Today the kittens watched me take a bath for the first time (er, it was their first time watching, not the first time I ever took a bath). They were fascinated (and a little apprehensive) about all the water, but they stayed as close as possible. By the time I was ready to get out, Sir William had progressed from observing the water at a distance to dipping a paw in the tub and splashing around. He’s also been fascinated by the toilet lately, so I should probably keep an eye on him.
Anyway, if you read the title of this post, it’s obviously not about kittens and baths. No, I’m posting because I need to know–readers, what is your relationship with bookmarks?
As an author and an avid reader, I’ve accumulated more than my fair share of bookmarks over the years. And yet, if you asked me to produce one for you right this moment, I don’t know if I could. Nor can I remember the last time I used one. I’m not anti-bookmark or anything–I think they’re wonderful book-accessories, and I’ve seen (and owned) some great ones. I just never use them, and I never seem to be able to find a good place to store them, and therefore they disappear. I’ve probably left a trail of hidden bookmark burial grounds in every place I’ve ever lived.
So what do I do to pick up where I left off? Either I use whatever’s closest at hand–usually a receipt or an empty envelope–or I just remember, somehow. It probably helps that I go through books quickly, so it’s not that difficult to flip through and reach the part that looks familiar. Sometimes, if the book has a dust jacket, I’ll use one of the flaps to mark my place (front cover flap at the beginning; back cover flap as I reach the end). However, I refuse to dog-ear pages. I’m more comfortable writing on a book (in PEN, even!) than bending the corner of a page.
So. Is this common, or do you have a trusty bookmark (or several trusty bookmarks) that are always close at hand? Tell me about your bookmarks. I don’t think I’ll ever use bookmarks regularly, but I’ll always admire them as little bookish treats.
Oh, that’s a shame. Having a nice bookmark is (for me) part of the whole lovely tactile, personal reading experience. I have a whole basket full in my library. Some are cool ones I have found in books, some are ones I bought because they were so divine, some are from great bookstores I’ve visited, and a couple are ones that I designed. You can’t really see them from this photo, but it’s the top basket on the floor, to the right of the room:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/storms/5320104422/in/set-72157625736938842/
A basket full of bookmarks! I suppose if I’d managed to hold on to even half of the ones I’ve bought or received over the years, I could fill a basket or two.
My mother bought me a bookmark with kittens on it, but when I was at work the kittens pulled it out of my book and chewed it up. I don’t think they liked the competition.
Never use a bookmark for all the reasons you’ve mentioned although I too have owned some lovely ones in the past. I will use the dust cover if it’s available although I generally chuck the dust cover out fairly quickly because I find them annoying when reading. SO. . . I fold the pages. I know I know, there are a hundred reasons why not to do so but come on! It is so easy and it’s right there, no accessories required!
The one I remember using for the longest (and this was years ago) was a small magnet one with a wolf on it. I love the magnet ones because they don’t fall out of your book, and you can fidget with them.
I was going to say that people who manage to keep and use bookmarks are suspicious… how can anyone be that organized? Then I read Patricia’s comment, and she seems like a nice and normal sort. And now I’m quite concerned that the ripped piece of magazine page currently serving as my bookmark is a sign of inner dishevelment! I’m going to have to think more on this issue…
You know what I use that I love? A magnetic bookmark. It’s small, about the size of my thumbnail, and has two parts that go over the top of the page onto either side then magnetically snap together. It’s great because I can drop my book, etc, and I never lose my place. (google it! They are fantastic.)
I do use bookmarks. I have an old silver trophy/ice bucket type container on my bookshelf that holds them all right where the books are.
As I read more and more on my Kindle, I’ve used them less, though.
Regarding bookmarks, there is this, and it’s wonderful. http://www.believermag.com/issues/200511/?read=article_atkinson
I was in the habit of memorizing the page number. But now that I’m an old old lady, I have a new system. Which I love.
I use miniature post-it notes. The little brightly coloured rectangular ones? They’re aaaaamaaaazing.
I have a large assortment of bookmarks, collected over about twenty-five years so far. Does that make me suspicious?
Many are from bookstores (many of those now defunct), some were found in secondhand books, some were gifts, some were souvenirs, some were from museums or libraries, some I can’t remember the origins of. They stand in two large souvenir mugs on my bookshelves.
Anyone who treasures bookmarks and the like might enjoy checking out the Added Value section of the March House Books Blog: http://marchhousebookscom.blogspot.com/2011/11/added-value-things-found-in-books-part_18.html