I would like to take a minute to appreciate the humble bookmark. It’s rare that I’ve seen material in the bookish culture celebrating it. In a plethora of paraphernalia that pays homage to book covers, old-fashioned library catalog cards, library due stamps, the written word, etc. little is said about the bookmark. Oh there are some very nice, very fancy ones available out there. You can find whimsical bookmarks of all kinds. But no one really talks about them. Most bookish conversations begin with “Oh! I read this really cool book by this new (or classic) author…” and not with “Oh! I found this really awesome bookmark and I am excited to use it…”
There are several possibilities as to why this is. First, with the advent of ebooks, bookmarks are less and less necessary. Second, when they are necessary, bookmarks are possibly so necessary that they are taken for granted. It’s simply considered a prop so our fuzzy brains do not have to remember which page we stopped at. Another reason may be that folks simply do not use them. I know I have used every scrap of paper, yarn, pencils or whatever I had on hand when I needed one.
Lately, however, I have been making sure I use one of my myriad bookmarks. In part because “Why not? I have them so might as well use them” and partly in solidarity with real books over e-books (though don’t get me wrong, I love my Kindle and Nook) and, increasingly, for the satisfaction. It makes reading a book so much more special, to pick out a matching bookmark. Something that goes with the subject of the book. Like my leather book brought back from Ireland for reading The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England even though the embossing is of various lorries. It’s the feel and smell that makes it a good pairing. It’s also fun to mix and match bookmarks and books. Like the pirate flag one for Twelfth Night or the one with horseshoe crabs for a Jane Austen novel, both bookmarks from a family vacation that took us to Bodie Island Lighthouse and were purchased in the lighthouse gift shop. There’s also something about using bookmarks that were given by those who know and respect your deep regard for all things bookish. It’s nice to remember them while curled up with a favorite read, as if they too get a chance to enjoy the book with you.
It’s a simple pleasure, to be sure. But is that not a large part of reading itself? Next time you go to read, think about how you keep track of your place and choose your bookmark carefully. Add a little pleasure to your life and appreciate the humble bookmark.
