Ways I've Marked My Page in a Book -- Rated From Good to Bad

GOOD

#1/ A book mark, of course. Like many readers I have a collection of these, ranging from handmade to glossy and pretty to bookstore handouts. I need more than one because I often have more than one book on the go--and I'm always misplacing them.

 

#2/ A ribbon or string. Best are those books with built-in ribbons for marking your place but I've also used hair ribbons or bits of string.

 

#3/ The dustcover on a hardcover can be tucked in to hold one's place. I use the front for the first half of the book and then the back fold for the second half.

 

#4/ Receipt. You just bought a new book, what's handier than the receipt when you dip into it?

 

#5/ Random scrap of paper. Anything will do.

 

#6/ Memorize the page number. Alas, this only works if you have a good memory and can lead to inadvertent spoilers if you remember incorrectly. 

POOR

#7/  Another book inserted into the first one. This is only for emergencies.

 

#8/ Turning book facedown. Warning this is only acceptable with the sewn-in leaf type bindings and is apt to damage a book with stiff glue binding.

 

#9/ Pen. (Capped of course, I'm not a heathen.) This is again only used temporarily in emergencies as the pen won't stay in most books for long.

 

BAD

#10/ Dog-eared page. I don't do this anymore, I swear! But it is something I did as a child.