The article discusses the evolving habits of a new generation of readers who creatively merge the pristine treatment of books with the expressive art of marginalia. While traditional readers often choose to keep their books untouched, many are now marking their books with annotations, tabs, and personal commentary in a style that reflects their aesthetic tastes. This trend is particularly popular on social media platforms like BookTok and Bookstagram, where users proudly showcase their reading processes and colorful, detailed annotations, making reading a more personalized and visually appealing experience.
There are two kinds of readers: those who would choose death before dog-ears, keeping their beloved volumes as pristine as possible, and those whose books bear the marks of a life well read.
A new generation of readers are finding a way to combine both approaches: reviving the art and romance of marginalia, transforming their books and reading experiences into #aesthetic artifacts.
Some BookTokkers have complex colour-coding systems (pink tabs and highlighters for romantic moments, blue for foreshadowing) or rules that are simply aesthetically pleasing.
For some, annotation is as essential now as sharing shelfies or writing reviews.
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