Jennifer Manni Reflection

I enjoyed reading the perspectives of Lebvre, Hunter, and Basbanes about the history of paper, specifically in the context of the Chinese, Japanese, and Dutch cultures. By completing the readings before altering the book, I was able to appreciate the process more. Basbanes emphasizes that paper is one of the most advanced technological innovations. He compares it to gunpowder, printing, and the magnetic compass. He claims that these inventions “changed the whole face and state of things around the world” (Basbanes, 4). He goes on to say that “the Japanese have found in their paper a vehicle for the entire range of human expression, from the most noble, religious, and artistic manifestations to the most common, everyday thought” (28). He humanizes the paper by making it appear to be a vessel of human emotion, rather than just an inanimate object.


Hunter’s work coincides with Basbanes’ thoughts by explaining that one of the earliest forms of paper was used to record the sayings of Confucius, as well as religious writings. He details that the Chinese used calligraphy to express their thoughts (61). I was unaware that the Chinese practiced calligraphy. In fact, that is one of the words I used in my list of ways to alter a book. While the first two authors discuss the creative aspects involved in the early paper industry, Levre mentions the hardships involved. I did not realize that the paper industry experienced turmoil, such as being banned from being imported to Holland in 1671 (43). I took the viewpoints of these authors into consideration before deciding how to alter my book.


For my assignment, I chose to alter Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Love and Friendship. This book was very important to me in high school and it helped me get through tough times. Looking at the book now, however, I noticed that there were quite a few depressing stories in the book. I decided to alter the book and make it focus on the positive aspects of life. I used letters cut out from a magazine in order to change the title of the book to Chicken Soup for the Optimistic Soul on Love and Friendship.

I then cut out the negative entries, and emphasized the positive ones. For example, one of the poems that I really like is entitled “Two of Me.” It emphasizes how great love is. I wrote an E.E. Cummings quote on the page that I believe meshes well with what the author is trying to say, “Love is the voice under all silences, the hope which has no opposite in fear; the strength so strong mere force is feebleness: the truth more first than sun, more last than star.” I believe that the quote complements the entry well and emphasizes the emotion behind it. On another page entitled “You Are All of This to Me,” I emphasized the romantic aspect by adding the Nicholas Sparks quote, “Love is like the wind. You cannot see it, but you can feel it.”

Although I focused on making the tone of the altered book an optimistic one, I thought that it was important to include an entry entitled “Breathing.” It is about breaking up, so I drew teardrops, a broken heart, and poured leftover cooking wine on the pages to really capture the sadness behind ending a relationship. Breakups are messy and the wine takes the authors message to the next level. Despite the author’s negative tone, at the corner of the page, I added a Walt Disney quote that puts a positive spin on a negative situation, “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious. Curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

Throughout this process, I really focused on positivity. I enjoyed looking for quotes and ways make the book pop. I also added personal touches such as small drawings that go along with the author’s message.

I altered the book in a way that a piece called “The Graduation Dance” is last. I believe that is appropriate since I am graduating in May. I drew a picture of a graduation cap with a tassel and wrote “2015” in a large font. Finally, I added the quote, “Education is the most powerful weapon, which you use to the change the world.” I found this quite on Pinterest and thought that it was a symbolic way to finish the assignment.

People often take paper for granted, and see it as something that is in unlimited supply. As the readings have taught us, this is not the case. The readings and the creative process involved in this activity helped me to appreciate both the history behind paper and the process of altering a book. Ultimately, the Tharp exercise helped me to get into the creative mindset. By remembering my first creative moment coloring, I was able to tap into this creativity while altering my book.