When I buy books at brick & mortar stores, I keep the receipt in it. It's like cataloging it for me. I can go back and see when I bought it, where when I bought it (it's great when I buy a book while traveling, and when I bought it. My personal archive.
Exactly!!! If you take the book to a coffee shop and leave with a couple of coffee stains… even better in my book!
I am currently obsessed with this gold metallic pen that I stole from my kid and use for underlining. I know I will one day look at these books with the gold ink marks and know exactly when I read them!!!
Wonderful post. In my dresser, a relic from my earlier days, the drawers are lined with 1961 newspapers placed there by my mother. Can’t seem to upgrade to shelf paper.
I loved learning more about you through your ephemera. Recently I came across my mother’s ID, Social Security Card and Medicare card. I don’t know why I’m holding on to them, but can’t let them go. Your post reminds me of her ephemera.
I have a note in my drawer that my mother once left me telling me that she washed my clothes and they needed putting away!! Also, another on how to make dumplings...I can't part with them because they're in her handwriting and they somehow express how much she cared 💔
I love how we both have a local indie bookstore called Novel!! As a coincidence, your Substack landed in my inbox at the same time as Novel's latest newsletter.
Re finding things in books: one of the best things I started doing a couple of years ago was placing postcards, thank you notes, photos and even some special greetings cards inside books for safekeeping. I found that otherwise they would just clutter my drawers, and some were just too special to part with. This way, when I decide on a re-read, or I'm just having a wander of my bookshelves, I'm sparked by a memory of when I got the card/last read the book/visited that place. I think your note to me is in one, and also Haley's postcard! I also have drawings by my kids, usually as bookmarks they made for me. Now they're 25 and 18 and it just makes my heart melt a little 💔
Oh I love that. I think it's sort of what I do but I wasn't thoughtful about it. Now I will make point of it. Especially with the kid stuff... they generate SO MUCH and a lot of it is... well... nice try, honey... but I know I will miss it!!! Ok. Cried again.
Oh stationery / paper ephemera are one of my weaknesses. Recently I bought a book on an online second hand shop (it's not easy or cheap to buy books in English where I live now) and the receipt inside told me that the first owner bought it at the LRB bookstore. I couldn't help it, my eyes filled with tears, that's one of the bookshops I bought from regularly while I lived in London.
That's just wonderful!!! I love it. Used books are such treasure troves and I love it when booksellers just leave the ephemera where it belongs, with the book itself.
“My books are not pristine objects. They’re more like field journals — weathered, annotated, layered with the detritus of daily life. Sometimes there’s literal mud.
That afternoon, as I flipped and sorted and re-stacked, I realized I’d accidentally assembled a kind of portrait of myself — not in prose, but in paper.”
When I’m happy, I go to a bookstore. When I’m heartbroken, I go to a bookstore. When the day is shapeless and I don’t know what to do with myself, I head to a bookstore.
These women, these notes — they remind me I’m not writing into a void. That we are not here for content. We are here for connection.”
YES YES YES.
Honored to be included amongst your treasures and honored to be here.
These glimpses into your reading life are such a treat. Thank you, Petya.
I have so much ephemera in my books and around my writing desk (which I love) that I’ve now started an ephemera journal—-what’s now being called junk journaling by the internet. It’s been so fun putting it together. If someone flipped through my books they would find I save everything as a bookmark, I love sticky tabs, I’m great with a ruler, and I have amazing book friends.
Have you tried Pango? It's a used book app and you can tag authors/titles you're looking for, and it will notify you when someone puts a book up for sale.
I love this. Inside one of my most beloved books, I have a post-it note my friend tucked inside the front cover — it just says “love you bug” and she stickered it in there because she knew I’d find it when I needed it. I’ve kept it ever since ❤️
I love the way you’ve captured how the books we read can become journals.
When I worked as a library clerk finding funky ephemera hidden in the pages of returned books was one of the most magical things about an already magical job- postcards, cocktail napkins, grocery lists, puzzle pieces, photos, receipts, greeting cards, old plane tickets. We saw it all! If it was something too precious we'd try and track down the owner.
Loved this piece. But now I feel the inside of my books don’t tell who I am. I think the only paper ephemera I might have there is bookmarks. I love bookmarks and I have a lot of them.
Thank you for reading this, Raquel. Our reading lives take many forms, and yours—marked by beautiful bookmarks—is just as rich and intentional. However it shows up, it counts.
I came to the States as an international student in 1999 and until we moved to Memphis in 2009, I lived out of the two free suitcases that were allowed on International flights back then. We have been in our house since 2020 and I love how cozy it's getting over here but I shudder at the thought of moving. All three of us seem to have the collector gene and we are constantly running out of bookshelf space...
When I buy books at brick & mortar stores, I keep the receipt in it. It's like cataloging it for me. I can go back and see when I bought it, where when I bought it (it's great when I buy a book while traveling, and when I bought it. My personal archive.
Exactly!!! If you take the book to a coffee shop and leave with a couple of coffee stains… even better in my book!
I am currently obsessed with this gold metallic pen that I stole from my kid and use for underlining. I know I will one day look at these books with the gold ink marks and know exactly when I read them!!!
Wonderful post. In my dresser, a relic from my earlier days, the drawers are lined with 1961 newspapers placed there by my mother. Can’t seem to upgrade to shelf paper.
Oh I love that so much.
I loved learning more about you through your ephemera. Recently I came across my mother’s ID, Social Security Card and Medicare card. I don’t know why I’m holding on to them, but can’t let them go. Your post reminds me of her ephemera.
I wouldn’t be able to get rid of them either. I love that you can put them in a pocket and feel like you are holding hands with her. 🥹
That's beautiful💕
I have a note in my drawer that my mother once left me telling me that she washed my clothes and they needed putting away!! Also, another on how to make dumplings...I can't part with them because they're in her handwriting and they somehow express how much she cared 💔
I did not expect to cry as I was writing it but I have cried twice already reading the comments today. I love that you have these notes from your mom.
Awww, thank you, Petya!
Oh yes on the paper ephemera! And stationary supply lover here too! Great post thanks for sharing.
I save everything!!! 🤣
I love how we both have a local indie bookstore called Novel!! As a coincidence, your Substack landed in my inbox at the same time as Novel's latest newsletter.
Re finding things in books: one of the best things I started doing a couple of years ago was placing postcards, thank you notes, photos and even some special greetings cards inside books for safekeeping. I found that otherwise they would just clutter my drawers, and some were just too special to part with. This way, when I decide on a re-read, or I'm just having a wander of my bookshelves, I'm sparked by a memory of when I got the card/last read the book/visited that place. I think your note to me is in one, and also Haley's postcard! I also have drawings by my kids, usually as bookmarks they made for me. Now they're 25 and 18 and it just makes my heart melt a little 💔
Oh I love that. I think it's sort of what I do but I wasn't thoughtful about it. Now I will make point of it. Especially with the kid stuff... they generate SO MUCH and a lot of it is... well... nice try, honey... but I know I will miss it!!! Ok. Cried again.
Oh stationery / paper ephemera are one of my weaknesses. Recently I bought a book on an online second hand shop (it's not easy or cheap to buy books in English where I live now) and the receipt inside told me that the first owner bought it at the LRB bookstore. I couldn't help it, my eyes filled with tears, that's one of the bookshops I bought from regularly while I lived in London.
That's just wonderful!!! I love it. Used books are such treasure troves and I love it when booksellers just leave the ephemera where it belongs, with the book itself.
Beauty beyond words 💕📚💕
Thank you, friend!
Rumi’s art! 🖼️ I love! 🐛
BUTT REALLY 😂
So many favorites in this post.
“My books are not pristine objects. They’re more like field journals — weathered, annotated, layered with the detritus of daily life. Sometimes there’s literal mud.
That afternoon, as I flipped and sorted and re-stacked, I realized I’d accidentally assembled a kind of portrait of myself — not in prose, but in paper.”
When I’m happy, I go to a bookstore. When I’m heartbroken, I go to a bookstore. When the day is shapeless and I don’t know what to do with myself, I head to a bookstore.
These women, these notes — they remind me I’m not writing into a void. That we are not here for content. We are here for connection.”
YES YES YES.
Honored to be included amongst your treasures and honored to be here.
These glimpses into your reading life are such a treat. Thank you, Petya.
I have so much ephemera in my books and around my writing desk (which I love) that I’ve now started an ephemera journal—-what’s now being called junk journaling by the internet. It’s been so fun putting it together. If someone flipped through my books they would find I save everything as a bookmark, I love sticky tabs, I’m great with a ruler, and I have amazing book friends.
SUBSTACK HEAVEN INDEED 🤗
Well.... reader request: when you are ready, please make us a post with pages from your new ephemera / junk journal. That's the stuff I live for!!!
Thank you so much for supporting my soul in more ways than I can ever express.
Absolutely will make a post about it!! ☺️ and it's been my pleasure. Truly.
Have you tried Pango? It's a used book app and you can tag authors/titles you're looking for, and it will notify you when someone puts a book up for sale.
NO... but, holy smokes, THANK YOU!!!
8000! Holy smokes! Congrats! That's wonderful!
Thank you so much, Mike! I love our Substack universe of book nerds.
Also, I’m so glad you’re a fan of Womb House, too! I’m obsessed. I’ve gotten so many books from there! And a hat and a tote! 😂
I love this. Inside one of my most beloved books, I have a post-it note my friend tucked inside the front cover — it just says “love you bug” and she stickered it in there because she knew I’d find it when I needed it. I’ve kept it ever since ❤️
I love the way you’ve captured how the books we read can become journals.
YES!!!! The books we read can become journals. Love you bug.
When I worked as a library clerk finding funky ephemera hidden in the pages of returned books was one of the most magical things about an already magical job- postcards, cocktail napkins, grocery lists, puzzle pieces, photos, receipts, greeting cards, old plane tickets. We saw it all! If it was something too precious we'd try and track down the owner.
oh my god 🥹🥹🥹
Loved this piece. But now I feel the inside of my books don’t tell who I am. I think the only paper ephemera I might have there is bookmarks. I love bookmarks and I have a lot of them.
Thank you for reading this, Raquel. Our reading lives take many forms, and yours—marked by beautiful bookmarks—is just as rich and intentional. However it shows up, it counts.
I wish I could see your bookmark collection!
Thank you for replying Petya! I am loving being a paid subscriber to your wonderful newsletter. It has been such a joy!
I’ll make my bookmark collection a post! And tag you as my inspiration to do it!
Ask and you shall receive!!! THANK YOU!
I try and pick up a bookmark at every new country I visit:)
Oh that’s such a great idea!
i love that too!
Can you let me know where you got those beautiful Cyrillic flash cards?
They are vintage cards from Etsy and I got them about 10 years ago. I found these ones that look similar but the seller reviews are mixed:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/171038515/3-vintage-russian-flash-cards-1959?ls=s&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=vintage&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=cyrillic+flash+cards&ref=sr_gallery-1-2&sr_prefetch=1&content_source=8df3790fc8ba4529e32769618413e93bbbe4d8bb%253A171038515&organic_search_click=1&logging_key=8df3790fc8ba4529e32769618413e93bbbe4d8bb%3A171038515
this was so beautiful!
Thank you so much, Zoe!
Wow Petya, this was amazing! I don't tuck stuff into books but I LOVE buying used books and finding things others have.
Oh, and I'm a sucker for paper goods too, though moving has forced me to be more considerate about what I keep 😭
I came to the States as an international student in 1999 and until we moved to Memphis in 2009, I lived out of the two free suitcases that were allowed on International flights back then. We have been in our house since 2020 and I love how cozy it's getting over here but I shudder at the thought of moving. All three of us seem to have the collector gene and we are constantly running out of bookshelf space...