Okay, so I’m spending my evening doing what all (slacking/procrastinating) writers are doing…blog hopping! And I discovered the Avon editors’ group blog, aptly titled Avon Romance Blog.
June 11’s entry caught my eye. Titled “For Book Lovers”, it spoke to me, perhaps because I am (of course) a book lover. Have been since I was a little girl.
My faves: Nancy Drew, Little House books, college psychology textbooks, Fairytales…the list goes on. I’d read anything. I was a book carp.
Some things haven’t changed, but I digress…
The blog entry turns out to be about a collection of published essays by Anne Fadiman. Evidently, she has determined there are exactly two types of book lovers, those who are “Courtly” and those who are “Carnal”.
According to the Avon blog’s summary (I haven’t read the essay so I am relying on their synopsis), Courtly book lovers do not dog-ear books or break the spine. They wouldn’t write in a book or rip out a page. (I know someone like this–her books are arranged by author and then alphabetized by title.)
On the other hand, Carnal book lovers don’t bother with bookmarks and break the spine at will. They might use a book as a coaster, or if needed, use a couple to prop up a piece of furniture missing a leg.
Me? I confess (as my entry’s title suggests), I am a Carnal book lover. My books are well-used and well-loved. I sleep with them. I lose them in the creases between the couch cushions. I read them while I eat and leave the occasional smear on a page. A small stack of hardcover books prop up my son’s tippy desk.
The shame.
So, tell me, what about you? Are you a Courtly or Carnal book lover? I will be drawing a winner from those who respond. The prize? A print proof of my September release, “Sex and the Single Ghost” and a signed cover flat.
Good luck!
-
I think I’m somewhere inbetween. I’d never write in one of my books or tear a page out. BUT, I’ve been known on ocassion, a very rare ocassion, to turn over the corner to mark my page. This is usually because the bookmark has fallen somewhere and I can’t find it when I need it. I do break the spine. Can’t help it. It’s too tough to read into the corner.
by KimW
on July 18th, 2006 at 6:32 am
-
Carnal. I’m not so much about turning the covers, but I do leave them out open-faced, use them as coasters, have them nestled next to me in the covers, break the spine without a second thought. I know there are smudges of chocolate in several of them. I haven’t written in them, and definitely haven’t ripped out a page, but my books get manhandled LOL.
by Stacy ~
on July 18th, 2006 at 6:41 am
-
A little bit of both, I think. I cringe when I see someone turn a corner down, even in a catalog. And I TRY not to break the spine if I can help it. But my books are well-loved and an important part of my life. I have been known to drop one on the bed beside me at night when I’m reading and get sleepy. There are definitely food smudges from eating while I’m reading but nothing too messy.
by Cheryl S.
on July 18th, 2006 at 7:02 am
-
Definitely carnal…however, I don’t trash them out. I take a book along with me everywhere. I’ve got one or two in my purse and in my car’s glove compartment. Over the years with 4 children and a husband who’s always late…I find myself constantly waiting…. So I’m always well prepared to read. I never eat while I read, so no food stains. My greatest sin… I write my initials in every book so I know I’ve read it.
by Laurie G
on July 18th, 2006 at 7:07 am
-
Definitely a courtly book lover. I really treasure my books and I hate nothing more than dog ears or smudges of chocolate etc.. But my keeper shelves or TBR moutain are not arranged by alphetical order, but the genres.
by Danny
on July 18th, 2006 at 7:38 am
-
sits down on the Carnal bench
I’m not uber-carnal. Now if you’re talking about hardbacks, that’s a different story. I don’t have many but they’re in pristine condition. But a paperback by nature is just so easy to stuff in your purse and once it’s in that black hole, no telling what will happen to it. :mrgreen:
by Marilyn
on July 18th, 2006 at 8:42 am
-
I’d have to be a carnal book lover. I’ve dropped books in the bathtub, read them at the beach and they now have sand between the pages, I love to break the spine (easier to hold), I dog ear pages.
Now if they are hardcover or library books, I am especially careful.
My favorites go on my keeper shelves - the others go to relatives, friends, or are donations to the library.
by Sandra M.
on July 18th, 2006 at 9:01 am
-
I usually will try to keep my books in good condition…which is I think b/c of the way I have found some really destroyed library books!!
Side note: if you are going to borrow a book, do not eat cheetos!! If you saw the condition of a certain book I found you all would understand..LOL
by Kathleen
on July 18th, 2006 at 9:01 am
-
I try to take great care with my books, no marks of any kind if I can help it. I use a book marker when reading. When I have finished a book I will put a tiny star sticker on the bottom outside of spline. I can tell at a glance in my book shelves if I have read the book & it will come off without harm to the book. I know I have tried it. It is a system that works great for me. I don’t have to pick the book up and look inside to see if I have read it or not. I used to put my initials in the book before I found the stickers.
by Tammy G.
on July 18th, 2006 at 9:08 am
-
A carnal book lover. I don’t eat when I read, so no food stains, but I have been know to dog ear the page. I try not to break the spine when I am reading a book. On hardbacks, I try to remember to use a bookmark or something to bookmark the page. I don’t write in my books at all.
by Amy S.
on July 18th, 2006 at 10:04 am
-
Growl! I’m carnal. I don’t like to buy books with messed up covers. And to dog ear a page? That’s communism! HAHA! But, if I’m really into a book, and it takes a while to read, the spine gets messed up. If I read it fast, you can’t tell it’s ever been read.
I collect ARCs, and when I read those, I’m very careful not to mess them up in any way, shape, or form.
by Melissa
on July 18th, 2006 at 10:53 am
-
i am both. when i want a book so badly i don’t care the condition. but sometims if it smells like cigarettes i won’t get it.
by KIM H
on July 18th, 2006 at 11:36 am
-
A bit of both. I won’t dog-ear a page or write in a book. (Post its are great for comments.) I do stuff in my purse (and black hole is a great description) and I often read and eat at the same time.
by Joyce
on July 18th, 2006 at 11:49 am
-
I am for sure a courtly book lover. My books are all in very good condition, nicely placed on the shelves in somewhat alphabetical order. I loan them out and tell whoever borrows them the *rules* and ask if they need a bookmark. There are a few people I refuse to loan out books to because they are very carnal booklovers…hehe! Sometimes I’ll pick up a book from a UBS and its in awful condition, but I really wanted it….later however, I’ll exchange it for a better looking copy. If I carry a book around with me it goes into a kind of book cover, if I can find it..hehe!! Yep, courtly is my name!!:lol:
by Valerie Bongards
on July 18th, 2006 at 1:17 pm
-
I’m somewhere in between. Paperbacks are so easy to carry with you that mine get slid between the console and my seat to have at hand when I’m stopped in traffic, or waiting on husband. I always have bookmarks to use so no dogearring the pages, and I try really hard not to crease the spine. However, all my keepers are by author and alphabetized by title so I can find one quickly for a reread. And I’ve learned there are certain friends who do not take care of books and they will never borrow from me again!
by Lisa F.
on July 18th, 2006 at 1:27 pm
-
I’m a courtly book lover! I take good care of my books. I would never, never bend or tear a page or write in them. They are all in order so I always know where to find them. If I get a used book somewhere, it bothers me if it isn’t in good condition!
by Carol
on July 18th, 2006 at 1:53 pm
-
I’m a Carnal book lover, I try to be gentle with my books. But they always end up with bent corners and pages, smears and smudges. I leave them laying around open, spill my soda on them. And they are stacked everywhere, jammed into over filled book shelves. I have more books than space for them, but I can’t bear to get rid of them. :)
by Julie
on July 18th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
-
OMG! Tawny - you saw for yourself how precise my books are. My goodness I have run out of bookshelves and room for bookshelves so now I’ve devised a system where they are filed alphabetically in bankers boxes and stacked. Everybody knows here that if they read one of my books, it better come back in great condition or guess what? You now own it and have to replace it. Wow! I never realised I was particular about much but I am definitely courtly about my books. And I can’t imagine getting rid of any great books so I don’t know what the heck I’m going to do when my house is overtaken with books. It’s my only vice, really!!!
I was lucky enough to meet Tawny at a booksigning earlier this year and she is even more beautiful (inside and out) than her picture. It was such a fun time meeting you Tawny. And I hear there are 4 authors heading to Michigan this weekend. I have to see if I can cover myself to get there.
I would LOVE to win your book! So shake those names good! hehe!!!
by Debbie Ellison
on July 18th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
-
I’m a courtly book lover :)
I hate it when my book’s spine starts to crease. This happens when I fall in love with a book and keep re-reading it :D I don’t mind so much if I buy a used book and it’s not in good condition, I just wouldn’t make it worse. I love my books and sometimes, if I feel one of my books is just so worn out, I’ll buy another copy. One to re-read and one to have on my bookshelf…silly I know 
by Ali
on July 18th, 2006 at 3:08 pm
-
I’m definitely a courtly book lover. In fact, if I have an out of print book I like, I’ve been known to buy a less-bruised copy when I find it at a used bookstore. I’ve bought three or four copies of a book with this method, getting one in better shape each time.
by Alyssa
on July 18th, 2006 at 3:21 pm
-
I’m having so much fun reading these responses! The Carnal book lovers were outnumbering the Courtly book lovers for a while there, but I think they’re catching up.
And Debbie…you’re a sweetheart to say that :) You have the most adorable Canadian accent :D
I do hope you’ll be able to make it this weekend! We’re going to have a great time! I LOVE book signings!
by Tawny Taylor
on July 18th, 2006 at 3:35 pm
-
I have to admit I am a carnal book reader. I even carry my book shopping—you never know when your car might break down and you will need something to read while waiting for help.
by Estella Kissell
on July 18th, 2006 at 3:54 pm
-
BTW, Lisa F., that’s why I HATE borrowing books from anyone. I’d much rather buy my own copy. More enjoyment. Less guilt.
by Tawny Taylor
on July 18th, 2006 at 4:14 pm
-
I am carnal book reader. I turn down pages, lay books open on a table and have found books between the couch cushions.
by Crystal B.
on July 18th, 2006 at 4:14 pm
-
I’m defnitely a carnal lover! The better the book-the more carnal it gets. Turned down corners, water logged pages (from reading in the tub), and chocolate fingerprints are my personal “seals of approval”. Anyone can look at my books and tell which ones I couldn’t put down!
by Jennifer L.
on July 18th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
-
I am more of a courtly reader than a carnal one. I am usually very careful with my books and use bookmarks and don’t break the spine. If a book gets marks or bends it is usually an accident.
by Cherie Japp
on July 18th, 2006 at 5:15 pm
-
Carnal book lover! :)
by Cynthia Willingham
on July 18th, 2006 at 7:21 pm
-
Courtly. :)
by Jenny
on July 18th, 2006 at 7:37 pm
-
I’m in between, veering more towards carnal. I’ve been known to dog-ear the corner if a bookmark’s not handy and sometimes write my initials inside the front. Can’t help bending the spine some with paperbacks today, when the print is too close to it. I don’t rip out pages or write all over the book, and maybe once in awhile that chocolate that melted on my fingers might smudge a page, lol.
Can’t wait for to read this one, Tawny.
by Pam P.
on July 18th, 2006 at 8:04 pm
-
I am surely a carnal booklover! However, I try very hard not to dog-ear pages or break spines! I do eat, sleep (have woken up more than once with cover stuck to various parts of my anatomy!), drive and work with my books!
It drive my DH crazy…I have them everywhere!
by Angie
on July 18th, 2006 at 9:03 pm
-
If it is a book from an author that I KNOW will be a “keeper” I am most definitely courtly with it. Otherwise I’m a carnal reader.
by Jennifer
on July 18th, 2006 at 9:17 pm
-
Carnal:oops:..I’d like to think that I was courtly, but really I hardly ever use a bookmark (they fall out) and I often step on mine since they are piled everywhere beside my bed!
by Samantha
on July 18th, 2006 at 10:25 pm
-
CARNAL. Not to the point where they’re trashed, but that’s usually because it doesn’t take me long to read them. I don’t dog-ear pages, but I’ll underline or highlight. I use bookmarks because I have kids who’ll pick them up and I’d lose my place!
-
Hello Tawny,
I am definitely a courtly book lover. I love my books with all my heart. I would hate to see something happen to them or get bend or something happen to them. I would scream my head off if something was to ever happen to my books
I love this cover and this book sounds so good.
Linda.H.
by Linda
on July 18th, 2006 at 11:59 pm
-
I am a book fanatic, my book collection will definately grow to a pile I will never be able to read in this lifetime.:D
by Joyce W
on July 19th, 2006 at 4:09 am
-
Well, i’d have to say i’m a little of both. Probably more on the courtly side. LOL. I use bookmarks most of the time. I have been known to bend the corner of a page if I don’t have a bookmark handy. I usually always bend the spine, how could you not?
I have to say I haven’t used a book to prop up anything though, oh the sacrilage of it. hee hee!
by Earlene
on July 19th, 2006 at 8:51 am
-
I’m a carnal book lover.:mrgreen:
by Susan
on July 19th, 2006 at 10:25 am
-
I’m a courtly book lover!:D
by Minna
on July 19th, 2006 at 11:48 am
-
Congratulations to Sandra M. (post #7)! You are the winner of the print proof of Sex and the Single Ghost.
Please email me at tawnytaylor@sbcglobal.net to claim your prize!
by Tawny Taylor
on July 19th, 2006 at 12:11 pm
-
Congrats Sandra! You lucky girl
by Danny
on July 19th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
-
wtg sandra
by KIM H
on July 19th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
-
Congrats Sandra!
by Carol
on July 19th, 2006 at 1:47 pm
-
Congratulations Sandra!
by Cheryl S.
on July 19th, 2006 at 4:56 pm
-
YaY!!! Congrad’s Sandra Lucky Girl :mrgreen: Happy Reading
Linda.H.
by Linda
on July 21st, 2006 at 4:10 am
