The main idea that Old Books, New Histories impressed upon me is that book history is a very diverse field of study. One’s interests and areas of expertise can take them in seemingly endless directions in this field. As one continues to read Howsman’s book, it becomes clear that book history is not one specific thing; it can be looked at from many different angles. I think it is important to note how often Howsman stresses that book history is an interdisciplinary field. The discipline of History, for example, cannot come close to encompassing everything that is important about book history, but neither can literary studies or bibliography. Each field has viable and important ideas, which together begin to form a cohesive grasp on the history of the book. And even then there are new way to look to look at the subject. Howsman hints at studying the history of the book from an anthropological perspective, for example.
Much of this diversity in perspectives can be explained by the history of the book being a relatively recent development as an individual academic discipline. Unlike English literature, with its “canon” to be followed or rebelled against, there is no set path for book history. This makes the field intriguing, and even exciting, to people of many disciplines and interests. Perhaps there are entirely new ways of studying book history that no one has yet thought about! But it also makes the study somewhat frustrating, especially to a novice. There were certainly points of Howsman’s book that I found difficult, mostly because the scope of the information was so wide-ranging that I had a hard time taking it all in. Sometimes I felt that I really could not get a good grasp on what book history actually is!
On a lighter note, I found the parts about reading the notes that people had written in their copies of a particular book extremely fascinating. I have always liked to read people’s scribbled notes in books I pick up at used book sales, or in ancient copies of classic books I check out from the library. It is a sort of insight into other people’s points of view, almost like reading a review. Who knew this could be of interest to actual scholars? (Then again, what isn’t interesting to some scholar somewhere?) All the same, maybe someday someone will look to my battered copy of Jane Eyre for scholarly insight…
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Reading the last paragraph of your blog, I couldn't help but recall a habit of mine when reading a book filled with someone else’s notes in the margins. I simply avoid them until I have read the entire page they are written on because I find it influences my initial reading of the text. I begin to adopt the thoughts of the previous reader as they read and understood the material. This is not necessarily a good or bad thing, but I just find it to be a distraction and prefer a book that does not have any notes in the margins and definitely no highlighter markings. I compare this to watching a critique of a film before seeing the actual film. It gives me expectations of the film that I might not have had originally had I not been previously exposed to the critique. For the lack of a better word, it simply taints the movie for me. Because each reader’s background is different, it is natural to have preconceived notions about the author and certain expectations of the book. I just prefer that initial "conversation" with the author to be exclusive and private. I do have to admit though, curiosity always gets the best of me and I end up reading notes in the margins rite before I move on to the next page. I'm curious to know if anyone else shares my sentiments. Also, I speak for myself when I say that you’re not alone in not fully grasping book history, but at least we have the rest of the semester to figure it out.
ReplyDeleteGhyath
I found your last paragraph quite interesting especially because I cannot bring myself to either write in a book, or if I am reading a used book, to read the notes made by others. I almost feel as if I am bound to be disappointed by what others have thought of the book which I am reading because it is bound to be different than how I perceived it originally. I also feel as if I might be influenced by others' thoughts and I will no longer be able to think of something as I did originally. I also think this may be why I am never as fond of movies which have been based off of books since the movie never portrays things as I had imagined them when reading the book, and like most people, I find my own version infinitely better.
ReplyDeleteJulianne, sister, I couldn't agree with you more about the importance (in most cases) of what is often written in the margins, and on the inside covers of books. That was one of the points I made in my first blog entry as well, but as it also applies to personal relationships, and how they may relate to the text also.
ReplyDeleteI know that one of the most revolutionary things that Martin Luther--for instance--did, was ask for Biblical texts whose margins were free of all of the Church fathers' dogmatic comments, so that Luther's students could write in the margins. That seems directly related to the aforementioned passage from Howsam's book.
On a quick note regarding our class "discussion" last week. It turned into some kind of harangue about Howsam's writing, instead of dealing with the content. I felt bad for Dr. Maruca at one point, because it seemed like she was having to play some kind of referee or something. It was only our second class, and I think some people need to remember that there simply is no short way around some things--especially in "academia." Which I guess, is the whole point...I guess...
Scott
You know, I meant to mention, in regards to things people write in many of the textbooks one buys, that in general, I avoid any and all books that other students have written in or overly highlighted in, because, for the most part, I have found that it simply shows how little people generally pay attention or grasp what they are studying.
ReplyDeleteI admit, I am a bit of an asshole about stuff like this, but when one sits in a classroom, there are generally plenty of people just halfheartedly going through the academic motions, and to have these people's incoherent notes and highlighting distracting me, is something I generally avoid.
Scott