Under normal circumstances I'm a bit of a library fascist. I hate when people write their notes on library books, I hate when people underline bits of library books. Frankly, I hate when people do it to their own books but I'm willing to admit that perhaps they can do what they like with their own property. People often tell me it's the easiest way to take notes, and that they use pencil, which they then rub out afterwards; I'm not convinced and I can see the pencil even after it has been erased.
There is one fantastic exception to the rule: when the comments are funny. Over the years I've had the great privilege of reading the cynical and snide remarks of many a reader, and I love it. Today is a special day because I think I've found the best one of them all. I'm reading Middle English Lyrics edited by Luria and Hoffman. Each section takes its title from the first poem in that section. So, section three is entitled: 'I have a gentil cok'. What did our glosser say right beside it?
"That's what they all say".
If you've come across any better scribbles than this, please let me know in the comments box below.
PS: I dog-ear library books. Is that worse?
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1 comment:
I can't at the moment think of a funnier comment written in a library book, but I share your disdain for the practice.
I often find the most ridiculous (and misspelled, and grammatically incorrect, and just plain wrong) notes written in some mysteries I check out of my local library. Which leads me to consider this: the idiot writing these comments has the same taste as I do. What does that say about me?
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