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October 05, 2009
Book covers
bookcover made from sparkly fabric remnant, originally uploaded by ofenjen.
Man, I'm on a school kick today lately. One of the most irritating things, to me, about high school was how the authorities made everyone put covers on their books.
Unlike this fancy one - click the link to read more about its construction - my book covers consisted of brown or white paper, unscientifically folded to cover as much space as possible, thereby protecting the book from the harsh environs of my backpack.
Now I, unfortunately, am an incorrigible doodler. I doodle over everything. It was no surprise, then, that the blank book cover was like manna from heaven for me. Here I had something to scribble on all year - a doodle could achieve a level of intricacy that a notebook doodle simply could not, if only because notebook pages must be turned every few minutes.
Yet, I always hated book covers. They were a hassle to make. They stripped the book of its distinguishing characteristics. Most importantly, I didn't want to cover the books because the school was making us. There is no greater futile struggle than to get a detention or fine for something as meaningless as an uncovered book. It was my way of sticking it to the man - along with untucked shirts and facial hair, the classic Catholic school form of rebellion.
entry no. 1408
Posted at October 5, 2009 03:51 PM