Between the pages

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of working at a large used bookstore -- a book warehouse, actually -- and one of my favorite tasks was the shelving of the new stock. Not only did it give me a first-hand look at the new titles coming in the door, it also gave me a chance to flip through whatever was in my hands and unearth the treasures the books' previous owners inadvertently left behind. Most often, this booty took the form of bookmarks, which I always kept (despite having hundreds of these things, I never seem to have one around when I need one). Every so often, though, I found something more exotic, like a family photo, someone's personal writing, postcards, and so. One time, while handling a copy of Bram Stoker's Dracula, I came across a postcard with a picture of the ruins of a castle that, according to person who wrote on the back of it, "inspired Stoker to write the story."

Anyway, while searching the "book news" today, I came across the following review of “Forgotten Bookmarks: A Bookseller’s Collection of Odd Things Lost Between the Pages.” Seeing it made me think of the time I spent working in that bookstore and so I thought I'd share it with you here. Enjoy.