35+ Stunning Book Tattoo Ideas for Book Freaks

Sometimes, you read a book, and it clicks just at the spot! The characters, the quotes, and the word choice stand out SO WELL that you want to engrave it forever in your heart. While some write down their favorite quotes, create a bookish journal, or even wall art, you can take this to another step by permanently inking your body with your favorite book tattoo.

And like there are never enough books to add to your TBR, there are never enough book tattoos to choose from. Which is why here we talk about different book-inspired tattoos to help you find the best one for you.

Book Tattoos History

Many people wonder how book tattoos become even a thing.

Well, bookish tattoos have a history as old as books themselves. In older times, people adorned their bodies with symbols and images that represented various personal and cultural meanings. These symbols or images were often inspired by historical figures and their popular sayings or their special marks.

However, the inspiration for book tattoos was hyped up in the 20th and 21st centuries as books became more accessible to the general population. With more and more incredible writers emerging, like Jane Austen, Bronte Sisters, Ernest Hemingway, and George Orwell, their fans started getting tattoos with quotes or symbols from their favorite books.

The craze for book tattoos became even higher with book clubs, book events, and online groups in the 21st century. People who loved books found a way to show it by getting tattoos of their favorite authors or stories. Like the Mockingjay from “The Hunger Games” or the Deathly Hallows from “Harry Potter,” these become permanent inspirations for big fans to celebrate their favorite books.

Book Tattoos Symbolism

Generally, book tattoos symbolize knowledge, wisdom, power, etc. But that’s just the surface meaning. At its core, it’s all about how different words or symbols appeal to you.

In fact, there is not much to say what a book tattoo should symbolize, because reading is sacred and everyone sees their favorite quote or picture in their own way. Reading a book makes us feel lots of emotions, which is different for everyone.

Take a villain, for example. Some readers hate their cunning ways, while others feel attracted to their mysterious charm. Remember Heathcliff from The Wuthering Heights? You might hate him, but some people appreciate his revenge tactics.

And the same is the beauty of book tattoos. It can mean different things to different people, and what’s great is that there is no right meaning. So you have the freedom to choose whatever clicks your heart and mark your skin with it.

35+ Amazing Book Tattoo Ideas

When you have a book tattoo, it becomes a personal symbol of deep appreciation for your favorite author or their work. However, it’s not always necessary to ink words on your skin. You can also go for bookish symbols and images that inspire you.

To make things even simpler for you, here are some popular book tattoo ideas.

Mini Book Tattoox

Mini tattoos can be as small as an open book or a stack of books. Because of their small size, they look perfect on your hand, wrist, or finger.

If you want a mini book tattoo, you have lots of ideas like:

• Open book: One of the most basic yet captivating book tattoos, an open book has endless meanings. It shows your commitment to reading, love for books, and the power of knowledge.
• Book Stacks: These can be as small or big as you want. Add all your best books and ink them on your arm or wrist.
• Quill Pen: While some pair a quill pen tattoo with an open book, it alone carries its own unique power. It represents the act of writing and the transformative power of words and storytelling.
• Ink Splash: A small ink splash tattoo on your finger or wrist shows creativity and flow. You can make it even more beautiful by choosing a color for the ink, like red or blue.
• Bookmark: Readers can make a bookmark of anything they find, so why not a bookmark tattoo of your favorite book?
• Magical book: Do books take you to another world where magic exists? If yes, it’s time to get a magical book tattoo that shows the enchanting world where books transport us to.
• Miniature key: A key can symbolize many things; it can show the power of knowledge. Or, it can be the key that takes you to your favorite magical fictional world!

Books + Your Choicex

If you want to level up from basic book tattoos to something that really shows your obsession with books, go with the simple formula: get a book tattoo paired with an object of your choice.

This item or object can be anything, like cats, cups of tea, trees, the moon… the possibilities are endless!

• Book with cat: A unique but aesthetic blend, a book with a cat tattoo is perfect for those who love both. Cats show resilience, mystery, and love, so you better get a cat inked with a book if you are a fan of fantasy fiction.
• Book with tea: There is nothing better than enjoying a good book with a warm cup of tea (or coffee). Ink this idea on your arm or wrist, and you’ll carry a symbol of coziness and the simple beauty of reading.
• Book with a Compass: A compass symbolizes guidance and direction, so a book paired with a compass tattoo is great for those into self-discovery literature.
• Book with a Tree: Or books hanging down a tree, like fruits! Be creative in this, as trees are reminders of growth and nourishment, and books are like flowers, representing your thoughts and ideas.
• Book with a Music Note: Do you read books while listening to music? Then, get a book tattoo decorated with lots of musical notes to ignite your imagination.
• Book with a Lantern: An all-time favorite bookish tattoo for centuries because books light up the darkness!
• Book with a Butterfly: For those who like everything aesthetic, including tattoos, the blend of a book and a butterfly is a beautiful option. Design your own butterfly and fill it with as many colors as you want.
• Book into birds: It’s a popular idea where book leaves turn into birds and fly. It represents the power of words, setting us free from the chains of our minds and taking us somewhere far more safe.
• Book into bats: It’s the same idea as book into birds, but a little darker. Some like their book leaves to become bats, which shows a touch of mystery and secrecy.
• Book with the moon: The Moon has endless symbolism, from creation to romance and mystery. But it also looks good with a book tattoo, so pair the two.

Symbols, Quotes, Author’s Namesx

Have an all-time darling quote that you want to show off? Or a symbol from your most loved fantasy series? You can get them tattooed on your back, neck, arm, wrist… basically anywhere.

One thing that matters is the font. If you are inking a large quote, calligraphy fonts save space and add an elegant and timeless touch.

Here are some popular quotes from book series that you can ink on your body:

• J.K. Rowling / Harry Potter series: “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
• C.S. Lewis / The Chronicles of Narnia: “Courage, dear heart.”
• George R.R. Martin / A Song of Ice and Fire series (Game of Thrones): “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.”
• Neil Gaiman / Coraline: “Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”
• Philip Pullman / His Dark Materials series: “Without stories, we wouldn’t be human beings at all.”
• J.R.R. Tolkien / The Lord of the Rings: “Not all those who wander are lost.”
• Terry Pratchett / Discworld series: “It is often said that before you die your life passes before your eyes. It is in fact true. It’s called living.”
• Leigh Bardugo / Six of Crows: “No mourners. No funerals.”

Now, let’s talk about popular symbols from book series that you can ink on your body:

• The Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling)
• The Mockingjay (The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins)
• The Tree of Gondor (The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien)
• Dauntless Symbol (Divergent Series by Veronica Roth)
• The Golden Snitch (Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling)
• The Trisolaran Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth’s Past Trilogy by Liu Cixin)
• The Wheel of Time (The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan)
• The Elder Sign (Cthulhu Mythos by H.P. Lovecraft)
• The Rune of Protection (The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare)
• The Lannister Lion (A Song of Ice and Fire Series by George R.R. Martin)
• Aslan (The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis)

To Sum Up

In simple words, there are never enough book tattoo ideas. Because books are all about words and symbols, you can get endless tattoo designs. Go with a basic book, pair an item like a cat, tree, or cup of tea, or take it to another level with symbols and quotes from your best reads. In the end, each book tattoo is personal, symbolizing what you find attractive among hundreds of words scattered on a page!