15 literary tattoos that will inspire book lovers to get more ink

Given the power of storytelling, it makes sense that more and more readers are getting parts of their favorite stories tattooed to them.

Anyone who has ever been impacted by a novel knows that stories are powerful, and they stay with us longer after we’ve closed a book and placed it back on our bookshelves. Sometimes, readers remember specific words of a certain author or character, while others are more affected by symbols or images.

Given the power of storytelling, it makes sense that more and more readers are getting parts of their favorite stories tattooed to them. Tattoos are permanent, but in a way, so are stories—especially our favorites. They leave a lasting impression on readers, so why not make their permanence even more obvious?

The great thing about getting literary ink is that bookish images are often products of the imagination, meaning that there are so many different designs readers can choose from. Just one quote or one character can be depicted so many different ways, making every literary tattoo unique in its own right.

And book lovers looking to get their favorite stories tattooed to them can draw inspiration from other bibliophiles’ tattoos, too. Here are some of our favorite literary tattoos, all of which are perfect inspiration for readers trying to come up with tattoo designs based on their own favorite books or series.