My friends know I'm a big reader. Mostly because I bug them incessantly about books they ABSOLUTELY MUST READ. (Which they never do, the bastards!)
When I was asked what I wanted for Christmas about twenty years ago, I said "oh, a nice bookmark would be awesome!" or something like that. And whoever it was took that to heart and gave me a lovely one made of pewter, with a customized "ex libris [my name]" in enamel inlay.
Of course, I thanked them heartily. And for the next year, there wasn't a day when that bookmark couldn't be found in a nearby book.
Next Christmas: Two more bookmarks. (One was from a Christmas market in Germany!). And of course, I thanked the givers heartily. And all three bookmarks got plenty of use.
That as all it took. Word got out. I was "the bookmark guy." "Get Henry a bookmark! He loves bookmarks!"
The years rolled by, like so many bookmarks piled on the arms of easy chairs.
Now, my library has a ceramic bowl with over two dozen bookmarks piled in it. They range from the elaborate (the pewter one) to the cheap (paper with motivational sayings). There's a mix of serious/artistic bookmarks and silly ones, like the pig head bookmark with a Mark Twain (mis)quote: "never try to teach a pig to read. It's a waste of your time, and it annoys the pig." There are different materials: the aforementioned pewter, leather with magnets, glass, paper… the options are infinite, as apparently are my friends' willingness to buy me more.
I have had to resort to mnemonics to remember who gave me which one, so that I can "casually" have a book on a table with a bookmark they gave me when friends drop by. (I know- stop encouraging them!)
Oddly enough, it's that first bookmark that gets the most use. I'm just not sure what to do with the rest of them.
Anyway, just thought I'd share. Call it a cautionary tale.
by hendergle
5 Comments
Maybe some sort of frame or display for them would look neat. You could rotate them seasonally even if you have enough!
You’re lucky. No matter what I say I like, I only ever get socks
Similar story when I had a friend who loved owls I started to occasionally buy her some little unique owl trinkets and my sister was with me on one of these trips. Told the whole family I love owls. Spent the next three holidays surrounded by owl stuff.
Id prefer bookmarks haha
“so that I can “casually” have a book on a table with a bookmark they gave me when friends drop by”
lol chill out man.
I use whatever piece of paper or bookmark I have lying around and then leave it in the book when I’m done so I always have a need for things to use as bookmarks.
I like doing this because now when I look through my shelves I can pick a book up and find a photograph of someone I used to know, or a flyer for a show I went to, or a plane ticket and it helps me reflect on the time period in which I read the book and the experience of reading it.