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Annotating books: yay or nay?

Annotating books: yay or nay?

Jensen #questionnaire

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56 Answers

Matt

Yay for me, highlighters mostly. On my non fiction books. I just need to do something with the highlighted parts after I have finished the book. Either write them down in a journal or blog to keep it fresh as I tend to forget!

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Elvia

Depends on the book, in all of them I put book marks if I want to check some information out. But normally I highlight or annotate on my studies books.

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Jean

Only non fiction

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Marie

non fiction and for study purposes

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Sheri

Your own, please, not library books. ?

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Lisa

I annotate passages that I find particularly beautiful, or wise, or relevant to my life. I tell myself I will go back and write them in my book journal for easy access, but I don’t always follow up and then, if I don’t own the book, they are lost to me.

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Marie

of course..

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Peg

Never.

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Kathy

No

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Catarina

If it’s your own, why not?

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Kathy

You probably won’t be around as long as the book. Your highlights would be a distraction for someone else. I just don’t believe in defiling books for any reason.

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Patricia

@Kathy I have a number of books that were underlined and annotated by a previous owner. I don’t find the comments distracting but, rather, I find them fascinating. I feel as though I am reading the book with the person and I find myself arguing with them, in writing, in the margins. I find it makes the book more pleasurable. Of course, I got the books BECAUSE they were annotated by the former owner.

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Kathy

@Patricia, I can understand that very well. It’s just from a book collector’s point of view, it ruins the value, and the book or manuscript is less likely to be saved in the long term.

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Patricia

Kathy Toavs, this May be true about book sellers, however, I know there are some book sellers who seek out books from authors and others and sell them as such to those who wish to have them. For this I am most grateful.

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Matt

Finding an old book thats been annotated by somebody unknown. Now thats what I’m talking about

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Douglas

Absolutely yes. Always have, always will.

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Wendy

If it’s your own book and makes you happy, why not?

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Rebeka

Absolutely

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Sandy

Yes, I write in my books, but I would never write in someone else’s book.

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Sandra

Yes. If mine

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Sandra

Not unless it’s an ereader.

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Addison

My own cookbooks, absolutely! ??

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Janean

I do that all the time!

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Barbara

Yes.

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Karen

Kindle allows highlighting and annotation.

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James

Do what you like in your own book, nothing at all in a library book.

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Chris

Yes, if you own it!

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Kathleenellen

Absolutely.. often.. forever.. when reading I am seldom without a pen, pens, in hand and, also a journal at hand.. if it’s your book!

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Patricia

Me also, except for me a pencil. I have a good pencil sharpener on had because I hate writing with a dull pencil. I even underline fiction. Sometimes I underline a hint/clue in a mystery book, or something I think is a hint or clue. I also write in the margin or top of the page my ideas of whodunit as I read said mystery. This might be annoying to someone reading it after me, so I erase when I am done. I also find that you can find some gems in fiction that are worthy of remembering. I also remember once reading a novel where I came upon a sentence that made no sense to me and I figured out that a well placed coma did the trick, so I penciled in the coma and continued reading. It was a very good book.

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Kathleenellen

@Patricia, ?
I favour, and buy, by the box,(accounting) mechanical pencils.. blue or black on one end, red on the other..

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Patricia

Kathleen Ellen, I should buy stock in Ticonderoga. All of my pencils are yellow and most have those erasers we buy for kids by the dozens.

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Kathleenellen

@Patricia , lifelong recognition, office supply budget.. personal and professionally, as an early childhood, literacy educator I have ever admitted the entrancement of brick and mortar as well as online bookstores, … hardware stores and **stationary store.. products.. colour coding in all supplies.. products ie , butterfly clips, files folders.. creative art supplies .. **bullet/journals.organized storage.. glitter and entrance me.. books are often found at Blick and Staples
I am most particular and maintain deep supplies..
art pencils, mechanical pencils with waders and cuffs..
Ticonderoga, yes..

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Priya

Never!

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Nishee

Yes!

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Maheswari

Yes!

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Kirsten

This is why I don’t do the library! I like to underline and write my thoughts in the white space.

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Autumn

I did this with my copy of FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury. It’s one of my top 3 favorite literary classics of all time and I felt a weird sense of accomplishment in doing it. It makes it feel so personal and I was able to analyze and understand everything so much more. I think it’s necessary sometimes, especially with literary classics because they’re often used in teaching.

I don’t annotate everything, just certain books. I should also point out that I use pencil and also own two copies of the book.

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Cynthia

I like reading them but cant bring myself to write in a book.

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Krista

Yes… But only in my Kindle

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Morgan

Yes!

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Chin

I never liked it until I took an English class in college that I learn how to do it and in the end it helped me understand the book better.. so yes!

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Ang

I have notebooks for quotes.

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Janie

Yes

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Mamie

As long as it’s not a borrowed book.

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Teresa

Copy quotes is about it except my Bible. Wouldn’t even think to write in a book unless i am gifting it and I want to personalize it for the recipient.

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Sarah

Yes, yes, yes!

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Chloé

Yes… I know what some may feel about it but I sometimes enjoy flicking through books I read when I was at university… I currently only annotate work books…

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Thania

only if i know that i’m keeping it

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Grace

I’ve only done it like once in my 10th grade English class and I think it confused me a little more (it was a Shakespeare book)

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Marilee

Only in some of my “how to” books. Mostly, I put comments and notes on Post its, where appropriate.

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Julissa

No. Never. Ever. I cannot deface a book. That’s what notebooks are for.

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Glenda

Nope!

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Sherry

No, only your own textbooks that you don’t want to sell. That was a lvery long time ago.

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Mary

Never.

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Betsy

Often. Also, I stick reviews, pertinent pictures or articles in the book for reference. And I’ve been know to high-ligh certain passages I want to remember.

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Jane

After I have read the book without it. Sometimes gives more depth

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