This book terrifies and excites me all at the same time.
chronic book buyer, an avid reader, college student, ULTIMATE book lover, into trying new things
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| Cons |
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AUG
12
2008
The first page is easy. Write your name in a bunch of random ways (in white, in large letters, illegibly, etc). Ok, this is fine. A couple of pages later, I am told to do something that I'm not sure if I can do. CRACK THE SPINE. Are you kidding? The hours I have spent in libraries being scolded, and then scolding others when it was my turn behind that desk, that that is how you ruin a book! It's possible that my own spine cracked as I sheepishly obeyed. It gets worse. Much worse. But for one, I don't want to ruin the surprise. Second, it might make me weep.
Clearly, I am feeling a little put-off by the text. I knew this would happen, though. The name sort of states the obvious. It's my own response that is making me so nervous. I LOVE IT. The feeling of taking a precious item, in theory, and following what it says, to wreck it, is...freeing. The book is not asking but demanding that I do as it says. It wants the pages to be numbered out of order and by you. It wants you to carry it everywhere and cover it with chewed food, stab it with your pencil, and even tape it up and mail it to yourself.
Normally with a book, I like to look through it, get a feel for the chapters, page layouts, etc. With this book, I can't and I even tried! There is nothing about me that wants to rush through this. Instead, I want to carry it with me all over, use the pages to jot notes on during class while students look-on with sheer exasperation (but we all know it's jealousy as well. I am the one destroying one of the things that takes so much of our money but that, in its other forms, is truly precious to us). I want to break this book, tear it limb from limb (page by page) and feel horrified with myself. I want to see the final product: ragged, smelly, bent and out of shape, nowhere near as nice as it is right now.
Is it worth it to pay money for something to destroy? It seems like a loud, resounding "NO" is the right answer here but for me...that's not the case. This is fascinating and freeing while also being structured and confining. It lets me break away from my legitimately-labeled obsession with books and other such paper products and to feel creative. I keep thinking about the concept of the "book" and wanting to possess other ones in that I am possessing this one (meaning scribble all over the pages on purpose).
Basically, guys, just do it. You know you want to. For one reason, it's a fun activity (activities). This is going to take you a while to finish and if you try to do one or two each day, you'll feel rebellious. It's scary, sure, but so much fun. Whether you love or hate books, just give it a shot. This is a pure experiment of creativity and destruction for you to do on your own. You don't have to share (you can if you want, even more destructive!) but get your inner our outer book nerd some attention. Just let it out. Don't shhhhhhhhhhhhh. Don't not bend the spine. Don't not dog ear the pages. Don't not spill food all over. Do it all and have a blast doing it.
Buy this book; Wreck this journal.
Last edited on Aug 23, 2009
Wreck This Journal - To Create is to Destroy is recommended by richelmore
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