When we were first married, my husband bought a new Bible. The first thing he did was to sit down at his desk with a pen.
I gasped. “What are you doing?”
“I’m transferring notes from my old Bible so I’ll have them.” At that point, I think he’d also started in with a yellow highlighter.
I had never seen anyone do this. When I was growing up, I had one Bible. When I was in the third grade, my parents gave me a King James Version, with a white cover, engraved with “Tamela Ann Hancock” that I treasure to this day. I never, ever, considered taking a pen to it.
Now I have a fabulous collection of Bibles. But I still don’t write in any of them. Nor do I ever dog-ear or write in other books, whether they be mass-market or leather bound. When I’m finished reading any book, you’d barely know I touched it.
I thought about this, and realized it’s because when I was growing up, I borrowed most of the books I read from the school or community library, or from friends. I would never leave my mark on any of those books if I could help it. So I never developed the habit of taking notes. In school, we were taught never to leave any book open, pages on the table, to mark our place, because it would break the spine. We were taught not to dog-ear any books. As a result, I got in the habit of leaving every book as pristine as possible.
Perhaps my heirs would find my notes fascinating if I were to make observations inside any of the books I own. But alas, unless I change my habits, they’ll just have to guess about my thoughts.
Your turn:
Do you write in your books?
Do you record notes in your Bible?
Do you think I should start making my mark on the books I own?
The Sound of Words
Tamela,
Every now and then, I underline, star, or highlight a phrase in a book I own and plan on keeping. I don’t do it often; I was taught not to mark up books.
I had a Bible that I underlined some words in, but I don’t do that with the Bible I use now. I never felt really feel comfortable doing that with a Bible. Instead, I buy inexpensive 6×8 notebooks that fit nicely in the vinyl Bible cover I use. I take notes during sermons, and copy Scripture verses. I underline, star, draw arrows toward lines, etc. in those notebooks. I read that a person remembers more when actually writing something down, as opposed to just reading it or even typing it. Also, I read an article about witnessing to Muslims; the article said never use a Bible that’s been highlighted or written in. Muslims regard that as offensive, and they will not listen to what you have to say.
I enjoyed reading this post and the comments. It was interesting to see what everybody had to say, and how similar or different we were taught regarding books.
All of my Bibles have been filled with notes. It’s like one preacher said when he picked up someone else’s Bible: “It’s hard to tell where God’s words end and man’s words begin.” But those notes are helpful when teaching a women’s Bible Study or going over a passage of Scripture with a new Christian. I’ve also been a note taker since my teen years. Being able to take notes and not miss what a teacher/preacher is saying next is what I regard as a gift. Then I sometimes transfer notes from my notes to my Bible. My favorite note ever is at the end of 2 Corinthians 5:21: “Wow! What a trade!” I still get a thrill when reading that verse–and my note.
Wow! I really appreciate everyone’s comments. Thanks to everyone for stopping by. I always learn so much from you!
I do write inside my books. In my Bible, I circle key words/themes that have been present in my mind for some time. When I am listening to a sermon, I will record a phrase or two that I may want to add to Twitter or to a thought that I need to share with a friend or with my family.
In literary works, I will underline as well. I tend to look at these works as templates for what technique, form, or character development I want to use in my own fiction or essays. I tend to use them as learning tools in craft. I look at POV and turn of phrase. I look at chronology and pace. I look at plot reveals and voice. It is helpful to look at other fiction to see how the author characterizes a certain event taking place.
Thanks for this topic, Tamela. I am glad to hear what people are doing.
I used to write in my Bible, but no more. I found that I was seldom impressed by my insights from previous years, which tended to be either immature or so obvious that they didn’t need to be noted. The pages of my current Bible are unmarked. Nowadays when a passage strikes me, I copy it into a journal, along with any commentary, which sometimes gets expanded into a blog post. I don’t mark in other books either, but the books I use for research are bristling with paper page markers. I prefer to let the text itself speak without some interposing interpretation, whether it’s my own or someone else’s.
Reading all 47 comments I smiled and enjoyed them. Coming from a classical teacher education background I can add a few thoughts. We learn by visual, auditory and touch with any combination of those senses being primary.
Along the way I sometimes wondered why I wrote, copied, and have just inked by way through studying and listening. Other students loved to copy my notes. I can actually read lips a little so I look at mouths some and write at the same time in a lecture.
Yes, my Bibles, Research books, magazines, advertising pages that show great graphics, printed emails: everything has lines, circles, squares and stars placed with notes over, on and beside all print. I actually reread these easily. So one would say I’m strongly touch orientated.
Lines are single or scratched back and forth multiple times showing importance more or less.
Little circles surround words to be defined in the following line.
Big circles can surround a consolidating subject.
Squares can be around a couple paragraphs for subject content.
Small squares around words defining the topic addressed.
Stars note this is important. Size of star with extra rays say this is really great.
Circles around stars in a folded page and page noted in back cover or blank pages say remember this.
So much fun. This makes me smile.
I do highlight and write notes in my Bible that I use on a daily basis. When using a daily devotional book I may want to highlight the verse for the day or make a quick note by the scripture. In regular books I normally do not mark in them, no dog ears, no flipping book over to save a page that is what bookmakers are for.
I have so many notes all through my Study Bible, though not as much through my smaller one I take to bible studies or lend out. Some notes have dates against them, others are quotes from sermons about the passage or epiphanies I’ve had while reading. I love flicking back through them, remembering moments and what God was doing in my life then. Almost like a journal!
I think you should definitely try it Tamela! Although maybe not in your special one. Get a Bible you don’t mind writing in, even if you buy it just for that purpose, and give it a go!
I would never write in a fiction book (although I do keep a notebook full of quotes from them which have impacted me, all referenced to the book and page) but my reference books/non-fiction are full of notes! I seriously struggle reading reference books as e-books purely because I can’t underline or take notes in them! Plus, it makes it easy to find things again later 🙂
One useful thing I have noticed though in fiction books I’ve borrowed from a friend is that she occasionally writes the dictionary meaning of a word in pencil in the margin if it’s uncommon. I’d never do it myself but it was certainly useful! Saved me the trouble of looking it up!
Yes, Tamela! Start making your books your own! I’ve had a “conversation” with nearly every print book I’ve ever owned–including my Bibles. I love reading the notes again and hope whoever looks at my books after I’ve given them away or after I’m gone will appreciate my comments.
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