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Bethanne Patrick

A Gallery of Literary Tattoos
July 23, 2008

Of course there's a blog devoted to literary tattoos -- because really, most of these quotations couldn't be done in piercings.

I doubt I would have found Contrariwise, the lit-tattoo blog, without a link from my beloved ArtsJournal, because it simply never occurred to my tat-free self that people might choose to engrave their epidermis with a fave squib. But most of us enjoy tee shirts, tote bags, and greeting cards that sport literary references. If you're into body art, why not have something that reflects your bookish passion?

Several people on the site have opted for the Vonnegut "So it goes." Practical, hip -- and mercifully short. More dedicated tattoo enthusiasts have Macbeth's "Life is but a walking shadow" soliloquy, or a passage from Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club. There are literary references in pictures, too; several Petit Princes, and a wonderful Lorax. Besides Vonnegut, other "usual suspects" in the lit-tattoo pantheon include Sylvia Plath, Allen Ginsburg, and e.e. cummings.

My absolute favorite was this one, of Molly Bloom's immortal "Yes I said Yes I will Yes" written on a collarbone. However, if I were to get my own literary tattoo (as likely as my getting my nose pierced and sporting a tiny book charm on my nostril), I think I might choose "Pemberley" or "Thursday Next Lives."

How about you? What would your lit ink be?

Posted by Bethanne Patrick on July 23, 2008 | Comments (8)

July 23, 2008
In response to: A Gallery of Literary Tattoos
Kevin A. Lewis commented:

I'm all for literary quotes in most formats, but in the long-lost days of the Cheech &

July 23, 2008
In response to: A Gallery of Literary Tattoos
Kevin A. Lewis commented:

Previous comment swallowed by the cookie filter, never mind...

July 23, 2008
In response to: A Gallery of Literary Tattoos
Kevin A. Lewis commented:

OK, one more time... My favorite lit-quote is from Stephen King's "The Shining": "Tough old world, baby-if you're not tightly bolted together you're giong to shake, rattle, and roll by the time you're 30." Having said that, my personal Taliban-like attitude toward tats as an artform (especially chick tats!) dates from a close encounter in the 70's with one that was misspelled while I was attempting to reenter Earth orbit after a massive accidental dose of Green Monster microdot... Longwinded digression, but it was the kind of thing that makes a lasting impression, eh, what?

July 24, 2008
In response to: A Gallery of Literary Tattoos
Erzsebet commented:

I've got one! Picture me, starry-eyed in university, hairdyed daughter of a librarian & aspiring writer... & I stumble upon Nabokov's masterpiece - Pale Fire. Give it a year, & in honor of the poet-cum-lepidopterist I boast a moth tatooed on each wrist! Impulsive, & much warned-against, but it's a choice I've never regretted, & I savor it on every reread...

July 26, 2008
In response to: A Gallery of Literary Tattoos
Bethanne commented:

Kevin A. Lewis, THE HORROR! THE HORROR! A misspelled tat? Worse than any flashback. Erzsebet, I want a photo! Send to thereadingwriter at aol dot com. Your moths sound rather cool...

August 14, 2008
In response to: A Gallery of Literary Tattoos
Alex commented:

I want to get "Timshel" from Steinbeck's book East of Eden. It captures my entire life philosophy in one word (which means less pain for me while GETTING the tattoo!). In Hebrew it is actually spelled "Timshol" but I prefer to see it on myself as Steinbeck chose to write it, because that is how it originally became so much to me. It means Thou Mayest and in the book it is used to get across the point that you chose what kind of person you are, and how you react to the world around you. It makes me pause to think before I act, and anything that makes me do that deserves a permanent place on my body.

November 6, 2008
In response to: A Gallery of Literary Tattoos
lura commented:

whats left to lose? i've done enough. and if i fail, well then i fail but i gave it a shot. -the format, on your porch

December 8, 2008
In response to: A Gallery of Literary Tattoos
nichole commented:

After much consideration, I've decided to get "the mausoleum of all hope and desire" tattooed on my rib cage. It's from William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury. The part I'm getting is from a description of a pocket watch, so I am also getting a pocket watch on my side, with the hands set to my mother's time of death and the words "only when the clock stops does time come alive" around the edge of the watch (more Faulkner). I'm working on the design right now so that I can try to make it look as elegant as possible.