After reading some descriptions of book tests in the magic
literature, most of which force a page and the word to be chosen
by some obvious mathematical scheme, I decided that I could
invent a Better Book Test. Here it is!
Any bookmark (it could be a playing card used as a bookmark-
it doesn't matter!) is stuck randomly in between the pages of a
randomly chosen book by Spectator #1. Spectator #2 takes the book
and freely calls out a number between 1 and 20 (or so) before
handing the book to Spectator #3. Spectator #3 opens the book at
the bookmark, counts down the lines of text to the number chosen
by Spectator #2 and writes down the first word on the line at the
same time as the mentalist writes down a word on a pad. Both show
their words at the same time and the words match. Not only that,
but the mentalist often can recite the entire sentence containing
the word.
This makes an ideal effect for a library show. Have the
librarian haul out the complete set of Harry Potter books to use
for your random selection, or any books that match their current
reading theme.
The method used allows for an even more mysterious
presentation in which you have Spectator #3 merely point to the
first word of ANY sentence or paragraph on the page chosen OR the
adjoining page. Then you recite the entire passage the person is
pointing at. First, of course, you would both write the first
word of the sentence or paragraph, and then you would say, for
example, "This is one of my favorite parts of the
book!" Conclude by reciting the entire passage aloud.
