Book Buying Addicts Anonymous discussion

I've seen lots of post in other discussion about people making bookmarks and collecting them and that made me wonder about book marks. I used to just use whatever scrap of paper was convenient, an old receipt, a piece of homework I no longer needed or whatever. About a year ago I started using paperclips. They are wonderful! They almost never fall out, don't get bent up or lost and are reusable. The only stipulation I have is they have to be the plastic coated color ones otherwise they my rip a page.

Argh! How can you dog-ear a page? *shudders* LOL
I love bookmarks, but I use anything from old postcards to told receipts to "real" bookmarks and also magnetic bookmarks.
The plastic coated paper clip is a good idea.

I use a standard 3x5 index card as a bookmark. When I start a new book, I grab an index card and write the book title on it. As I read, I write the page numbers down of any particularly meaningful quotes or passages I like on the index card so I can quickly reference them again if I need/want to. When I finish the book, I place the index card on the first page, and then grab a new book and a new card. The system works very well for me

I hate dog-eared pages in books. The only thing that makes me shudder more is folks who put the book on the table, open, facing down, which cracks the spine. To me, both ruin books. I have dozens of bookmarks to choose from and I swap bookmarks monthly. If I can't find a bookmark that seems to fit the book, then I use whatever bookmark is either newest (from the exchange) or my current favorite.

I like Chrissy's idea a lot! I too was taught a respect for books that included never dog earring a page. One of the things I really miss about owning my nook color is buying cute bookmarks at HPB. Recently I have begun using the tags that come on clothing. Some of them are just awesome cute and cheap if you lose them.

My bookstore and the library have free bookmarks and I always pick up a few when I am there. And I must make a confession......I am a great fan of the Nero Wolfe books and the A&E television series with the late Maury Chaykin as Wolf. I made a bookmark of a picture of him in character that I also use when reading a mystery. Crazy but true!!!

Chrissy wrote: "I use a standard 3x5 index card as a bookmark. When I start a new book, I grab an index card and write the book title on it. As I read, I write the page numbers down of any particularly meaningful ..."

I really want to start doing this, but I fear I'm to far through my collection to make it worth while...maybe Ill just have to read all my books again!

I love the index card idea! I have, on occasion, used old lottery tickets as bookmarks. May as well get some good out of them.

I've posted in another group about bookmarks. . .I use cardstock to make wide bookmarks that has the author's name at the top, then the name of the series, and then I list all the books in the series. I mark the ones I have in the series, and I highlight the name of the books as I read them. I keep transferring the bookmark to the next book I have in the series. They work great for going shopping for new books, too. I just grab the bookmarks out of the books of which I'm still missing a book or two in the series and it's a handy list to go by.

I have a magnetic bookmark currently I love them, and the kids can't pull it out as easily as other book marks.

I use Post-It Notes to flag my favorite scenes, cool lines and to mark my place.

Megan wrote: "Rita wrote: "Argh! How can you dog-ear a page? *shudders* LOL
I love bookmarks, but I use anything from old postcards to told receipts to "real" bookmarks and also magnetic bookmarks.
The plastic ..."
Well, it's your books - and if it doesn't bother you, fine by me. I could just never do that.

Chrissy wrote: "I use a standard 3x5 index card as a bookmark. When I start a new book, I grab an index card and write the book title on it. As I read, I write the page numbers down of any particularly meaningful ..."

That is an awesome idea!

David wrote: "I love the index card idea! I have, on occasion, used old lottery tickets as bookmarks. May as well get some good out of them."
LOL :)

I have a supply of bookmarks that I pick up at my library or from a bookstore. They typically give them away for free. Currently, I'm using a bookmark that was given to me as a gift. In the past, I've used any piece of card stock that I had sitting around, from an insert from a magazine to color samples from the paint department in a hardware store (actually, those make really nice bookmarks).

I also have some collectable bookmarks that are too nice to use. Those I have on display in my library.

I must have been using the same bookmark for about the past three or four years now. It's just a tag from a t-shirt that I bought, and it has Royal-T written on it, which made me smile at the time and I've used it ever since.

If I'm reading more than one book at a time I'll use a bus ticket, receipt or postcard. Whatever is closest to hand. My favourite one at the moment is a promotional postcard I got from a comic book shop.

I used to use bookmarks, but wore most of them out. Seems these days I'll use receipts, slips of paper, or whatever is handy at the moment.

Real fancy, I know.

Chrissy wrote: "I use a standard 3x5 index card as a bookmark. When I start a new book, I grab an index card and write the book title on it. As I read, I write the page numbers down of any particularly meaningful ..."

I had friends in college who used to post quotes from their favorite books on index cards, and then hung them on the walls of their dorm room. It was a nice, cheap way to decorate a cork board or to place around their desk for motivation.

Personally, I usually simply use the receipt from when I bought the book. Doing so led to a humorous experience while teaching this year, when my students were looking at my copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, translated into Ancient Greek, and they seemed more intrigued by the faded ink on the paper than the book itself.

Right now I'm using part of an envelope, but I've also been known to use makeshift book marks like hair ties and hair clips, pencils, small things that can hold my page. I have had proper book marks in the past but I don't know where any of those have disappeared to.

I use a piece of paper or a paper book mark. I don't love the metal ones. They are just too big and heavy. I did go to Italy last year and got all of my nieces and nephews real Italian leather book marks which I love to use when reading to them. Two things I regret not having gotten myself while there - a real leather book mark and a tilted cup from the leaning tower of Pisa.

I've used receipts. business cards, kids pictures, post cards, ripped pieces of paper, paperclips, etc.

I like to make my own bookmarks on the computer and print them out on cardstock or I'll use other preprinted paper bookmarks. I sometime use playing cards, too, but I really don't like using anything else not meant to be a bookmark as a bookmark, such as a receipts, index cards, etc. Don't know why, but it just doesn't feel right to use those. I will if I have to, but then I'll change it for a real bookmark as soon as I can. I really don't like using metal bookmarks or paperclips because they dent the pages. Sometimes I'll use post-its to make notes and mark interesting pages.

Currently I am using the little magnetic ones I purchased at some point from B&N. I came across them recently when I was unpacking. I like them, but I'm sure it won't be too long before I lose them or forget about them and go back to using scraps of paper or photos. I do like bookmarks, but I often misplace them :(

I'm a member of postcrossing so I use my latest recieved postcard. At the moment its a black and white photo of the Chrysler building,

i collect bookmarks. i also make them by ordering cross stitch projects from The Stitchery catalogs and give them for Christmas when i can make myself give them up. i love pretty beautiful colors and exotic materials. as much as i adore tassels, the damn things fall apart on me. so i also make stuff to replace the tassels, like beading projects. my favorite bookmarks right now are these 3D bookmarks, that combine pretty pictures that pop out into the air. one is a dinosaur theme, another is a shark theme. the dinosaur 3D also turns into a skeleton dinosaur when you move the bookmark side to side. i'm pathetic.

I use post-its.

i use all kinds of things, I dog ear it, I use receipts, Ripped up pieces of paper, pictures,post its, envelopes, letters, postcards, syllabises, paper clips, index cards, actual bookmarks, everything basically.

I'm with Joseph (#25)...gotta have a real bookmark. I've tried the casual scrap of paper, post-it, paperclip, envelope, etc. and it just doesn't feel right. It has got to be a dedicated bookmark. Doesn't make sense, I know, but there you have it.

I sometimes use my phone, a hair band, pencil, anything thats hanging around really :) Although i have lately tried to used a bookmark, the problem is i always misplace it so its usualy back to whatever is handy

I like real bookmarks too, although I have used pieces of paper in the past in a pinch. My current one is Harry Potter, I bought it after seeing the last movie four times :D

I must admit that I'm a "whatever is around" type person most of the time. Though I do have a few favorite bookmarks that I love. My most favorite actually came with shoes my kid sister bought. I loved the slender medal thing attached to her shoes so much she gave it to me and I use it for a bookmark. I do like the index card idea as well. I use a similar system when I'm doing research but may have to switch to that for efficiency.

I'm another "anything that's handy" type. Right now I'm using a postcard that was originally meant to remind me to take my dogs in for vaccination. I've used notes to myself, shopping lists, receipts, etc. At times, I'll misplace one bookmark and be forced to search tabletops and pockets for another.

I love my books, but I do put them down open to save my place. I've never dog-eared one. I'm also fond of marginalia, my own, and what shows up in used books. I like a book that looks like somebody read it like they meant it.

I used to dog ear the pages but find that I have stopped doing that in recent years. Now I have several bookmarks because I usually have several books going at once lol. I have a used post it note, folded in half. A receipt from the grocery store. And a bookmark I got from a final trip to Borders recently.

I use anything I can get my hands on. A lot of receipts, it seems. I have a whole basket of bookmarks, mostly papers ones, since I am a librarian and seem to have a collection. I rarely dog-ear the pages, but I won't say never. I don't dog-ear them to save my place, but rather to save a notation when I have forgotten my pencil or my book darts (small, flat metal clips that I use to note interesting lines in books). www.bookdarts.com

I use receipts haha. I want to buy a nice bookmark though. The only thing I ever dog-ear are my textbooks for school....never, ever my real books (yes, textbooks are fake book to me :-p)

Joanne wrote: "I love my books, but I do put them down open to save my place. I've never dog-eared one. I'm also fond of marginalia, my own, and what shows up in used books. I like a book that looks like somebody..."

I am also a fan of marginalia and I love your phrase "read it like they meant it." I like to use a "real" bookmarker, instead of a receipt or scrap piece of paper, but I prefer the very flat ones, paper is best, over those plastic or metal paperclip types. Paper doesn't fall out as easily or bend the pages.

well i neither fancy buying a dedicated bookmark nor dog-ear my books pages..

but i make new ones or rather i cut new ones like, a photograph of rose from greeting card, married couple dancing from wedding invite, designer cardboard of cookies... so on and so forth,

and because of which every book i read get new and custom bookmark.

Chrissy wrote: "I use a standard 3x5 index card as a bookmark. When I start a new book, I grab an index card and write the book title on it. As I read, I write the page numbers down of any particularly meaningful ..."

What a great idea! I love writing down quotes in a notebook, but this seems so much better. Thanks!

Misplaced one of my bookmarks so I'm using a coupon right now.

I buy my bookmarks. I never, ever, ever, dog-ear a page. I never lay a book face-down either. I love books and respect it. I like the metal ones, that are really more for decoration. I have bought the packs of bookmarks and the bookmark books, where you have perforations and simply tear off a bookmark as needed. I collect them. Usually are kinda creepy or with a smart-alecky comment on them :)

I love the ideas of using the index cards though I don't think I have the discipline to keep up with that. I also like the book mark list to track books in a series. I think I've used everything but a real bookmark. I do not turn down a page unless I positively cannot find something else to mark my page. Receipts, movie ticket stubs, library card, index cards, post-its...Most recently a dollar bill with a bunny sticker covering the face, a "bunny buck", which I received in my tip jar while working at a cafe last year. I thought it was fake at first until I realized someone had fastidiously designed, cut and stuck on the oval, green bunny as a sticker over a real bill. A good reminder not to be hasty when judging appearance and value.

playing cards.

I collect bookmarks. They are the travel brochures you see in motels and information booths. When I get ready to start a book, I grab a fistful of brochures and pick the one most appropriate for that book. VOILA! a bookmark!

I use the due date reminder from the library and I trow it away when the book is read. I use the library a LOT I'd say more than 9-% of what I read comes from the library.
I don't dog-ear books either, and I get real annoyed when someone has dog-eared a book I've gotten from the library. I agree dog-earing a book shows a great lack of respect.
I also have a nice collection of book marks, and I even make them for gifts sometimes but I find I seldom use the nice ones lol I don't know why, I think it's just so convenient to use the disposable date due slips. The don't fall out of the book when I slip them in the pages behind where I'm reading like a bigger thicker one does.
Call me crazy, heck call all of us crazy at some point.
Have a great day fellow readers and lovers of books.

Shellie wrote: "I use the due date reminder from the library and I throw it away when the book is read. I use the library a LOT I'd say more than 90% of what I read comes from the library.
I don't dog-ear books either and I get really annoyed when I get a book from the library that someone has dog-eared; I think its disrespectful.
I also have a collection of book marks but find the date due slip from the library is so convenient I can't resist.
But I really like the idea Chrissy gave, using a 3x5 that is seriously so clever, it's the kind of idea where you slap yourself in the forehead and say 'why didn't I think of that?'
Have a great day fellow readers and book lovers!

Yeah, that's really weird. I am weird too. I use the prize tags or brand tags of clothes as book-marks. :p
They are generally of small sizes, and glossy look. I like them!

I know, and they stay in the book so well cuz they bend so easy and I don't care what shape they end up in when I'm finished.
Yes, we all have our little quirks. lol
It's what makes the world go around I guess.

Chrissy wrote: "I use a standard 3x5 index card as a bookmark. When I start a new book, I grab an index card and write the book title on it. As I read, I write the page numbers down of any particularly meaningful ..."

Chrissy, I'd like to know how you file or save those index cards when you're finished with the book. And do you only use one per book? A few more details please, possible some examples.

Shellie wrote: "Chrissy, I'd like to know how you file or save those index cards when you're finished with the book. And do you only use one per book? A few more details please, possible some examples."

When I finish a book, I stow the index card away between the cover and first page of the book. Yes, I only use one per book, although I almost ran out of room on Once an Eagle by Anton Myrer. I ended up covering the back of that card with page numbers also.

I start off by grabbing a fresh index card when I grab a new book to start. On the top line I write the title of the book and underline it. Below that I write "p." and then add any pages that have particularly meaningful quotes or passages that I want to remember. If a certain passage or quote is exceptionally meaningful, above and beyond even the others, then I underline that particular page number on the index card also. Example:

Once an Eagle (underlined)
p. 6, 21, 34, 52, etc.

I originally started this so that once I finished a book I could flip back to those pages and write down those meaningful quotes or passages into a notebook. I found writing down quotes as I read was annoying since I'd have to repeatedly stop reading and find a scrap piece of paper to write it down. However, Once an Eagle was the 2nd or 3rd book I read after starting my index card idea. Once I attempted to write down the million quotes and passages I wanted to remember from that particular book, I realized I probably would have rewritten 700 out of the 1300 pages in the book into my notebook. I determined that time was better spent reading more books or more productive matters than that, so I scrapped the recording them in the notebook plan. However, I still continue the index card idea so I can flip to them easily. Hope that answers all your questions.

I'm glad others are inspired by the idea. It works great for me