Against Annotations: A Response

[@krzysamm7095]

If you own the book then you can do whatever floats your boat about annotating as far as I am concerned. What grinds my gears is when you get a book from the library that someone has decided to mar with annotations and it doesn’t belong to them but to the community.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

If the book is never sold, I agree it’s not an issue. Of course, the owner’s estate might not even bother to check when selling off the collection. Writing in a library books should result in the borrower replacing the item.

[@bighardbooks770]

@@anotherbibliophilereads 💯!!!

[@BookishTexan]

I like other peoples annotations (but not their poop. that would be weird). I don’t like highlighting at all. I heavily annotated all the books I used in college and grad school. I still annotate occasionally.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

I only lightly underlined in college but I gave that up entirely.

[@revenantreads]

I agree 💯 I would also add the fact that most of the annotations I find are only in the first thirty or so pages, implying they ruined a book for someone else that they didn’t even finish themselves.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

I once bought a pricy out of print book that had annotations on only the first page.🤔

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Don’t 💩 in books. Got it! I promise I won’t!

[@ashrafmourad2901]

I perosnally don't anotate books. It takes away from my reading enjoyment to stop and scribble in a book. But happen live near a university, so every so often I do come across annotated books. Funny enough that doesn't bother me when someone else has annotated a book. But I have noticed that the quality of the annotations vary greatly. A personal favorite of mine are annotations that point out linkages to obscure literature. I do think that those kinds annotations can actually fascinating companions to a book, much like footnotes.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

I have never come across anything like that. Usually it’s parroting a lecture, I think.

[@BookBlather]

I hate acquiring books and finding annotations in them as well. But geez, after watching this video, it made me think that I should probably be counting my blessings that no one left poo in the book. I mean, a lot of people read on the toilet, so I suppose it’s not inconceivable that it happens from time to time. Thanks for the image, Greg 😒

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

I was only thing metaphorically, but now that you brought it up 😨

[@booksbeerhorror753]

I've worked in 3 bookstores. You would be shocked to see how many people grab a new book off the shelf and take it to the toilet. Then put it back on the shelf.

[@BookBlather]

@@booksbeerhorror753 😳

[@BookBlather]

@@booksbeerhorror753 I kind of wish you hadn’t told us that 😂

[@bookssongsandothermagic]

I don’t like seeing other people’s poo either. I also keep my poo to myself. I love picking up a book I’ve had for 20 years and it still looks new.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

I like keeping that Like New condition too.

[@readandre-read]

I use post-it notes and then clear it all out after I'm finished reading or discussing the book. I don't mind some light annotating in a second hand book but if there's a lot (or a turd, heaven forbid!) I'm distracted. I'm sometimes amused to find my own college annotations in my older books. Old Angelia laughs at young Angelia writing some boring paper in the 80's. 😄

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

I would probably be mortified if I ever came across something I wrote in the 80s.

[@davidnovakreadspoetry]

I’m very leery about buying from sellers who only have a boilerplate, “may have some underlining/highlighting in the text”. It’s hard when they don’t specify. I would never consider a mucked up book to deserve a “good” rating (maybe if there’s been one word lightly circled and it’s in the description) but there are sellers who do - or who don’t check, as you say.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

Unfortunately most online sellers don’t seem too careful. ThriftBooks can be way off from write up and reality.

[@tyghe_bright]

For me, annotation interrupts the flow of reading. I can see doing it on a second read. And if I don't want to leave permanent marks, there are transparent stickies. Though, when I collected antique books, I really loved coming across marginalia. A leather-bound volume of Oscar Wilde essays from the 1890s with notes in the margins? Delightful. Highlights, not so much.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

I’m not sure I would be pleased with an antique book with marginalia.

[@StephanieJCohen]

I am sadly the masked-marker. I love marking up my books. More so non-fiction than fiction.

[@ThomasFasano]

I have a book from the 1880s, short stories, in which two students wrote annotations in pencil on every page about their life, their professor, what they did after school. The annotations are like a window into another life from two centuries ago. Priceless! I’m sure if you purchased a paperback that Stephen King previously owned and heavily annotated, you would be quite pleased.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

I think what you found in the 1880 book is rare. It's usually just mindless comments.

[@RaynorReadsStuff]

No, no, no. No annotations for me. What I do like is finding little gifts (not poo) in my secondhand books. The latest being a small cut out finger-puppet chicken complete with feather wings 😊

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

Thanks Debs. Letters or photos could be interesting.

[@bighardbooks770]

Now, like Flynn's new Cambridge edition of _Ulysses,_ I would _never_ write in that 😮

[@Obsessive-reader]

I totally agree with you. I HATE it😡

[@LeeKempter]

Oh I so agree with you Gregg!!! Use stickers or a notebook or anything just keep your writing off of the pages. If you MUST do it keep the book do not inflict it on others. I even have trouble with typos ..... yeah folks I see them, I do NOT have to have you point them out to me !!!

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

I only used the colored tabs. Thanks Lee.

[@melissarebecca8]

I could not agree with you more, about annotations! I buy used books and sellers often forget to look inside when describing the book as "very good condition." When I open the book it just annoys me to see the text all underlined and written in. I've been burned by Thriftbooks before. 😆

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

Yes, ThriftBooks does seem to be indifferent and not to keen on being precise.

[@awebofstories]

I'm not a huge annotator, but I do it now and then. However, I also don't want to permanently write in my book. Luckily, I've recently discovered transparent sticky notes! I just put the sticky not over what I want to annotate and then write on that. Now, I can leave the annotation there if I want, or remove it without leaving a trace.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

The sticky notes are very beneficial. Thanks Melinda.

[@ObscureBookAdventures]

I wholeheartedly agree. And it’s unhandy as well to have to flip through a book when writing a review. I rather have my trusty notebook.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

Indeed, notebooks would be more useful than margins,

[@jewellscott]

Oooo, I'm a hypocrite! I hate secondhand books with excessive annotations, but I definitely annotate the heck out of mine. It's me, I'm the problem 🤡

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

So I can blame it on Jewel? Good to know.

[@stargater2892]

My take: Save me from the good people. I stopped buying from Thrift specifically bec of smoke smell and cat hair. Annotating minimally doesn't bother me. I write in my books, typically NF. But if it's profound I may highlight or write a sentence or two on the cover page. Then a challenge comes along, and I modified it. You read 100, I donate 100 annotated, highlighted, written in, dog-eared, etc. Before you buy, check the size clothes & books.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

I’m not sure if cat hair makes it into my books, but I’m not allergic, so it wouldn’t know if it did. Did the bookstore give you a lesser price for annotated copies?

[@stargater2892]

I've never sold them. I donate them to various places.

[@bighardbooks770]

¡aHa! Excellent, poignant points, and I hear ya; however, I'll to continue annotating my books (only the ones I intend to keep and reread/study), and cherish them. 🖋 "Write On!" 🖋

[@LeeKempter]

the main point her, my friend is that you intend to KEEP those books.... big difference

[@bighardbooks770]

@@LeeKempter Thank you ☺ 💯 😉

[@justsomebunny]

if i'm used book shopping in person, i won't buy it if it has writing or underlining in it; i find it distracting. that being said, i used to write in my books when i was studying literature.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

I sometimes don’t check when shopping at used bookstores. It when I get home I realize my mistake.

[@GentleReader01]

I only want to see others’ annotations when they’re weird. On my shelves is the copy of Lawrence Goodwyn’s The Populist Moment I read in college. Some previous owner highlighted “The” at the start of sentences. Not all of them, never more than 1-2 per page, none in other pages. why? I’ll never know, I expect. Otherwise, yes, pristine is good.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

The “the” bandit might have OCD issues. 🤪

[@fuzonzord9301]

I think getting annotated book could be interesting but only if it's something I've already read and have lots of thoughts about. I guess it could be interesting to compare notes. Personally, I have annotated only one book and it's a book that I don't intend to part with.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

Most annotations I've come across are inane.

[@badrad9226]

I did try one time on writing a book and I couldn’t stand it ! I bought another one . I had a hard time signing the book Dead Inside 😮 I don’t like writing in my books . I really take good care of mine but that’s my opinion. I don’t like poop 💩 on any books. I do check when I go to the donation library 📚 I accidentally did bring some home with poop 💩. I am weird lol 😂 so ? I agree no poop 💩

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

Thanks Bad. You never know what may lurk in the library sale books.

[@eiketske]

I really really don’t want any annotations in my books. I hate that with a passion.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

Thanks for the support.

[@materiagrix]

Uhhh… You're in trouble my friend! Let the war begin!

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

Bring on the trouble!

[@alohm]

Marginalia FTW :P

[@M-J]

I only annotated one. 😂 💩I STILL LUV YOU! 🤗🤗

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

What would a reader think if they found your book at a store?

[@M-J]

@@anotherbibliophilereads They wouldn’t. 😂

[@ericcasagrande]

Excellent video! I just subbed your channel.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

Thanks for the sub!

[@alohm]

Annotation is a sign of understanding or the wish to understand. Mortimer Alder outlines to process. That said, I do not mess with the reading of the book itself. Take your poo? What kind of weird advice were you given? From the Rick Mercer Memoir I just finished. I can compare this to the most famous Canadian scientist/environmentalist. And one of our funniest comedian. They both did a photo shoot for the environment: in the nude - Suzuki with a maple leaf, and Mercer with a Salmon. Rick Mercer asked David Suzuki if he made a mistake taking a farmed salmon to a wild river? Suzuki asked: was it dead? Rick answered: it was frozen... When asked David Suzuki said that it was very nearly the dumbest question ever was asked ;) That said I do not cover the text with annotations, I do not get rid of books, esp the annotated ones. And finally - you do you boo ;) and the good news is: technology has solved this issue today - E books and audiobooks can be annotated without leaving a footprint - no need to pack out your poo ;)

[@Unpotted]

Are you aware of how much human excrement and trash (including used condoms) as well as dead “adventurers” are in the snowpack of the Himalayan mountains? In Antarctica? On the moon? People leave their filth everywhere they go. It’s fucking pathetic that grown adults can’t pick up after themselves! Rant over. Actually poop biodegrades very quickly, but cigarette butts(filters)) last forever. 😺✌️

[@Unpotted]

I agree with you wholeheartedly, unless the title was used in a university course. Everyone learns differently and has to process the information their own way. We definitely want them to be educated, considering the damage ignorance is doing in countries around the world. Perhaps the science fiction anthology was used by a language or writing major? Still, the seller should have noted the marks in the listing. Btw, I have a feeling that if you keep entertaining me like this, certain Booktubers are going to wish you would stop watching their videos. 😉 Lol! 😺✌️

[@Unpotted]

Duh, meant for Greg. 🤦‍♂️ 😺✌️

[@alohm]

@@Unpotted I used to do the same ALL the time ;) the changing user interface does not help, small phones, old eyes....

[@Unpotted]

@@alohm yup! 😸✌️

[@barbaraboethling596]

I agree with you, Greg! I recently, I grabbed a book at a library sale and threw it in my bag, only to discover later it was heavily annotated.. I threw it away. Marking up a book like that is just vandalism.

[@katrinziegler6545]

Never buy any of my books then 😀

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

😛

[@chrisbeveridge3066]

of course you're just seeking views...booktube is all about SELF DISPLAY ...your scatological references were revealing ...your choice of the word poo to describe human waste was revealing also ... your mind is an open book! don't sweat the annotations! be grateful for any book is my credo...I love used marked up books, I feel a kinship with their former owners ...it's a richer experience for me...