Hello, fellow readers! I loved reading about your eating-while-reading habits last week.
Can you believe we are almost one month into Fall Into Reading 2010? I hope your reading is going well and that you’re making progress on your fall reading list. I’m actually doing pretty well this time around — I’ve already read 5 out of the 12 books on my list, plus an additional book that was not on my list. I know that 6 books in a month is no big deal to some of you, but it’s pretty substantial for me!
Now for this week’s question…
Do you ever dog-ear the corners of book pages to mark your spot? Or are you a faithful bookmark user, refusing to damage the pages of your books? OR do you have another way to keep track of where you are in a book?
I will say that I want to be a faithful bookmark user, but in reality…that doesn’t always happen. Though I have purchased or received more than my fair share of bookmarks, it seems I am always losing them or misplacing them…or just not able to find one when I need it. When that happens, here’s what I do:
- If I’m reading a paperback book that I own, I admit — I dog-ear the page. Yes, it’s true. I used to leave the book face-down, pages spread open to the place I left off, bending the spine backward. I took that approach for years, but finally decided that my mother was right, and that there were better options for keeping track of the page I’m on.
- If I’m reading a hardcover book (whether it belongs to me or not) OR a paperback that belongs to the library or to someone else, I find some random object to stand in as a replacement bookmark. It might be a slip of paper, a $1 bill, a receipt, an index card, or any other flat, suitable stand-in. Right now, I’m using a frequent-buyer’s card from the local pizza shop in one book, and someone’s business card in another.
I don’t know what it is about hardcover books, but I hate to dog-ear those pages, whereas I really don’t hesitate to dog-ear the pages of a paperback if I have no bookmark handy. Along those lines, I’ve also been known to dog-ear pages where I find a good quote or something I want to re-read at a later date (this is almost always in non-fiction books).
What about you? Do your books have dog-eared pages or are they pristine due to your commitment to using bookmarks?
I guess you could say I collect bookmarks. It’s rare that I dog-ear a page of a book and I hate laying them open at the spine. If I can’t find a bookmark, I just use a receipt or whatever’s handy but usually I can just grab one from another book on the shelf.
I never, ever dog-ear the pages of a book. I always use a bookmark (which I collect) and I don’t remember ever losing one. On rare ocasions I have used a piece of paper or a receipt but only as a temporary situation.
Even when I was studying I never dog-eared the pages, I would use post-its to mark them.
I fold down page corners in magazines all the time, but not in my books. Right now I’m using a fabric leaf left over from a fall craft project. It was handy when I needed to put the book down. I’m also using bookmarks that I’ve cross-stitched or made from scrapbook supplies. I might use a post-it with a written note to mark a page that I want to come back to later.
I’m a sucker for pretty things, so I love book thongs with cute little (sometimes not so little) beads on the ends. I have a small collection in a basket on my bookshelf, I keep dreaming of making my own someday. My daughter likes to wrap them around her ears and pretend their dangly earrings! I never dog ear pages, but if I have to momentarily walk away, I will back-bend a spine on the table.
I have alot of bookmarks with the kids picture on them, so I use them.
I posted my answer here: http://nurseatkins.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-into-reading-questions-3.html
Congrats on your progress. And thanks again for hosting this challenge. It’s the perfect time to read.
The short answer for me is: bookmark user. My full answer can be found here.
I hate to dogear a book and am a faithful bookmark user. Since I’ve had the Kindle, this hasn’t been much of an issue.
I almost always dog ear my pages… I love a lived in book
Good question! My answer is here.
CMash
I use bookmarks, grocery receipts, photos, and I dog ear my books.
I love to collect bookmarks. I have more than I’ll ever use.
I never dog-ear a book.
Your doing great on your reading!!
Michelle´s last post ..Hosanna
I am a faithful bookmark user. If I have absolutely nothing on hand to mark my page (which is unlikey), then I’ll memorize where I am.
I’m a bit on the line for this one. You can read my answer at Hott Books
Your answer is interesting and fun… my answer is here. http://annsreadingcorner.blogspot.com
Well, I’m typically a bookmark type of gal. However, in the past few weeks, being unable to locate any of my bookmarks, I’ve been dog-earing pages. Kind of annoying but at the same time, incredibly convenient at the moment.
This challenge is going well for me! I’m plowing through the titles I intended to get to and I’m happy with the direction I’m headed! Thanks again for hosting!
I am a bookmark user too. I published my full answer and updated my challenge progress here:
http://bookaholicmom.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-into-reading-question-4.html
Another bookmark user here, if I don’t have one handy I’ll find something to use temporarily. I like my books pristine – no dog-ears, no writing, just the words on the page as they were printed.
I can’t usually find a bookmark when I need one, so I end up using whatever is at hand (even toilet paper!) I do sometimes dog ear pages of paperbacks that I own, as well, but usually for a significant quote rather than just for keeping my place. But my preference for quotes is to use those little post-it notes shaped like an arrow or small rectangle — it’s big enough to keep the place yet not so big it covers the text and is easily removable yet doesn’t slip out like other things.
Barbara H.´s last post ..Inner Peace
I am a lot like you – I own bookmarks, probably lots of them, but I can never seem to find any when I need them! I think receipts make up the majority of my make shift bookmarks!
http://mommablogsalot.com/2010/10/fir-10-reading-question-4-keeping-your-place/
Jen E @ mommablogsalot´s last post ..now and then – rubber ducky ♥
I do both!
Lately I have been dog-earing since I seemed to have mis-placed my booksmarks. But I normally use a bookmark of some sort. Whether it be a picture or a scrap of paper. I hate ruining my books in a sense by dog-earing them!
I rarely use a bookmark. Occasionally if I have one handy I will use one, but usually I just close the book and find my spot again.
I’m a bookmarker through and through. Dog-earring gives me the willies. Since I collect bookmarks, you’d think I’d always be using a cool one, right? Not so, I am constantly having to leaf through my books to find bills, receipts, important mail, etc. that I have grabbed and stuffed in there in place of an actual bookmark.
Kristen´s last post ..Review- The Financial Lives of the Poets by Jess Walter
Well, I had Mrs. Tucker in third grade for reading, and she was a presence in my early years, so I NEVER dog-ear pages. Most of the time, I can find something handy to mark my page or I memorize the page number I was on. Sometimes, if it’s a paperback that I own I can (for a short time) backbend the spine. (I don’t like doing that either). I hear Mrs. Tucker’s voice when I’m tempted to fold down a corner! (She was also the one to read us the Hidden Room by Corrie Ten Boom!).
I love bookmarks and collect them almost as much as I do my books so I definitely always have one handy! I really hate to dog-ear pages…I’m really fussy with my books and I think dog-earing them looks scruffy so I don’t do it haha
Maryam´s last post ..Teaser Tuesday 9
I’m just going to come clean and admit that I dog ear books. It is a horrible habit, I know, and I apologize to everyone reading this who probably now thinks I am a complete Philistine, but it’s the truth. The only time I am able to force myself not to do it is when I have borrowed a book from someone and have to return it to them.
I will try to do better, I promise!
Trish´s last post ..Making A Clear Space
In general I won’t dog-ear a book unless I own it, it’s nonfiction, and it’s a section I want to refer back to. Dog-ears then are for return references, not holding my place in the book.
To hold my place in a book, I use bookmarks! However, if one’s not around, I have been known to use the following: my library card, coupons, and toilet paper!
Heather
Just the thought of dog-earing sends shivers down my spine. My mom has learned that I hate dog-earing because when she borrowed one of my books she dog-eared and I had to ask her not to do that anymore. I have no idea what it is with dog-earing that bugs me so much but bug me it does. So I use bookmarks but I seem to misplace them so a lot times my bookmark may be a piece of paper or something else I found near by.
I used to dog-ear ALL the time. Now it sort of bugs me. I usually use bookmarks, but also receipts, business cards and the like. If it’s hardcover, I use the dustjacket. My daughter’s books are often marked with tissues (clean of course!).
But what’s funny is that I DO dog-ear for purposes of keeping track of content for my reviews. I think I got into this habit because most were ARCs or Hardcovers that I wasn’t going to keep, but if I want to mark a passage or remember specific content, I don’t hesitate to dog-ear. Totally weird (I see that Heather is weird like me).
Jennifer, Snapshot´s last post ..Kids Picks for October
No dogearring!! Bookmark with anything available. My local library has free bookmarks on the checkout counter so I usually pick up one of those!
I’ve finally answered all four questions you’ve asked so far in one post. Here you go: http://markcarstairs.blogspot.com/2010/10/some-fall-into-reading-questions.html
I try very hard not to dog-ear my books. Occasionally it happens. For the most part I use the skinny (1/2″ wide) sticky notes. I started this years ago for two reasons. My students constantly lost bookmarks and I used them to divide their book into manageable pieces with a different colored sticky not to mark their place. When they start to lose their stickiness then I give them a new one. I also made bookmarks from ribbon, buttons and hair ties they slide in the page, come around the outside of the book and the hair tie is slipped over the button.
I never dog-ear pages. I’m not one to keep books so I don’t want to damage them in any way. I read either library books or books I plan to swap through paperbackswap so I try to keep them in good condition. I always use bookmarks or even just tuck a piece of scrap paper, receipt or whatever is handy in the page to hold my place.
Julie´s last post ..Its Monday! What Are You Reading
I love this question, and in general the reading challenge, though I admit I have not read 6 books! You are do ing so well.
I cannot dog ear a book, it just seems so wrong, and abusive…..I don’t know exactly where to track this back to. For some reason I agree with you that a paperback seems less precious . I rarely read any paperbacks, I much prefer the weight and type size of a hardcover book.
I recently lost a new bookmark I bought this summer, which really irritates me, because while I keep/collect bookmarks I like new ones too.
I always use a bookmark or something to mark my place. I cannot dog ear.
Brittanie´s last post ..Its Monday What Are You Reading October 18- 2010
No matter whether the book is old or new, mine or borrowed, I never dog-ear corners. I must admit that I did occasionally do this in college when I read novels and marked them all over with notes for my major. That worked wonders for information retrieval and retention, but I can’t bring myself to harm my sacred books now that I don’t have a good reason.
BTW, a month! A month! I am reading my longest and hardest books first, so at this point the progress is slow. Time to pick it up!!
Oh, my. I would never dog-ear a page of a real book, hard or soft cover. (Now magazines – that’s a different story). I am a faithful bookmark user.
But my real secret is post-it flags. I put 5 or 6 in the front of a book before I start reading it. Then I mark new words I need to look up, and mark passages that I need to type up and save. And reuse the flags again and again.
Thanks for the questions. These have been fun!
I use post-its too. I like that I can place it on the exact line where I stopped. Then when I pick it back up, I can start where I left off.
I’m a book mark user and will grab anything that will do the job, from those phony credit card looking things they send in the mail to scraps of paper to real bookmarks. I too have resorted to laying the book open face down if I can’t find a book mark. I figure it’s better than the dog earring.
I’ve become a collector of bookmarks lately. so I better use them! But when I need a bookmark and I don’t have one handy, I wouldn’t dog ear my pages. I’ll use a receipt, post-it, any piece of paper that I have handy. I’ve even started putting bookmarks in my books when I lend them out to friends so they won’t be tempted to bend the pages either.
Wow! Looks like a lot of bookmark users on here. So if I own the book, I always dogear it– paperback, hardback, even magazines! BUT if I borrow it from the library or a friend, I use a non-bookmark bookmark.. like you said, a scrap of paper or a receipt. I only use bookmarks in my Bible.
I never dog-ear corners unless it is a text book or music book.
(I don’t know why that is.)
I usually use bookmarks, sticky-notes, or anything I can find laying around at the time, which usually means parts of a napkin or Kleenex, rubberbands, or any crazy thing like that.
my comment is posted
http://myheartbelongs2books.blogspot.com/2010/10/fir-question-4.html
http://surrender2survive.blogspot.com/2010/10/fir-10-question-4.html
No dog ears!
Sometimes yes, more often no: http://frugalhippiebusy.wordpress.com/2010/11/20/fir-10-reading-question-4/
Joe´s last post ..FIR ’10 – Reading Question 4