Unconventional Bookmarks: How Far Will You Go?

Today’s post is something light fun and very reader-oriented, because I want to know

What are some of the weirdest things you’ve ever used for a bookmark?

This is about those moments in need when you’ve left the house and started a book and am a decent way through it and drat! You don’t have a bookmark.

Now you’ve got to figure out what to put in your book–a pen? No, too bulky. A tissue? Eww, it’s half used. Something, oh something please show up!

I’ll start off with some absurd things I’ve used as bookmarks, although I feel like they’re pretty tame compared to some things y’all might have up your sleeves…

Oh, and one last thing before we begin: No Dogearing Allowed. Not on my turf.

5. Goodreads

Honestly, I feel like a lot of people forget about this.

But sometimes, when I’m pressed for time and can’t even be bothered to find a substitute bookmark, I snatch out my phone and write my page number down in my notes, or if I have a few extra seconds, I go on Goodreads and update my progress so I remember my page.

I should definitely use this more often instead of sticking miscellaneous items in my books, but sometimes ugh technology and I’m just not prepared to whip out my phone at any given second.

But, this is definitely a good way to keep weird objects out of your book and also keep track of the exact page you were on!

4. A Napkin

Unused–duh!

Tissues are too dusty so I don’t like using them as substitute bookmarks, but napkins are sturdier and less fluffy, so they won’t must up my book. At least, as long as they’re clean they won’t.

This isn’t ideal for me, because they’re still floppy and annoying, but clean napkins aren’t the worst thing you can stick in your book…right?

3. A Drink Coaster

This is one of my not so great ideas because

1. Drink coasters are sometimes wet.
2. Drink coasters (the non cheap ones) are usually thick and hard and scratchy.

Luckily, my bookmark substitute didn’t cause any bookish casualties, but it’s a good thing I didn’t have any drink rings wet on the coaster or that I left it in the book for too long, because bad things could have happened.

In retrospect, I should have picked something else, literally anything else (a pen would honestly be better) than a potentially harmful drink coaster. Ah well, c’est la vie!

2. Another Book

Oof.

I probably shouldn’t have done this, because now two books are split open wider than a bookmark does, vs. just one book, but I couldn’t help it! I tried making them share a bookmark between them (one end in each book) but it wasn’t really working and hard to transport. So alas, I opened each book to the necessary page and stuck them together.

Not my brightest idea, if I say so myself. But desperate times call for desperate measures. Maybe if I had a tiny book I could use it as a bookmark, like A Quick and Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns!

Either way, it was only for a short while and I think both books ended up safe in the end. And by safe I mean “not catastrophically damaged.”

1. My Eyeglasses

And now we arrive at The Worst Idea In History™.

Whatever part of my brain that said “Oh, just take your glasses off and stick them in the book” was obviously not the part of my brain that is acquainted with my eyes.

Because I am blind as a bat without my glasses. I literally cannot see more than a couple steps ahead of me, and it is not fun.

So whatever impulse that told me to put my glasses in my book, obviously didn’t want my to actually find a decent bookmark because after I was not able to see clearly and had a not so fun time searching for something suitable.

Alas, the trials and tribulations of people with imperfect vision. All this could have been avoided with some good ol’ common sense. Alas.

What are the weirdest items you’ve ever used as a bookmark? I want to hear ALL the crazy stories!