Where do you put your bookmark in your book?

[fantastic mx. foxglove]

When I was in school, a friend took a look through a book I was reading and either the bookmark fell out or the bookmark was already out when she picked it up. When she put the bookmark in between the pages I was reading, I told her that she put it in wrong. She had put it with the back of the bookmark facing the page I was on, which was the page on the left, whereas I put it in with the picture facing the page I was on. She explained it that she saw it as, "It's like the picture is on the page you left off," whereas I explained it like I saw the picture as an arrow that pointed to the correct one of the two pages

 

I randomly remembered this today, so I want to ask:

When you put your bookmark in a book, do you have the picture on the bookmark facing the page you left on or away from it?

 

If none of this makes any sense, I have a visual explanation in the spoiler

 

Spoiler

This is the book you're reading, open to where you last left off. You have read up to the page on the left (let's call it page 99):

 

This is what your bookmark looks like. On one side of it is Bluey, while the other side is blank:

 

When you put your bookmark in your book, do you leave it there with Bluey facing page 99 where you left off, or is she facing away from it (towards page 100)?

 

[Olallieberry]

I put the bookmark on the right-hand page, with the bookmark picture facing out, before closing the book.

 

Then I just remember which of the two pages I was on.

 

So... different option than any of the ones offered

[Guest]

If I have an actual bookmark, I always put it in with the picture side facing up. I generally stop reading at a chapter break so it's clear where I left off. But I usually don't use designated bookmarks, just whatever scrap of paper is handy. 

[lovely_xm07]

I don’t usually have bookmarks on me often so I just the classic “fold the corners of the page” trick. It used to not be that big of a deal for me until I grew to like books more. Now it’s annoying seeing the corners have the folded mark on it. When I do have a bookmark, I do have the “picture on it facing the page that I left on” thing. Sometimes if the books come with those book cover things, I use the flaps as bookmarks.

[Catserole]

I just put the bookmark between the two pages I was reading. I don't pay any attention to the facing of the bookmark because I don't generally have any problem finding where to start reading again.

[Guest]

it has never occored to me to use the bookmark to denote which page I'm on. but then, I have terrible memory when it comes to scenes so i like rereading to get back in the flow

[Lino]

The thing with me is that I never like to stop a book unless I'm at the very beginning of a two-page spread (so the page on the left). I always have the picture facing up because I like looking at the picture. 😂

[Ceebs]

2 hours ago, Olallieberry said:

I put the bookmark on the right-hand page, with the bookmark picture facing out, before closing the book.

 

Then I just remember which of the two pages I was on.

 

So... different option than any of the ones offered

Yep, exactly this.

[iff]

I never gave which way bookmarks face much thought.

My own method tend to be to finish on the first sensible break (new paragraph, new section etc) in reading on an even numbered page.

 

Also finishing on a new chapter is great too

[Pack rat]

You guys use bookmarks?

 

I just finish the chapter i’m on, and stick the receipt in there.

[asexualien]

Most of the time, the picture of whatever prominent design is facing whichever side the cover is on. I read manga too, so that’s why I say that. There are times where I simply don’t think too much about it. It depends. 

[Starfarer]

I struggle with reading generally, due to concentration largely.

 

However, there are a couple of "novel" length "stories" I read every now and again on Word documents, and I simply type (BOOKMARK) where-ever I break, and always make sure it is at a specific break point.

[KVA1983]

6 minutes ago, Starfarer said:

I struggle with reading generally, due to concentration largely.

This! I've ADHD all I need is the smallest distraction and I am off on another adventure never mind through a book 😂 

 

But I'd love to try do reading this year.

[nickolekuebler]

21 minutes ago, KVA1983 said:

This! I've ADHD all I need is the smallest distraction and I am off on another adventure never mind through a book 😂 

 

But I'd love to try do reading this year.

I too have adhd and struggle with reading because of it. I love to read though so I just try to read slow and will reread pages a lot so that I actually know what I just read and don't forget immediately. I will also just try to read a couple pages and then go off and do something else and come back to it rather quickly again. I had a teacher in school that was also adhd and so that is how she would teach is to change subjects quickly. I was really good that year cause I was able to keep up and remain concentrated because of it. 

 

I tend to not buy book marks, I will use the receipt from the store or something along those lines for a bookmark. I have this little problem of loosing them or forgetting where I put them last so why spend money on something I will loose when I can use something random and not have to care. the book that I am reading right now I got a picture with it so I am using the picture as a bookmark.  

[daveb]

In some cases, I either use some scrap of paper or an old empty envelope as a bookmark. In other cases, I use free bookmarks from the bookstores I shop at, which usually have stuff on both sides and not particular or obvious front side. In any case, I try to stop at a natural break, such as a chapter or section where they left a space of other indication of a break. If I have to close the book before I can reach a break I usually just remember where I left off, and if not, I might read a few paragraphs or lines I already read, which might refresh my memory anyway.

 

So it's not exactly "I don't care". I definitely don't dog-ear the book! I am picky about how I treat my books, which is one reason I don't like to lend them out to others.  

[A User]

I remember which of the two pages I'm on

[KVA1983]

3 hours ago, nickolekuebler said:

I love to read though so I just try to read slow and will reread pages a lot so that I actually know what I just read and don't forget immediately. I will also just try to read a couple pages and then go off and do something else and come back to it rather quickly again. I had a teacher in school that was also adhd and so that is how she would teach is to change subjects quickly. I was really good that year cause I was able to keep up and remain concentrated because of it. 

I might try doing that to see if it works. I normally set a timer before doing anything that requires my attention span to last a long time. Once it reaches the end I allow myself to go do something else a bit more relaxing.

 

I was awful for many reasons when I got the chance to attend school, I learn vetter by visually than I do with someone mentally trying to get me to retain the information. If I liked the subject, whole different scenario but if I didn't I just couldn't (Maths).

[nickolekuebler]

14 hours ago, KVA1983 said:

I might try doing that to see if it works. I normally set a timer before doing anything that requires my attention span to last a long time. Once it reaches the end I allow myself to go do something else a bit more relaxing.

 

I was awful for many reasons when I got the chance to attend school, I learn vetter by visually than I do with someone mentally trying to get me to retain the information. If I liked the subject, whole different scenario but if I didn't I just couldn't (Maths).

Trust me I get that. I got my ged cause I didn't graduate high school and my gpa from school was a 0.2. so low that they almost just gave me a 0 all together. but in college it was a totally different scenario. I have a 3.5 gpa in college. I learn best hands on so I always do way better in labs and things like that cause I actually get to be hands on so I remember it way better. I also take the worlds worst notes and don't know how to study. I only do good on tests if it is something that I find interesting then I will remember more about it. I am also really good at anything that is logic based. 

[KVA1983]

59 minutes ago, nickolekuebler said:

Trust me I get that. I got my ged cause I didn't graduate high school and my gpa from school was a 0.2. so low that they almost just gave me a 0 all together. but in college it was a totally different scenario. I have a 3.5 gpa in college. I learn best hands on so I always do way better in labs and things like that cause I actually get to be hands on so I remember it way better. I also take the worlds worst notes and don't know how to study. I only do good on tests if it is something that I find interesting then I will remember more about it. I am also really good at anything that is logic based. 

That's awesome you still achieved the score of 3.5. I never got any education because as you know what happened so all my knowledge is self taught and life experiences. I would love to attend night school and gain my Maths, English and Science. 

 

I'm more logical minded as well, seems to be a common ground with those who have ADHD. 

[Picklethewickle]

If keeping track of the page is important, I have a magnetic bookmark that folds over the page. I place the "front" (the side with the biggest picture) so it is clasped over top the page I am reading.

[Dagomir]

Mostly I just remember where I stopped. Having said that, the number of long books that would even need to be bookmarked, that I have read in the recent years, is neglible 😕 

[allhailtheglowcloud]

I use literally anything as a bookmark, and I put it on the right hand side page (not really facing any particular direction). Currently I am using a small Frisbee as a bookmark.

[Olallieberry]

On 1/2/2025 at 11:08 AM, allhailtheglowcloud said:

Currently I am using a small Frisbee as a bookmark.

Sometimes I use another book-in-progress as a bookmark.

[allhailtheglowcloud]

13 minutes ago, Olallieberry said:

Sometimes I use another book-in-progress as a bookmark.

Honestly, me too... 

[Olallieberry]

50 minutes ago, allhailtheglowcloud said:

Honestly, me too... 

ever use two books to bookmark each other at the same time?

 

Then, when you pick one up to read it, you have to figure out how to mark the place in the un-used book.

 

At that point I’ll probably temporarily put it upside-down and open to the spot I’m saving.

 

This is very bad for books and can damage them, so, not a good way to mark the spot. I rationalize it as if there’s a “half hour rule” for books like the five-second rule for food.

[allhailtheglowcloud]

5 minutes ago, Olallieberry said:

ever use two books to bookmark each other at the same time?

 

Then, when you pick one up to read it, you have to figure out how to mark the place in the un-used book.

 

At that point I’ll probably temporarily put it upside-down and open to the spot I’m saving.

 

This is very bad for books and can damage them, so, not a good way to mark the spot. I rationalize it as if there’s a “half hour rule” for books like the five-second rule for food.

At that point I tend to pick up the first thing I see and use it as a temporary bookmark (except, it seems, an actual bookmark)

[Olallieberry]

4 minutes ago, allhailtheglowcloud said:

I tend to pick up the first thing I see and use it as a temporary bookmark (except, it seems, an actual bookmark)

I mean, if one looks and doesn’t see one…

[Barbio]

Not sure how to answer. I guess I probably do "picture-side up" more often?

My favorite bookmarks are "corner" bookmarks; I like those better than the long, rectangular ones, because they don't get lost inside the book as easily (and that way you don't have to dog-ear the pages). I like books with those built-in ribbon bookmarks, too- those are handy!

[daveb]

1 hour ago, Barbio said:

I like books with those built-in ribbon bookmarks, too- those are handy!

Oh, yeah. I like those, too.  

[Sally]

I don't care which side the bookmark is on; I can usually look at the two pages shown by the bookmark and see where I left off reading.