A Brace of Bookmarks
As a voracious reader bookmarks are essential to keeping order as I travel through books.
Dogearing pages is simply not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Civilized readers do not crisp back page corners. Unless it’s the latest Costco flyer.
I’m on the fence about notes and highlighting. That’s a different topic and post.
Concerning bookmarks…
I have a brace of bookmarks ready for use spread through the house. Some are genuine bookmarks with various designs while others range from a ubiquitous fluorescent sticky note to a variety of postcards to my current favorite: Smokey the Bear.
There is something satisfying about firmly wedging a bookmark into my current read. It’s a decisive action signifying a promise to return. <Ooh, a feel the need to work this out as a PB story>
And sometimes the return is immediate; other times it takes it takes a bit longer. Like my Oxford Book of American Poetry. It has plenty of tiny bookmarks indicating favorite poems waiting to be reread. Other standby reads include Psalms, which I savor before going to bed. Like faithful sentinels these bookmards remain on duty, assuring they will easily guide me back to where I last left off.
The library recently displayed a collection of ephemera; those bits found in books that are donated. Photographs, receipts, tracts, love notes, clippings, leaves, as well as actual bookmarks. As I process donations, I collect these bits of personage, and save them, wondering about the stories behind them. Over the past year enough ephemera was collected to fill three poster boards. I wonder if people viewing the display recognize their lost bits, if they are saddened if they inadvertently gave away something cherished with that copy of Tom Clancy’s latest adventure novel.
Well, on to a new book. Smokey is already waiting for me.
P.S. As I opened my latest read these two bookmarks were waiting for me. Serendipity.
What is your favorite bookmark?
Pam Webb 