I have come across this unusual idea in a very unusual manner. Like many bookworms, I was against the idea of defiling books in any form… and then I discovered its much easier to find quotes in a book if such quotes are highlighted*. And so started my rebellion against pristine books.
From highlighting I went onto writing* my own personal notes in the margins, and I find that those notes usually still hold true, even four and five years later. But it still never occured to me to actually do more to the books. Then I was offered the option of “decorating” a book for extra credit in a class. She showed me an example.
I was both intrigued and apalled that anyone would do such a thing! But oh, how I wanted to try it… I proceeded to spend hours online researching “Altered Books” and everything that implies.
Wikipedia defines an Altered Book as “a form of mixed media artwork that changes a book from its original form into something else.
An altered book artist takes a book (old, new, recycled or multiple) and cuts, tears, glues, burns, folds, paints, adds to, collages, rebinds, gold-leafs, creates pop-ups, rubber-stamps, drills, bolts, and/or be-ribbons it. The artist may add pockets and niches to hold tags, rocks, ephemera, or other three-dimensional objects. Some change the shape of the book, or use multiple books in the creation of the finished piece of art.”
I found wondeful Galleries that told me more about how to do it and what to put in than any How-To did. I find that Altered Books are a combination of rebellion and scrap booking. You can make it something simple or terrfyingly complicated.
I myself have two Altered Books in the works, and I think its a wonderful idea. They become very personal. Ive used everything possible in them. photos, ribbon, scraps, charcoal, watercolor, and Ive discovered that it closes best when you remove at least 1/8 of the total pages with an exacto blade. But of you intend to add something bulkier, remove more. Oh, and pages are much more stable when painting/cutting and glueing things in if you glue anywhere between 2 to 7 pages together beforehand. Want to know more?
*I highly recommend you only do so in books you treasure and don’t plan to get rid of anytime soon. Library books do not apply.
Novel Dame and Pages Turned 
It makes my heart sad to know that a beautiful book (binding, color, paper, materials, etc.) will end up in a landfill because the story no longer finds an audience or the book is no longer shiny and new. I guess that I get a little metaphysical about the book — the spirit of the story, the timeless words of the author, and the presence of the material object. What a great way to give the book a new existence and turn it into another form of creative storytelling. There are many books, destined for shredders or landfills, calling for a new life. Check the used bookstores for the books in those dusty boxes in the back — you just may find your treasure — your blank canvas.
Yay for Altered books. I personally have never heard of these until now, but I like the idea. There are many books out there that people just don’t give a crap for any more, and it sucks because so many of those books are just great to read. If I had the creativity, (not to mention resources) this would be a great thing to do. Continue your great work.
I have seen some fascinating altered books! I would love to see yours when they are completed. Thanks, also, for mentioning that people should not do this to books not their own! Kind of a book collector’s / librarian’s worst nightmare, huh? Actually I can see myself creating a collection of Altered Books when I retire or when my assorted children and pets are out of the house.