Hey guys, today I’m coming at you with a new Discussions category on my blog which I’ve decided to call Book Vices. In this discussion feature, I am planning on talking about the controversial side of reading. By that I mean the things that we either don’t like to talk about when it comes to reading, or I’ll try to tackle the topics we tend to trash people for, hence today’s topic: Annotating books.
Let me know if you enjoy this type of discussion and want to see more of it. Or, better yet, let me know if you annotate your books!
TABBING
Of all the annotating hate I really don’t understand this one – apart from maybe the aesthetic Bookstagram photos I really don’t understand the hate for tabs. I just find it so much easier when I’m writing reviews or want to go back to a scene to re-read. I’m genuinely curious, is it a vain aesthetic thing or do you not tab your ebooks either?
I really love tabbing my books – physical, ebook or audio. I think it actually looks really cool when you see the physical product once a book has been fully tabbed. I think it shows that I loved my book or at least that I had a lot of thoughts or opinions on the book. I have always tried to keep my books in good condition so tabbing my books is my sort of way to show outwardly, without cracking open the pages, that I have really loved a book.
Also, come on, tabbing helps out so much whenever I want to go re-read a book or scene and even when writing reviews. So, besides photos and a clean aesthetic, I don’t see why anyone would have a problem with tabbing books.
WRITING
In a way, I do understand this, because what if you end up giving the book away or unhauling it? But, isn’t it sort of cool to be able to access your thoughts from the moment you were reading the words on the page. I would love to be able to read what I was thinking the first time I read Harry Potter or Twilight or Stalking Jack The Ripper!
But, does not writing in books also extend to not getting books signed if you’re given the chance? I don’t know if I could live with that, I love getting my books signed and getting to meet authors.
I am still easing into writing in my books, but from what I’ve done so far, I am really enjoying it. I plan on picking up Twilight soonish so I think I might fully annotate the book throughout the whole month and then pick it up every 5-10 years and annotate just so I can see what my thoughts are. I am also annotating my audio copies of Harry Potter as I read them throughout the year and I am really enjoying it because I missed so much when I was younger!
FOLDING PAGES
I understand this one to a point. I’ll admit that I generally don’t fold the pages in my books. But, hey, if I don’t have any spare paper of any books marks with me, then yeah I’ll fold the page. The only thing that would stop me from doing this is if I was borrowing the book from a friend.
I understand the argument for this one. Why not just use a bookmark? Maybe because I don’t have one or because I’m too lazy. Either way, I think the argument is pretty simple: It’s my book and I’ll do what I want. #Hatersgonnahate
DO YOU ANNOTATE YOUR BOOKS?
DO YOU WANT TO SEE MORE BOOK VICES DISCUSSIONS?
HAVE HAVE 
allonsythornraxx 
I didn’t know that people hate tabbed books??? I think it’s a good alternative to annotating, because it doesn’t damage the book permanently. I do that, especially when I’m reading such an amazing book. For me, I never write in books because it makes the book felt too personal for me. I can’t ever get rid of it because it’s literally a piece of my mind and I don’t like buying secondhand books that have annotations too because it just ruins my reading experience reading what the previous owner think of the book. Interesting post Ellyn!
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I know, somehow it’s a thing! Exactly, if there’s a book you can’t write in or highlight, you can just tab away! I totally understand that I think I would have wanted to have already read if I was going to read a stranger’s annotations. I will admit, that I generally only write in a book I think I will definitely keep because I know that I wouldn’t want to buy a book with someone else’s thoughts in it.
Thank you! ❤️❤️
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I love annotating my books! I prefer to just write in them versus using tabs. It’s so fun to go back years later and see all of the thoughts you had the first time reading a book. I don’t bend the pages, I know it doesn’t make sense since I do write in my books, but I just can’t bring myself to crease the pages!
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Exactly, I think it makes a re-read so much more fun!
Haha, I can understand that Bending the pages isn’t for everyone, in fact, I’m not allowed to do it around my mother because it annoys her too much.
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There’s just something about a fresh crisp page
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How can someone even hate tabbing? Seriously! It’s like the BEST THING EVER. Especially if you write reviews on them. They’re such a big help.. Not to mention all the quotes you forget about if you don’t tab them. [Unless you immediately right them down but when I tried that, I was pulled out of the story because of it and that was.. meh.]
As for the annotating.. I did it once and it felt SO weird, haha. I did it in a book I own two copies of though, so no harm done. I think. Maybe if I ever get famous I can do a giveaway for it and people will be all over the place to read my initial thoughts on Throne of Glass. 😛
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I know! It’s absurd! Exactly, tabbing is such a help when you’re reviewing a book! Haha, I feel the same way, if I’m going to annotate, I do prefer to do so with a book I own multiple copies of so. The Giver, A Wrinkle in Time, Harry Potter etc. Haha, I love that. Either way, I think it would be sort of cool to read a book with someone else’s thoughts inside! Keep it on your shelves for when you’re super mega famous!
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I USED to tab my books, but then I realized that the disorganized person in me looses all my sticky notes, so I stopped buying them since I’m wasting money. D: I still bookmark and highlight parts of ebooks, though, since I do love going back to scenes I loved. 🙂 I’ve only ever written on books for school, and only fold pages accidentally… #clutz Thanks for sharing, Ellyn! (Can I just say I LOVE your name!)
– Aimee @ Aimee, Always
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Haha, I know that feeling, I actually had to specify a whole shelf in my desk divider just to my tabs because I kept leaving them everywhere around my house. I love tabbing my ebooks,I find it so much easier!
Thank you so much (No one has ever loved my name before and I am in shock THANK YOU!) ❤️❤️
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i used to be careful enough with books not to even bend the spines! but then i finally realised that annotating or tabbing or whatever else a person wants to do, just shows how much they love the book???
i usually just highlight lines i like & tab them but im working my way up to actually write in the margins lmao
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Haha, I’m still trying to convince myself that it’s okay to crack spines so I understand that lol! Exactly, I think it’s a great way to show how much you loved a book – especially if you ever get to meet the author and show them.
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oh yeah definitely!!!! but it’s also so hard to fight against all those years when u used to think u cant even touch a book without metaphorical white gloves on lmao
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I love tabbing, but I just can’t fold pages. I sometimes remember to write few notes in my books, but I’m super forgetful about actually doing it!
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Haha, I know how you feel, I’m not an annotating pro so I don’t have a pencil case with me everywhere I go and often don’t remember to go back and highlight but, I swear I’ll get there one day! Often I will have to go into the book with the intention of annotating it so I actually remember to bring my pen!
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Oh I loved that you talked about this topic! I have recently gotten into tabbing my books and it’s the absolute best thing! I love color coding so I can easily find scenes and reread my favorite quotes of the book 🙂 I also sometimes take notes in my books, I’ve only done it twice though and that only for very specific books 🙂
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I’m glad you enjoyed it! I love tabbing but I can understand how it messes with people’s aesthetic. Though, I still think they should do it…
I haven’t been writing in my books lately, mainly because I’ve been reading library books or listening on audio, but I still love the practice!
Happy annotating! 💖
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I’m not that bothered by tabs, I actually think that they look pretty impressive, especially if you use many 😀 Writing in books isn’t something I’ll do in every book, but maybe once in a while 🙂
Thank you 😀 💖
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My biggest problem with annotation is I never know what to write! I really wanted to get into writing in my books for a while, especially when I was rereading some of my favorites that I will probably keep rereading for years, but I always felt silly just writing thoughts down. I underlined a couple of great quotes and wrote down some theories for how the series may end but do you have any other tips?
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Haha, I get that! If I’m annotating for school I will stick to a more analytic view, but if I’m annotating for fun I will just write down any thoughts I have about the characters or plot. Like, if I like a quote I’ll highlight it but, if I think a character said something dumb or made a big mistake I’ll probably write something like this: WHAT????!?!?!?
If you think it’s a book you’re going to continue to re-read maybe each time you write down your thoughts you could change your pen colour? Or, you could do a group annotation and get friends or other bloggers to annotate the same copy of a book.
Honestly, you should annotate however you feel most comfortable and there’s definitely nothing wrong with experimenting with different styles, you could try writing, highlighting (and colour coding?) and tabbing your books and see if you come up with a particular style, you could also try drawing scenes on the pages if you’re artistically inclined.
Honestly, I love that you write down your theories because that’s going to be a lot of fun to read when you go back and re-read the series!
Just remember, it’s not silly to write down your thoughts, it’s just a really fun way to personalise the story to you and to show how you felt about the book at the point you read it. Personally, I love it when you have differing opinions on a book, for example, every time I read Pride and Prejudice I have a different opinion on Mr Darcy. It’s stuff like that, that makes annotating so worthwhile!
Happy annotating, Emma! 💕💕
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