Marginalia

Well, this isn’t really about marginalia – which is one of my favorite topics – but about inscriptions in books (another fascination – this site, for example, is like crack cocaine to someone like me) . “Please don’t steal my book, mkay?”

I love it. Messages to potential thieves in Revolutionary era Boston books. The bit about the dude who wrote “Here I place my name, since I don’t want to lose this book; If anyone steals it, he will be hanged by the neck.” growing up to be the last Royal Chief Justice of Massachusetts is great!! Already proclaiming sentences on criminals as a schoolboy.

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8 Responses to Marginalia

  1. Jaquandor says:

    What an amazing site! I’m a fixture at my local library’s quarterly used book sales, and I always look for inscriptions in my purchases. This is crack cocaine to me, too. Thanks for posting this!

  2. Debra W says:

    Hi Sheila,

    I wanted to stop by to thank you for your very kind comment about my post on Pioneer Woman’s blog.

    Your writing’s are fascinating, so I can see that you understand what I was trying to say about using your own voice. I truly do not understand how people think that they have the right to censor someone else’s voice, just because they are not comfortable with what is being said. As a writer, I am sure that you have experienced what it is like to have someone else try to redirect your ideas in a way that better suits their needs. Like I told Ree, don’t ever allow someone to tell you what you should or should not write about. You are a unique, extraordinary human being, and you have a voice and a way of telling stories that is individual to you. Don’t ever allow anyone to stifle that.

    As for your saying that I am your hero, your words truly humble me. Thank you. Keep writing about things that are meaningful to you. Your voice is strong and clear!

    Hugs,
    Debbie

  3. red says:

    Oh Debbie – my gosh, you are most welcome. That was an insane conversation, and it grated me from the beginning. Not the “prudes” or “non-prudes” – but the basic PROPRIETARY feeling people were taking towards her blog. Like: the story should go MY way or I won’t feel comfortable.

    Like – what???? She’s writing about her own love story. Which has already occurred. What on earth are these people bitching about??

    Anyway, your voice was calm, rational, kind – and you took the side of her art, her “voice” – and I thought it was so great.

    I’m so glad you stopped by!!

  4. red says:

    Jaquandor – I know, I know – crack cocaine, right??? I haven’t even scratched the surface of that site, but man, I love it!

    Thanks for the link to my Dakota post the other day, by the way.

  5. Tropicalia its my favorite topic…
    Well… when i have money to buy a book (yes… I am a poor brazilian… its unnormal buy books in brazil… cose if u have money u buy if u dont have u use the public library and pray to find ur book – to find Henry Miller… forget) i kill who touch in my books… if someone wrote any stuff in my book… to say the true i cry… :(
    So… ah… ok… i remember what about i was thinking…
    this is the part that i say that u write “wonderfuly” (tired to use google translate), i love ur stile… blabalbalblabla…
    and sorry my poor english…
    bye…

    by the way… are u real?

  6. Sheila Pithan asked, “by the way… are u real?”

    Ah, is a daydream real? A feeling you’re standing on the edge of a startling new discovery? Sheila O’Malley is real enough but elusive enough that us mere mortals can only gaze up in awe and wonderment at all that is … uh… um… variated here. That’s gotta be a word right?

    And her “about me” picture has got to be one of the coolest on the web.

    By the way, I love inscriptions in books. I have tons of old books picked up at thrift stores that are filled with fascinating tidbits, sometimes whole letters. Great site you linked to. Thanks.

  7. red says:

    sheila – yes, dear, I am real – and I thank you for your compliment about my writing. Your English is fine!

    And I feel the same way. I will kill anyone who “touches in my books”. I alone am allowed to write in them, should I desire! Nobody else!!

  8. red says:

    Jonathan – it’s amazing what the iPhoto Booth can do. In that particular photo you mention – i was wearing flannel pajamas and slippers – but I put on my Gibson Girl hat and snapped away. Hilarity ensued in a completely solitary way.

    I’m glad, by the way, that we have discovered each other’s blogs. You’re something special, too.

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