I honestly don't think I have ever written anything down while/after reading a book. My intentions might be good but usually I forget, or can't find a pencil and time or lack of it just gets in the way!

I keep meaning to write quiz answers from TV programs that I would like to know more about but by the end of the show, I have forgotten them mostly!

A sentence that has stuck in my mind was "Those who play God should have God's knowledge." from a revenge mystery novel. I have never written anything down though.

This is interesting to me because my kids (young adults) asked me to write in my books.

GASP!

But they said that if I underline or make notes, every book in my library then becomes more personal. And when THEY read the same books, they will also make notes or underline so then the NEXT generation will have notes and comments from all of us. So we had a discussion... and whilst I will NEVER write, dog-ear, deface, crack spines or otherwise injure an antique book, I am now underlining passages, adding margin notes, etc. to my "regular" books at the behest of my kids.

Not only that, I bought little circle stickers and I now place that sticker on the edge of the page, sticking half of the circle on one side, half on the other, so it looks like a little tab. Because honestly, I like the idea. I think it is kind of fun to consider what future generations may think of my sarcasm or other marginalia as well as the passages or lines that struck me as meaningful enough to underline.

PAM

Pam, that is a lovely idea.

I do not pass books on as no one in my family now reads the books I like. I used to share Sue Graftons with my late daughter. My son hardly reads at all. He works as an entertainer, travels, plays his music and sings instead.

I mostly read library books. Since Book Depository closed I very rarely buy any.

I post my opinions here!

The only time I recall writing in a book was when a friend gave me BossyPants by Tina Fey and we decided to pass it around in our group of friends and let each one jot down remarks ( usually snarky) as they read. It was hilarious to read the remarks that each one of us wrote for the others to enjoy !

I never write in books.

Ten years ago, I would have said the same thing as you, Carolyn, but the last few years I have begun writing in definitions of words I don't recognize, mostly because my fading memory means that even when I look up a word these days, I don't retain the definition. Very annoying! I do use only a soft pencil though, easily erased.

Back to Yoyobon's original post, I don't often follow through on meaningful sentences or quotes, though when I do, I note it in my book log or my journal, and add commentary there on why I thought it significant.

One of the first times I ever wrote in a book was when I discovered my paperback and hardcover copies of a book differed: In Anne McCaffrey's Dragonsinger, Menolly's fire lizard makes a noise that is called 'appalling' in the hardcover and 'appealing' in the softcover. I noted it in the book, but I have never decided which word is the correct one. :)

As a borrower, I once found a long and savage comment in a library book so I gave it to a staff member to clean up. When I next returned a book, I saw a note tucked into my Browne pocket which the staff member read and then carefully checked through my return, obviously looking for marking! I asked to see the note but was denied. I was furious and marched over to the Librarian to point out that it was not me who had written in that other book!

The poor woman's shocked face as I vented! It was not her fault but I was so upset that anyone would think I would desecrate a library book!