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Samael13 t1_jcys4h7 wrote

Reply to comment by TheInvisibleWun2 in to annotate or not annotate? by syd-7846

Why wouldn't you?

I have books that my grandmother owned; when I read them and see her annotations and notes, it makes me feel closer to her. It's nice to have a record of things she thought were important or what she was thinking about when she was reading. I like it when I revisit a book and see reminders of what I was thinking about or what I thought was important.

If you own the book, why wouldn't you underline things that were important to you or make small notes about things you're thinking about?

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TheInvisibleWun2 t1_jcytkrg wrote

Because I know my thoughts. What would I be writing them down for? I remember them. I soak in the experience of the book and enjoy it and move on. This is not an academic exercise for me. It's not work. It's entertainment.

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Samael13 t1_jcyuh98 wrote

That's fine, too; I'm not suggesting that the only way to read books is to annotate them, just explaining why someone would want to. It's cool if that's not how you enjoy them, but making annotations isn't an "academic exercise" for me and it's not extra work, it's just a thing I do sometimes, especially if I'm particularly moved by a book. I read books for entertainment and because I find them informative. I revisit books with some frequency for various reasons, so the annotations are useful and entertaining.

It's not defacing a book if it's your book.

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TheInvisibleWun2 t1_jcz7e4n wrote

I consider it to be defacing a book.. But as you say, to each his own.. If you enjoy making annotations in your books that's perfectly in order.

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