Literary Tattoos for People who Love Books
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Body Type: Intimate Messages Etched in Flesh
Price: $7.98
List Price: $19.95 |
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Ink: The Not-Just-Skin-Deep Guide to Getting a Tattoo
Price: $1.32
List Price: $15.00 |
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The Pillow Book
Price: $60.22
List Price: $24.95 |
I will never forget the moment when something first clicked inside my brain, and I learned how to read. I was four years old, sitting on top of the covers in my twin size bed and flipping through the children's book "Little Miss Sunshine". I was looking at the pictures and struggling with sounding out each individual word when all of a sudden the words began flowing into full sentences and I was reading effortlessly. As a firm believer in reincarnation, I am inclined to think that I was simply remembering how to read rather than learning it all from scratch, but either way it was in that moment that I grew wings. Reading eventually gave way to writing and I've been hooked on both ever since. Reading is the ultimate form of escape. When a story is written well it has the power to inspire and ensnare, planting ideas that were once unknown and germinating beliefs that were previously unfamiliar. My desire to consume the works of others is an ever pressing need that never seems to fade, which is probably why 3/4 of my tattoos are words--an Elvish phrase from J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings", a Polish quote by a famous scholar and lastly, the only tattoo which is written in English, a paraphrase scrawled across the back of my neck that says wake your dreams.
I'm not the only one, not by a long shot. There are more tattoos than you could ever imagine that serve as testaments to the power of a good book, the most obvious being a word, phrase, quote or even an entire paragraph taken directly from the text. Ray Bradbury and Jack Kerouac are just two of the many authors whose words are frequently found in tattoo form, along with Shakespeare, Robert Frost and T.S. Eliot. Other tattoos borrow images from the cover art of a dust jacket, such as the Fight Club logo from Chuck Palahniuk's novel by the same name, or illustrations from the pages of a timeless children's classic, like "The Velveteen Rabbit" or Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree". Some modern novels include illustrations found on the inside of the book as well, one of the most popular being the tombstones from Kurt Vonnegut's "God Bless You Dr. Kevorkian" which read Everything was beautiful. and Nothing hurt.
There is never a shortage of ideas. Bookworms and literature lovers alike will always connect with certain chapters or segments above any other, and will always find ways of expressing their dedication.
LITERARY Tattoos
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Fahrenheit 451
Price: $2.66
List Price: $6.99 |
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Slaughterhouse-Five
Price: $6.25
List Price: $14.00 |
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A Tale of Two Cities (Enriched Classics)
Price: $1.98
List Price: $4.95 |
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The Bell Jar
Price: $8.47
List Price: $16.95 |
Buy the books featured in these tattoos!
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Fight Club: A Novel
Price: $7.52
List Price: $13.95 |
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Choke
Price: $8.02
List Price: $14.95 |
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The Giving Tree
Price: $7.35
List Price: $16.99 |
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The Little Prince
Price: $3.99
List Price: $10.00 |
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Comments
Fantastic!
I think the one from Ray Bradbury's Farenheit 451 is my favorite. Fine Books & Collections (Magazine) ran a photo a few months ago of a nice Ex Libris tattoo. It's floatin' round the web somewhere.
I love that idea... I've never thought of "literary tattoos" but they're so elegant and classy!
yeah cool theme , reminds me school cribs
Very creative, like it.
A friend stumbled me this page and I love the Giving Tree oone. That's always been one of my favorite books since I was a little kid, and I still love the story it tells.
I want my next tattoo to be a quote from "Le Petit Prince". In French, "On ne voit bien qu'avec le couer. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." And in English, "One cannot see clearly but with the heart. The essential is invisible to the eyes." This was a great post
Very, very cool and clever idea... I'm not sure I have a book I like QUITE that much above all other books. I noticed people have bible verse tattoos, but never seen an actual quote from an actual book... Thanks for sharing this, excellent stuff! :)
what's different in quality aspect between permanent tattoo vs removable tattoo ? May be in bright color or difficulty in painting process. I've a plan to have one tattoo in my leg. any opinion?
i want a tatto of a butt on a butt on my butt
The Tralfalmadorian movie star is from Slaughter House Five.
The chuck ones are aweomse.
I'm not alone. I have always wanted a literary tattoo. Or several. My one extreme that I hope to achieve will be the entire text of Beowulf in the original old english on my back. Here's hoping.
I love that this page exists. The only tattoos I'll get are literary; I have one of Tock from the Phantom Tollbooth and originally wanted one based on Vonnegut.
A literary tattoo was one of the few things I could put on my body and never regret. I highly recommend them.
Hey Christa, I would LOVE to see your literary tattoo. You wouldn't happen to have a picture, would you? It sounds awesome :)
As a semi-literary/semi-lyrical tattoo, I am about to get a line from 'Clancy of the Overflow' tattooed on my foot. For those who aren't Australian, it is a classic piece of bush poetry, discussing the love of the outback and the lifestyle of those who live inland. The full couplet reads 'He sees a vision splendid over sunlit plains extended, and at night the wond'rous glory of the everlasting stars'. As I already have two tattoos detailing constellations (one of the Southern Cross and one of Capricornus) I am inking the second half of the line on to my foot...a perfect mix for me of my love of the stars and my love of my country. I love tattoos with words! Yours sound beautiful.
i have a custom "42" chestpiece.
i love my literary tattoo.
-c.
Fascinating, I had no idea such a market existed. And what spectacular photos. Strangely they give me hope not everyone's dumbing down...
These are great. Love seeing that people still read... thinking about getting a 'Catcher in the Rye' one myself. [[=
I like Hunter S Thompson's Gonzo fist as a tattoo.
www.beatdom.com
That's so cool. I just got Tom Sawyer on my arm. I'll gladly post it once it heals.
Post yours on my site. DO IT NOW!
Here's a link to make it easier, NOW!
Fun collection.
That you love read and write shows in your prose. You do it beautifully. Have you read much Terry Brooks? I've been reading his Shannara books since the early eighties. Very fun stuff.
I have only one tattoo: A mural type, on the outside of my right calf. My family crest.
Cool stuff! Thanks for sharing!
I like the one in the jeans picture...
I love these tats - thanks for the great hub.
It would be hard to find just one quote to have on my body, but a wonderful idea nonetheless!
i belive "first thought, best thought" was Ginsberg.
I'd look like a walking ad for Terry Pratchett books ...
First thought, best thought was Ginsberg. Funny actually since after reading Kerouac's On The Road for the first time he told him it needed work and editing...I think he kinda borrowed this idea from Jack, really.
I have 9 Kerouac inspired tattoos. I will post tem soon, I hope.
i preffer to make a tatto on my right bum, bcoz i have already make on left. funny?
working
JazLive says:
10 months ago
I remember a Veteran in the Nursing Home Care Unit, at VAMC Atlanta, who shared his tattoos. There was one on the muscle of his upper arm that was interesting. Mr. Jules was born on the 4th of July, his personality was quick and humorous. This guy would make us laugh so hard, we had to walk away to keep from stroking out.
His muscle tatoo was a woman and flexing his muscle would make one laugh at the results.