Thursday, March 13, 2014

Reading Thoughts

I came across this quote the other day, and it really stuck with me. 


When we are children, we are told that books are precious and never to write in them. 


However, in college I was encouraged to comment and highlight in my textbooks as much as possible. I even used to place my books and notes under my pillow the night before a big test...perhaps hoping the endless information I was expected to know would seep into my brain ;-)


Today, I think I still hold onto my childhood view of books in that I feel that I should treat them with delicacy and keep them looking as "new" as possible. 


But I really kind of like this advice from author and teacher, Anne Fadiman. It seems that highlighting or reading aloud a heartfelt passage in my favorite novel would transfer a part of ME into its pages...


and it would most definitely give me insight into myself and the world around me.


And maybe next time I spill my tea or smudge chocolate on a page, instead of trying to clean it off I will smile knowing that a memory and a part of ME is now enclosed in my book. 


What are your thoughts on this quote?

~Jess

23 comments:

E. said...

I love it! I usually interchange between the kindle app on my ipad and "real" books. I must say the e-version makes it much easier to highlight what you like (new and fancy words in my case) and it then saves all your notes in one place. On the other hand, my mom always keeps a pencil in her books.

Lovely post! Have a beautiful day!

It's me said...

In summer i love reding books !!....happy day darling...we have beautiful spring weather here in Holland....love from me...x !

Susie said...

Jess, If people would go through my books, they may find a photo or bit of paper with some quote on it or a bookmark. I usually left things to mark my place and sometimes that thing stays in the book. If sleeping on your books worked let me, I will sleep with some of mine too, LOL. I would sleep with my camera book and the little pamphlet that came with this computer :):) Blessings, xoxo,Susie

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I love the quote! I used to mark in one of my Bibles when I read and studied and love to do Bible study workbooks. Now I write quotes from books into my journal! Great advice!

Inger Marie said...

Yes!..I love reding books..and the poem is so nice:)
Your fotos are beautiful:)

simply bev said...

Love the quote and definitely prefer the soft pages rather than using an e-reader. I always have a book with me!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

I am in total agreement. Being a french teacher, I teach , y studentd to read out loud. As a student of poetry myself reading a poem or my own work is crucial for improvement but to ingest it all.

Awesome quote!!!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

I am typing off my tablet, hence all the spelling errors!

Purple Flowers said...

This is a great post about one of my favorite topics-books. For me,there is nothing like holding one in my hands, as I pour my attention into it. You and I have similar tastes in book markers. It looks like you have a Vincent Van Gogh and I have a Renoir. Great minds think alike!

Unknown said...

Ciao amica mia,
belle foto....ricordo che anche io mettevo foto, e segnavo anche io....
ricordi di infanzia

Sola Scriptura said...

I love the idea of highlighting and writing in books, although I don't do it often enough.

Noelle the dreamer said...

Horror! Highlighting/writing in a book seems to me as defilement. I once put an open book down as a child, spine up and had my knuckles sharply hit with a ruler.
Stains from crumbs, drinks or bending the corner of a page was treated nothing less than a crime.
It is so ingrained into me, I still shy from doing anything that might mar its condition!
I love sticky notes though... Marvelous invention!

Unknown said...

Jess, We always told our kids that books were their friends. Friends, after some time, have our marks and smudges on them, just like good books.

Love,
Mary

Merlesworld said...

I only keep books I love so my collection is a bit worn and the clean and attractive books I give away.
Merle........

TARYTERRE said...

I absolutely, positively LOVE the notion that... "next time I spill my tea or smudge chocolate on a page, instead of trying to clean it off I will smile knowing that a memory and a part of ME is now enclosed in my book." BEAUTIFULLY said.

hidden art of homemaking said...

I love underlining in my books...When I buy a used cookbook, I always look for the pages that have spills on them and I know that it will be a well used recipe..so I pay attention to it...
Love, Mona

Red Rose Alley said...

Jess,
Sometimes I highlight verses in biblical books. I think I am more relaxed with Paperback books, but I can't help but treat the Hardcover books more special because they are classics and some of them are very old and have been around forever. I like the idea of you being a part of your books. It says that you love them so.

~mom

Optimistic Existentialist said...

I have always had such a love of books! I love the feel of them, the smell of them, and I love turning the pages! Beautiful beautiful post.

Alina said...

I love buying old ones with stains and creases but somehow I can't do it to mine. I wonder what that says about me LOL. Beautiful post.

Riitta Sinikka said...

♥LOVE♥ Happy weekend, my dear friend! xxx Riitta

francis said...

Sometimes I read a word , a sentence and it feels it's there JUST FOR ME !
I love the magic of letters becoming words and words becoming sentences and what can happen when one person choose the words and another one reads them .
For me that kind of magic is also in blogging .
Some you feel connected with from the very first time ...
I am a book-lover .....
I have always loved the art of how books are unique ....
For me books are treasures with the story IN the book but also the story of the giver or the receiver and also the reason or circumstances .........

Palomasea said...

Hello, dear Jess!
I love this post so much...books are magical, but what I have are notebooks and journals filled with passages, ideas, and quotes from books I have read over the years...
It's interesting to note, though, that when I re-read some of my favorites, I find that what is of importance to me now may have changed...
A great weekend to you...happy reading! :)
xoxo,
- Irina

pinks said...

I think its great to make notes in books and underline things that speak to you. I love reading second hand books too and when you see sentences that have been starred or noted on by the previous owners- that can also be quite special :) lovely post thanks for sharing! :)