Scribble Notes/Highlight in Books?

Do you scribble notes into your books or highlight them; or are you like me that you detest doing so?

I find I can't stand it.

First, I feel like I am somehow dirtying it by scribbling my ugly handwriting all over that beautiful print!

Second, not enough space. I need a notebook or a computer to get down the thoughts I want.

Third, I find myself feeling the temptation to highlight different portions of the text each time I read it. Heck, there are times where I think far too many parts of a page are important, making the book a colored mess :mrgreen:

As a teacher in a public school, I always scold my students for writing in their text books. It's a shame really. We train them NOT to write in books, but it's one of the most helpful skills in studying.

As a student in college, it was expected of me to write notes inside my texts. Many text books have extra space in the margins for this reason alone. Even though the space available isn't very forgiving, it is certainly enough to jot down the main idea behind or the purpose of that page.

Making annotations while I read has really made it much easier for me to realize what the author is trying to say. It's also a great way of having a reference point to an important part of the text, especially when you're trying to get through a long chapter. Sometimes the idea escapes my mind, and so I would go back 2-3 pages and see what I wrote, then it usually comes back to me. If I hadn't written anything in those pages, I am forced to find it either by searching thru the paragraphs or in the index, which by then I have lost my train of thought even further.

Fiddytree said:

Do you scribble notes into your books or highlight them; or are you like me that you detest doing so?

I find I can't stand it.

First, I feel like I am somehow dirtying it by scribbling my ugly handwriting all over that beautiful print!

Second, not enough space. I need a notebook or a computer to get down the thoughts I want.

Third, I find myself feeling the temptation to highlight different portions of the text each time I read it. Heck, there are times where I think far too many parts of a page are important, making the book a colored mess :mrgreen:

Click to expand...

I write in my books with pencil. I usually mark off quotes and then, sometimes, I will make some short sentence notes to myself. Usually, I type the quotes into a notes file on Word and then make comments there if need be.

Fiddytree said:

Do you scribble notes into your books or highlight them; or are you like me that you detest doing so?

I find I can't stand it.

First, I feel like I am somehow dirtying it by scribbling my ugly handwriting all over that beautiful print!

Second, not enough space. I need a notebook or a computer to get down the thoughts I want.

Third, I find myself feeling the temptation to highlight different portions of the text each time I read it. Heck, there are times where I think far too many parts of a page are important, making the book a colored mess :mrgreen:

Click to expand...

Highlight, yes. Writing, no. That's what notetaking is for.

I used to work at a booklab as an undergrad where we repaired old books. I think people who mark in library books should be publicly flogged. Do you not realize your idiotic little notes to yourself will be a headache for everyone else who touches that book for the next century or so?!?

/angry librarian

Coronado said:

Highlight, yes. Writing, no. That's what notetaking is for.

I used to work at a booklab as an undergrad where we repaired old books. I think people who mark in library books should be publicly flogged. Do you not realize your idiotic little notes to yourself will be a headache for everyone else who touches that book for the next century or so?!?

/angry librarian

Click to expand...

Agreed. I only mark in my own books. People that mark in library books annoy the hell out of me.

Fiddytree said:

Do you scribble notes into your books or highlight them; or are you like me that you detest doing so?

I find I can't stand it.

First, I feel like I am somehow dirtying it by scribbling my ugly handwriting all over that beautiful print!

Second, not enough space. I need a notebook or a computer to get down the thoughts I want.

Third, I find myself feeling the temptation to highlight different portions of the text each time I read it. Heck, there are times where I think far too many parts of a page are important, making the book a colored mess :mrgreen:

Click to expand...

I wouldn't ruin a precious book with ugly handwriting. If the book was a gift from someone, I wouldn't mind if they wrote a note on the inside cover, though.

I make extensive use of Post-It notes. Otherwise, the idea of marking in a book makes me physically ill.

I just remember everything I read. What would I need notes for?

I don't. Didn't even in college. Lowered the resale value.

Oftencold said:

I just remember everything I read. What would I need notes for?

Click to expand...

So full of sh....:mrgreen:

I did just purchase an e-reader, so I will be marking up cyber books now . Although, I have to mark in my books. Typing notes out for hours on end would take forever and a day. No thanks.