Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Books and Reading.

Yesterday I blogged a little about reading but mostly I wallowed in self pity. Today I return to reading and books.

When you read do you underline and write notes in the margin? That's always been one way I digest books. Imagine my surprise to learn in the view of many that's a sin unto death.

On the other spectrum I have a friend who reads, underlines, and takes notes in a book then mails it to a friend asking them to do the same, sign that they've read it and return it to her. She then sends it out to another friend. She enjoys other readers comments.

I do know that writing in a book means most places will not accept it as a donation. When I purchase a used book I prefer that it not haves notes and underlined passages from another reader.

I read both fiction and nonfiction but prefer nonfiction. I enjoy audible books, I also download some to Kindle, but if I really want to digest a book I buy a paper book and write in it.

I purposely have very few paper books. At this stage in life we're traveling light. I do not enjoy packing and moving books. I immediately donate books that have not been marked up.

I've just begun 'The Fractured Republic' by Yuval Levin. I'm pretty sure I'm going to need to take notes and underline.

Do you prefer audible, Kindle/eBooks, or paper books?
Do you prefer fiction or non fiction?
Do you underline and write in books?

19 comments:

  1. I switched to Kindle a few years ago. My husband and I have always been avid readers. Our house overflowed with books. The Kindle seemed to be a good answer to too many books in the house.

    I prefer nonfiction, especially about history, science and politics. I do like the author Eric Larson who writes historical fiction. He uses true historic settings and details and winds quite a tale of mystery and adventure.

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    1. I had to be brutal about books when we moved from Texas to Oregon. Since then I've kept paper books to a minimum.

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  2. If I own a book I don't care what anyone thinks---if I want to write in the margins and underline, I will. I usually do it in pencil though. I only donate books that I don't like and if I don't like it it won't be marked much if at all up because nothing 'spoke' to me.

    I have a library room, downsized from a library twice its size 15 years ago. Some are very valuable, some only valuable to me. I have a Kindle but I still prefer 'real' books. I read more fiction than non-fiction.

    I absolutely refuse to load books that I love because because so many people have a bad track record when it comes to returning them. I've been known to get out of bed in the middle of the night to look at an underlined passage in a book and I want it to be there when I do.

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    1. Wow, a library room. I suppose I hadn't thought about it being my book and I can do what I want. Good point.

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    2. I had to get rid of many,many books when I moved last fall. Both Mike and I had cases full. I prefer paper books to read and use the library a lot but I do have a kindle for travel and I do like the fact that I can own a book without having to take up shelf room. I don't tend to write in the books. I keep a notebook where I might write down something that really strikes my fancy and I use sticky notes extensively when I am making notes for a book discussion group or when doing some research.

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  3. I spent 36 years, as a high school English teacher, underlining, making notes in, and highlighting passages in novels. Cannot bring myself to even think of doing that now. I like fiction and historical fiction. The first year after I retired, I hardly read a thing. I guess I needed to "heal."😂 I prefer real, paperback or hardcover books.

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    1. Glad to find someone else who wrote in books. My daughter reads a lot of professional material. When she gets a chance she reads light fiction. I've known a lot of professors who escaped into mysteries.

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  4. Good questions. the main thing is you're a reader. Each reader has their own pattern of reading. Now for the answers. I never underline or mark in a book. Why? I read library books. I read paper but I'm about to try ebooks. Book clubs are great where you discuss books. I'm about 50/50 when it comes to fiction and nonfiction.

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    1. After writing this post I thought about library books. I seldom use the library, never have. When I want to read a book I want to read it immediately. Usually not in the mood when it becomes available through the library.

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  5. In days gone by, when I purchased books and kept them, I did mark or write on them at times. This was especially true when I found a writer I loved and wanted to be able to return to a loved "turn of phrase." Now I'm mostly a library and books on cd reader so no more marking up for me.

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    1. I don't think many of us like reading books that are marked up. Libraries have a point and we shall respect it.

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  6. I love books and I love reading but I don't write in very many of them as I tend to donate or give away books once I've read them. But some books are near and dear to my heart and I mark and underline and highlight! These are books I read over and over again like Simple Abundance and The Language of Letting Go among others. When I buy a copy to share with my daughter, Summer, she always asks to be given the one I've marked up. It's like sharing thoughts.

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    1. When I worked at Brite/TCU they had a book awards banquet. The students always wanted the professors' personal copy of whatever book they were awarding.

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  7. I prefer books, but my eyes aren't terrific so I'm thrilled to have the option of audible books. I keep several on my phone at all times.

    I read a little nonfiction, but I prefer fiction.

    I do remember writing in the margins when I was in school, but I never do that anymore.

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    1. I'm trying to work my way back to reading, rather than listening. It is certainly cheaper. Have to say though there are some nonfiction books I would never make it through reading but I can enjoy listening to them.

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  8. I use to love to read and always marked and highlighted in them. Since my husband passed away, I can no longer focus long enough to read for any length of time. I also read many more articles, essays, opinions and blogs on my iPad now and these are shorter reads. Even with those, I'll save some or copy and paste a paragraph or quote to my notes on my iPad. I like to be able to refer back to them. I'm not able to do audible, as my mind will drift. I prefer non fiction and "real" books, and I really hope to someday return to them.

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    1. You are not the first person I's heard say they lost their concentration for reading after the death of a spouse. Interesting. I also don't read as many books because I'm reading more articles. Most of the time I find articles to be enough.

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  9. I may own a mini-iPad and have written a Kindle book you can download from Amazon (shameless plug. Oh, and it's in paperback, too! ;o) ) but really dislike reading on my iPad.
    I want a book in my hands. The only time I've written notations is when I was preparing to teach a class or was going to one myself.
    Once I'm into a book I hate to pull myself back to reality with notations.

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    1. I prefer reading on my mini-iPad to reading on my Paperwhite Kindle.i like being able to adjust the print size when using digital devices. That said, my first love is a paper book.

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