I am in an ongoing battle with my children to not leave their books spread open upside down when they're not reading them. Bookmarks, children! Use bookmarks! Especially with giant hardcover books of some age! And no, using ANOTHER BOOK as a bookmark is not a good idea.
This, despite the fact that I remember leaving my own books all over the house when I was a kid/teenager in the damaging position. And I still have some of the paperbacks that have suffered because of it.
Now that I'm a (completely amateur) librarian who has spent school money on brand-new books, I can definitely see how librarians got the reputation of being draconian about book care.
Anyway.
I always think I should have stacks of bookmarks all over the house so they're conveniently accessible. But then I think that I already have enough random pieces of paper around that can function as bookmarks and actual bookmarks would just join the other flotsam and jetsam that swirls around my house on a regular basis.
And now, for a poll!
How do you mark your place in your book?
A. With a bookmark, like a civilized person.
B. By leaving the book flat open and upside down, like my children.
C. By using your superior brain power and just remembering the page.
D. By turning down the corner of the page you're on.
P.S. Yes yes, I am punking out on an actual list again. I don't know why Saturdays always sneak up on me somehow. I'll do better next week. I hope.
18 comments:
When i was a kid I thought bookmarks were nerdy, and I always lost them anyway. So I memorized the page I was on. I still do except for books I'm taking a long time to read (looking at you, Collected Letters of Sylvia Plath). For those I use a folded over post it or something.
Never, ever dog-ear a page. Horrible. (Ex-librarian here)
My kids vary between bookmark and leaving book turned upside down. I try to put a bookmark in if I see that. We use bookmarks, random bits of paper, Post it notes, pot holders, other books- just about any clean thing - as bookmarks. I usually book mark or remember the page. (I have a beloved child who tends to pull out bookmarks on any book lying around, so page # really helps.)
No dog-earing a page in a book unless I own it and it's already in crappy condition.
We tend to lose nice bookmarks, so random stuff works best.
We do have a spot for bookmarks because we have a ton from the library. Plus, the library has a bookmark contest that I've had a few kids win, so I keep those.
But. I have no idea what my children do. I know they don't dog-earing. I haven't noticed upside-down books. Maybe they just don't stop until it's done? ;)
As for me, I bookmark usually with whatever scrap of paper is nearby. If it's the bathroom, it's tp. Books that need discussed later have a piece of folded paper for taking notes.
A. With a bookmark, like a civilized person. :)
I have a bad habit of dog earring the pages.
I use a bookmarker of some sort but rarely an official bookmark. My favorite thing to use is a business card from someplace I love. My current stash includes one from the Tillamook Cheese Visitors Center (Tillamook, OR), The Cedar Tree (a gift shop in Glacier National Park), and Countryside Greenhouse (Arthur, IL).
Not that I need to add to my reading list, but I like this new Saturday Books feature. I am many years out of childhood but still enjoy middle reader books on occasion. A good story is a good story! Also, Click, Clack, Moo and The Very Hungry Caterpillar still tickle my funnybone. :)
Cheryl in IL
If it's a library book, with a bookmark.
If it's a second-hand book I bought, I turn the corner down.
Linda
Bookmarks! In my many years of teaching, I handed out bookmarks along with books constantly. If a book order came with bookmarks, I was thrilled. Many years I found ways for my students to make their own bookmarks early in the year, and they were amazingly motivated to use them and keep track of them.
Definitely "A"--scatter colorful and personal bookmarks around the house. Perhaps have each child make a bookmark that is only his or hers? Mary in MN
Mostly I use any scrap of paper I can find lying around, but I also use kids' drawings if they're on small enough pieces of paper. I've had some of those for years.
Mostly a bookmark - usually whatever piece of paper is nearby. I am also guilty of turning down the corner of the page! Never on a library book though!
Random scrap of paper, or rarely spend of pencil, as a bookmark.
Er, that should be “pen or pencil”
After too many bookmarks falling out, I now use a paperclip. Works great, doesn't bend the page so can be used on library books, and I love that it's something already around and not a single-use item.
Team bookmark! I love using christmas or birthday cards which make me smile when I see them. Otherwise just any random piece of paper
Some bookmarks, some flat open. I really try to use bookmarks with paperbacks and particularly in humid weather (my chief nemesis). But bookmarks can also be annoying if you're constantly putting down and picking up a book, so then just flipping it over is really the only answer, lol.
My kids, same, except recently they've been reading so much on Kindles that it's not really an issue. (We do have about 50 library books at the moment so it's not all ebook.)
Husband, bookmark always, and usually the years-old piece of junk mail on which he keeps a running list of books that are referred to in whatever WWII history he's reading so that he can attempt to find and read them as well.
Oldest kid, currently claiming he's not a reader, so none of the above, and I guess I'm just hoping he circles back to it someday. Blerg.
A, B or D...depending on how much I care for the actual book :)
A. It's not that I'm especially civilized, I just feel nauseous when I see books being abused. I keep a pile of last year's Christmas cards on the lower shelf of the end table by the sofa I stretch out on when reading. So there's never an excuse for me to not have a handy bookmark.
Post a Comment