A corollary pet peeve: people who fold back the spines of books

[Orrex]

I have a friend who does this with every paperback he reads, whether its his or a library edition or a loaner from a friend. When I caught him doing it, I was aghast and went out my way to make him feel like an asshole.

He took it in comparatively good humor, but he was sincerely baffled; it had never occurred to him that such monstrous behavior isn't the expected norm.


So we shook hands and settled our differences, and then I hit him with an atomic pile-driver, shattering his spine. "See how it feels?" I roared.

[Dr. Strange]

1. Was one of the books about professional wrestling?

'Cause I think the irony would be an awesome addition to your tale.

[Orrex]

2. Actually, it was a book about chiropractic

About 5% was non-fiction, and 95% was fictional fluff-filler. Now that's some spine-shattering irony!

[Connonym]

3. Me too, drives me bonkers!

Every time a book spine cracks it makes a kitten cry

[Sequoia]

4. I hate it when hard back spine's are broken too.

I checked a book from the library and couldn't read it because it was in such bad shape. The librarian said the libray in Mendocino was too poor to fix things. And dog eared pages. Hate it too.

[LisaM]

5. I know. I prefer that my books look unread when I've finished them

I'm totally SERIES!!!! I hate when people mangle my books. I even put my bus books in plastic bags so they don't get scuffed. Of course, I tend to re-read. Maybe it's the use it and lose it crowd who has no thought for this.

[tigereye]

6. my husband kvetches at me about this...

I think it's because books were more precious where he grew up.

[bigwillq]

7. I ruin books

when I read them..I just can't help it. I like the books to be very flexible.

[mike_c]

8. I'm with you-- I'm a book-o-phile in the most perverted sense....

I mean, I read books, of course, but I also just like to FEEL them, to hold them, to caress their creamy end papers and grasp their stiff boards, to experience their silky heft and the crisp sound of pages being revealed. 'Scuze me, it's getting warm in here.

I'm only half kidding though. Books are compelling objects for me. I like to respect them when I'm done with them.