How do you treat your books?

[phoenix_indigo]

It is the first ever "official" Book Club poll (as the other poll was created before the book club began). It all started as I was reading last night - as I couldn't sleep then either - when I put my book down at the end of reading another chapter I "dog-eared" the corner of the book to mark my place and it got me thinking about the habits of my fellow book club readers.

So, how do you treat your books? Do you keep them pristine, un-creased, and mint condition? Do you break the spine by always use a bookmark so the pages remain unbent? Do you love a book with character and make it comfortable for yourself by breaking spines and 'dog-earing' corners? Or is there some other method of treating your book that you prefer?

So let the polling begin. :)

[Peace-Phoenix]

Ou est le poll?

[phoenix_indigo]

i was still working on it ... so impatient.

[Peace-Phoenix]

Always mint if I can help it. Only really big books will get their spines bent. Otherwise I'm quite fussy about keeping books in good condition....

[daisy_chain]

I like them in good condition, but they never stay that way. I'm too lazy to look for bookmarks, although receipts are really useful for that, and I don't know how to read a book without breaking the spine. All of my books have the well-loved look, but it's ok, because they are well loved.

[L.A.Matthews]

I really can't stand seeing people bend the spine of a book. If it so happens they do it to my book I seriously go apeshit. Someone tried bending the front covers over on themselves with my recently bought Howl and Other Poems pocket book; yes, I went apeshit.

I always try to read to the end of a chapter before I finish reading; somewhere noticable and easily remembered. The only way they get worn is due to keeping books in my bag for college, and just general wear.

[lithium]

Depends what book it is, some I'll keep pristine but usually while trying my best not to abuse it too much I'll do what needs to be done to make reading the most convenient and comfortable, if it's a cheap copy or something I have to get through for work I don't care too much. I like that a book looks like it's been loved! Reading a book without creasing the spine is difficult! It's usually not worth bothering being that pernickety...

[phoenix_indigo]

I really can't stand seeing people bend the spine of a book. If it so happens they do it to my book I seriously go apeshit. Someone tried bending the front covers over on themselves with my recently bought Howl and Other Poems pocket book; yes, I went apeshit.That is TOTALLY different. NEVER, ever mistreat someone else's book. That's horrible. I'd go apeshit too.

[CrucifiedDreams]

That is TOTALLY different. NEVER, ever mistreat someone else's book. That's horrible. I'd go apeshit too.Oh yeah! I seldem lend books out becuase, I like my books to look like they did the day I got them. I'm very careful with them.

[fountains of nay]

I love my books. Some of them may be battered and musty, but that makes me love them even more. I love the smell of really old books too. :)

[phoenix_indigo]

I love my books. Some of them may be battered and musty, but that makes me love them even more. I love the smell of really old books too. :)That's precisely one of the reasons that I buy used books and rarely buy anything new. Most of my books that I've collected over the years were a bit battered before I even took ownership.

[fountains of nay]

That's precisely one of the reasons that I buy used books and rarely buy anything new. Most of my books that I've collected over the years were a bit battered before I even took ownership.
Aye, they tell even more stories than the story within!
I tend to find books lying in the street quite often and I always feel the need to pick them up and give them some love.

[phoenix_indigo]

it actually saddened me when I left the States as I couldn't bring most of my books with me and when I went to give them to a used bookstore they wouldn't take them because corners were turned down. i mean 90% of them i had originally bought from used book stores - obviously much less snobby ones.

at least i was able to give them to the charity shop though, i really can't stand ever throwing away a book.

[fountains of nay]

Yeah right, it's just wrong. I can't believe they turned your books away! How bizarre, glad they weren't wasted!:)

[bokonon]

Much like Lithium, it depends on the book. The fancier they are the better they're treated. Books relating to art or photography I try to keep perfect, but cheaply made re-issued classics that you find in music zone for £3 I don't really care that much about.

I agree with ya's about borrowed books like, they should be shown some respect :)

I don't think I've ever dog-eared a book, that borders on cruelty I think!

[AncientHippie]

As close to mint as possible.

[L.A.Matthews]

I now have my Glastonbury/festival book now: Big Sur - Jack Kerouac (kind of fitting, I suppose). It got drenched and now it's all water stained and crispy.:) I like it that way.

[bokonon]

Haha, yeah...I took 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' with me and that got pretty damp. Seems to suit it though :)

[tomandhismuse]

I like a book thats a bit messed up with some dog ears and some coffee stains. It just shows you've read it many a time.

[phoenix_indigo]

i've gotten a bit different with the newer books i have bought. the most recent ones (apart from Harry Potter) are all second hand but are in MINT condition. I just noticed on my copy of Canal Dreams though that some dirt somehow got on the bottom of the pages, not sure how that happened. But I've been using a bookmark (well piece of paper as one) instead of turning the corners down. Just bought myself a proper bookmark to stitch up (cross stitch). Maybe I'll post a pic of it on Arts & Creativity when I'm done. :)

[dready_kolo]

I like mine all in mint condition, can't stand it when someone borrows my books then folds the corner of the page over instead of using a bookmark!

[gingerness]

i try to keep mine in mint condition too, i hate it if the spine is broken or cover creased, tho i do like to pick books up from, charity shops every now and then and you cant always get them mint

[nynysuts]

I always dog ear and bend the spine, i spend 25% of my day reading on average, and i don't have time for mucking about with bookmarks. I also take a book with me everywhere just about, so mud and stuff is extremely common. unfortunately most of my books are from the library, i must drive them mad!

[IlUvMuSIc]

lol I am terrible with books - generally they are either on my floor, bed or drawers or something like that... Most of them end up in our bookcase but thats like full so now they end up on the bed nxt to it...

Latest book i read was actually on the floor under my bed when it fell off and i couldn't be bothered to get it but i picked it up.

most of the time i wreck books when i read them cos I like read constantly with a new one so, er... a few stains on it... But I dont tread on them or anything (or use em as kindling) the books i hate are prolly in the best condition and the ones i love will be worst off...

Once i read them i dont have use for them anymore so i tend to use the Library and i have to look after them better cos they're not mine and to wreck them would be unfair.

[verseau_miracle]

I hate bent spines, too. My mother used to steal all my books and bend every single spine. Id ask her kindly not to. Shed say "ooh i love my books with a bent spine, me, always have them, shows theyre well loved"..."But theyre not your books, mum"...she never listened. I learnt to hide them

[Moon_Beam]

I can't stand having the spine bent or pages folded, unless it's the type of book that just looks better if a bit tatty, if you know what I mean.

[pypes]

I've kept pretty much every book I have ever read but unusualy I really could not give a toss about there condition. They all look well read and I think they look better for it.

[torz]

my books are well read. i have to bend the spine because i mainly read them in bed with my cat. i have one hand holding the book open & one hand straking the cat. if i dont break the spine it pritty much hurts my hand holding the book open.

i used to dog ear the corners all the time but i now have an embossed peice of card with the sheffield assey stamp on that i use for a book mark & thats all bent & creased.

[opel diamond]

mean. to keep them keen.