write notes in them. Programming books in addition to being something of a snooze are also frequently uncheap so I wish I had another method but nothing else works as well for me. So for those types of books, yes always.

(the funny part was he said the real reason was that I probably made obscene doodles in them. Maybe you had to be there.)

I occasionally will highlight something I really like in another book. My copy of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood was pretty marked up with favorite quotes.

How funny. I just told a developer at work the other day that I can’t borrow programming books from our company library like everyone else as I always write notes in them. Programming books in addition to being something of a snooze are also frequently uncheap so I wish I had another method but nothing else works as well for me. So for those types of books, yes always.

(the funny part was he said the real reason was that I probably made obscene doodles in them. Maybe you had to be there.)

I occasionally will highlight something I really like in another book. My copy of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood was pretty marked up with favorite quotes.

This also, btw, reminds me of a great scene from the movie Say Anything. John Cusack’s prospective girlfriend tells him she looks up a word in the dictionary every day and then marks the word. He picks up her dictionary to find every page covered in ink marks and his look of intimidation is priceless.

This also, btw, reminds me of a great scene from the movie Say Anything. John Cusack’s prospective girlfriend tells him she looks up a word in the dictionary every day and then marks the word. He picks up her dictionary to find every page covered in ink marks and his look of intimidation is priceless.

I use sticky notes for my cookbooks, and I wrote all over my textbooks at university. But now whether I write in a book depends on if it’s being read for personal pleasure or work-related pleasure. (I was going to say for work or fun, but reading books for work is usually fun, too.)

I tend to make notes in the margins, and underline sentences or passages if I’m reading the book for one of my book clubs, especially when I want to remember something to share with the group, and extra-especially if I’m the one leading the discussion.

Items read for my own purposes I tend not to write in.

I like to think I am very strictly agianst book defacement, but I actually have to confess that I’m guilty of marring the spines on mass-market paperback from opening them too widely (recently did this with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and have multiple cracks in the spine).

Also… I dog-ear the pages. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it. If anyone can tell me a good way of narking a specific page in a book (rather than sticking a bookmark in between two pages)that doesn’t involve anything plastic or metal or anything that sticks up beyond the top of the page and that doesn’t create a lump when you close the book, please tell me.

I use sticky notes for my cookbooks, and I wrote all over my textbooks at university. But now whether I write in a book depends on if it’s being read for personal pleasure or work-related pleasure. (I was going to say for work or fun, but reading books for work is usually fun, too.)

I tend to make notes in the margins, and underline sentences or passages if I’m reading the book for one of my book clubs, especially when I want to remember something to share with the group, and extra-especially if I’m the one leading the discussion.

Items read for my own purposes I tend not to write in.

I like to think I am very strictly agianst book defacement, but I actually have to confess that I’m guilty of marring the spines on mass-market paperback from opening them too widely (recently did this with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and have multiple cracks in the spine).

Also… I dog-ear the pages. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it. If anyone can tell me a good way of narking a specific page in a book (rather than sticking a bookmark in between two pages)that doesn’t involve anything plastic or metal or anything that sticks up beyond the top of the page and that doesn’t create a lump when you close the book, please tell me.

I write in cookbooks all the time, changing or adding stuff. I’m currently converting my UK ones to US measurements and ingredients – very necessary for cakes which use self rising flour!

I also highlight passages in non-fiction books and turn down pages to remind me where they are.

I leave fiction books alone. I used to copy out quotes I loved into a notebook but lately I’ve been collecting them on goodreads.

I write in cookbooks all the time, changing or adding stuff. I’m currently converting my UK ones to US measurements and ingredients – very necessary for cakes which use self rising flour!

I also highlight passages in non-fiction books and turn down pages to remind me where they are.

I leave fiction books alone. I used to copy out quotes I loved into a notebook but lately I’ve been collecting them on goodreads.

I write in cookbooks all of the time, and I started years ago because my mother did it. Now that I have some of her old cookbooks, it’s fun to go through them and see her handwriting and notes about the recipes.

The only other book I can remember writing in (besides all of my cookbooks) is a book by Jimmy Buffett…A Pirate Looks at Fifty. I love that book and have marks all over it. I know Jimmy wouldn’t mind.

I write in cookbooks all of the time, and I started years ago because my mother did it. Now that I have some of her old cookbooks, it’s fun to go through them and see her handwriting and notes about the recipes.

The only other book I can remember writing in (besides all of my cookbooks) is a book by Jimmy Buffett…A Pirate Looks at Fifty. I love that book and have marks all over it. I know Jimmy wouldn’t mind.

Writing in cookbooks: Check

As for other books, yes, I write in them too. The more I love the book, and the more it speaks to me, the more writing you’ll find. I usually use pencil. But, after reading the comments, I feel like I have been given permission to use ink. Thanks!

And a well annotated, note-filled, and worn book shows “love” for me. Looking at my shelf as I type this, I can tell the books that I love most as they are well-worn.

Thanks for the prompts!

Writing in cookbooks: Check

As for other books, yes, I write in them too. The more I love the book, and the more it speaks to me, the more writing you’ll find. I usually use pencil. But, after reading the comments, I feel like I have been given permission to use ink. Thanks!

And a well annotated, note-filled, and worn book shows “love” for me. Looking at my shelf as I type this, I can tell the books that I love most as they are well-worn.

Thanks for the prompts!

I’m definitely in the “write in the book” camp but only if I own it and will keep it forever and only in pencil. I think it’s definitely a sign of love and engagement with the text. I have often had discussions with my brother in law who won’t even crack the spine of a book when he’s reading it! I say what’s the point? A book is something to be enjoyed and loved, not kept in pristine condition on the shelf looking like you just bought it.

I’m definitely in the “write in the book” camp but only if I own it and will keep it forever and only in pencil. I think it’s definitely a sign of love and engagement with the text. I have often had discussions with my brother in law who won’t even crack the spine of a book when he’s reading it! I say what’s the point? A book is something to be enjoyed and loved, not kept in pristine condition on the shelf looking like you just bought it.

I’m so glad that I’m not alone. I feel part two of this post coming on, where I confess that I (gasp!) also dog-ear pages. But that’s for another day.

I love hearing about the books that you’ve all written in. What an interesting assortment.

Thanks for all of the comments!

I’m so glad that I’m not alone. I feel part two of this post coming on, where I confess that I (gasp!) also dog-ear pages. But that’s for another day.

I love hearing about the books that you’ve all written in. What an interesting assortment.

Thanks for all of the comments!