Collected Miscellany

My son Max loves his books via Flickr

I haven’t done one of these in ages but saw this at Brandywine Books and thought it would be interesting.

1. To mark your page you: use a bookmark, bend the page corner, leave the book open face down?

I tend to use bookmarks (I have a lot of them lying around from books stores, publicists, etc.) but have been known to do all of the above at one time or the other.

2. Do you lend your books?

I will confess I am shy about loaning out books as I am loathe to lose them.

3. You find an interesting passage: you write in your book or NO WRITING IN BOOKS!

I will confess I use light pencil marks to make notations in non-fiction.  It is the easiest way for me to find what I need to write reviews or get quotes later.  I don’t write in fiction for the most part (might occasionally turn down a corner for a choice passage).

4. Dust jackets – leave it on or take it off.

Always take them off.

5. Hard cover, paperback, skip it and get the audio book?

I prefer hardbacks for those I buy.  I haven’t really gotten into audio books yet.

6. Do you shelve your books by subject, author, or size and color of the book spines?

Non-fiction by subject, then author.  Fiction by genre roughly, then author. I also try to get the various sizes to be aesthetically pleasing on the shelf.

7. Buy it or borrow it from the library later?

My first instinct is to buy – if I don’t get it from a publisher – but have been using the library a lot more lately out of necessity.

8. Do you put your name on your books – scribble your name in the cover, fancy bookplate, or stamp?

None of the above.  Hence the nervousness about lending them out.

9. Most of the books you own are rare and out-of-print books or recent publications?

A lot of history and conservative classics are out of print.  Most fiction is in print.

10. Page edges – deckled or straight?

Either works for me.

11. How many books do you read at one time?

I used to strictly read one book at a time, but recently that has changed.  Normally, I will be reading just one fiction and one non but have at times been reading 3 or 4.

12. Be honest, ever tear a page from a book?

Nope.  My wife has some friends that create altered books as art.  The very concept disrturbs me.

Have a blog?  Post your answers and link here.  If not, leave them in the comments.

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