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Do you keep a record/journal of every book you read?

63 replies

waltzingparrot · 27/07/2022 12:12

Anyone else record all their reading? Or maybe you just have better memories than me.

I joined a book club in 2011 and bought a journal to record every book we've read, score it out of 10 and give it a review.

Just skipped through it.

Weirdest novelsl I've ever read: "Hello Kitty Must Die"
"The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse" Review just said 'Weirdly mesmerising but WTF was that about?'

Only 3 books scored 10 points :
The Painted Veil - W Somerset Maugham
Lottery - Patricia Wood
Elephant Moon - John Sweeney

Worst and best books anyone?

OP posts:
Bettyboop3 · 28/07/2022 08:17

I keep a notebook with the authors in alphabetical order purely to ensure i don't start a book i've already read as i read a lot!

princessbear80 · 28/07/2022 08:11

I found I wasn’t reading as much as I used to. I joined a book group and have been reading more. Since then I’ve started using GoodReads. I set myself a target of 24 books a year, and this helps me keep track.

Nyman1962 · 28/07/2022 08:10

I'm a huge reader and have always kept a list of books read, with dates, publication details.
Some years ago now I entered the data on a lovely excel spreadsheet

overitall1 · 28/07/2022 08:04

I use the app 'reading list' - currently reading my 55th book this year.

RoseHarper · 28/07/2022 07:57

I read on kindle so once finished I move into a collection for that year. I'm on the 50 book challenge so easy to keep track of numbers and can see year on year what I've read.

Dalekjastninerels · 28/07/2022 07:28

Norugratsatall · 27/07/2022 21:55

Yes I've kept a list of books I've read since 1978. Blush

I wish I had started journalling earlier.

I started on 1/1/2017 with my Art Journals .

Cotswoldmama · 28/07/2022 07:00

I use Goodreads too. I've only just started using it this year as my family having started a WhatsApp book club and I've been making an effort to read more. I've managed 43 books so far this year!

JudithandHolofernesHead · 28/07/2022 06:55

All I have is my Kindle library.

ChessieFL · 28/07/2022 06:51

I do and I keep three different records! I keep a notebook where I write a brief review of the book. I do look back on these quite often. I also keep a spreadsheet which I use to look at things like how many male v female authors, how many kindle v physical books, fiction v non-fiction etc. I also use Goodreads although I only give a star rating on there, I don’t write full reviews. Goodreads is handy for quickly checking to see if I’ve read a particular book before.

Linnet · 27/07/2022 22:14

I use Goodreads to keep track of my books. I don’t post reviews but I do give a rating out of 5.
I run a book group and one year for a gift they gave me a book journal to use, but I’ve never used it 😯 haven’t told them that though.

Honnomushi · 27/07/2022 22:12

I have for the last few years. I've started using Storygraph which is brilliant! Easy to use, nice lay out and allows you to give half stars. I particularly love the graphs it draws for you.

LucyLoopyLu · 27/07/2022 21:59

No, I wish I did but to be honest I read a lot of shit as well as good stuff and I am a big re-reader for comfort so it seems a bit pointless to keep writing the same titles down. Do you write audiobooks down as well?
I did once try to do a review of every book I read for a year but didn't even make it through January

SortingOffice · 27/07/2022 21:56

Started when DS2 was a reluctant reader aged 6. We both kept a book diary, he's 24 now. I've kept the diary up ever since and DS2 became a keen reader unlike DS1 who was reading at 4 but hasn't read a book for pleasure since he was 10.
There are a few 10/10s. Life after Life was the most recent.
I can be brutally honest which I wouldn't be on a public book review.

Norugratsatall · 27/07/2022 21:55

Yes I've kept a list of books I've read since 1978. Blush

autienotnaughty · 27/07/2022 21:51

I log all books on good reads. I've read 67 books this year so far. The best was It ends with us Colleen Hoover a d the worst was The perfect wife by JP Delaney.

Allmarbleslost · 27/07/2022 19:27

I keep a list. I'm terrible at remembering book titles so the list ensures I don't get the same book twice!

SummaLuvin · 27/07/2022 19:26

Goodreads.

I always rate books I finish, but never review. I scan other peoples reviews when I am deciding what to read and that is handy. I also find it useful as I have found a couple of friend/acquaintance who have similar taste to me so I watch out for books they rate 4 & 5 stars.

I use the 'want to read' shelf feature as a way to keep a list of books recommended to me, or I see and look good so I don't forget. Once I have finished all the books I own and haven't read I plan on taking the list to my library and seeing what they have.

I just wish their rating system was out of 10 not 5, sometimes 3 seems generous and 2 seems harsh.

prinnycessa · 27/07/2022 18:14

I use goodreads. I put books on my TBR on there and when I'm reading a boom I input it also. Once I finished I update it and give it a score out of 5. It's nice to look back!

JaninaDuszejko · 27/07/2022 18:13

I keep a book diary and have done since 1994. I just record the date, title and author, no reviews. It's still interesting to look back. In the 90s I read mainly men, now I read mainly women.

mimbleandlittlemy · 27/07/2022 16:15

Yes, I've done it for about 20 years. I keep them in my diary but nowadays also keep them on Goodreads.

garlictwist · 27/07/2022 16:01

I write them down in a notebook by year with a star next to the ones I've enjoyed. I never really look back on it so not sure why I do it, tbh!

Musicaltheatremum · 27/07/2022 14:41

onemouseplace · 27/07/2022 13:43

I have a spreadsheet! A tab for each year and I like to look back over what I've been reading.

Oh I love spreadsheets but never thought of using one for this. What a great thread

terriblyangryattimes · 27/07/2022 14:34

I've been using Goodreads since 2011 and I love it. If for any reason it went subscription only I'd pay for it. I rarely write a full review but I give a star rating and can add books to various digital shelves too (books about war, strong female characters, books I always reccomend etc)

I read mostly on an ereader app on my phone so it's a great way for me to see (digitally at least) what I've read in one place as I don't have the luxury of shelves full of books.

moreteensthansense · 27/07/2022 14:20

(I do find it useful when I start a book and it feels a bit familiar! I can usually find it on the list somewhere)

moreteensthansense · 27/07/2022 14:11

Yes I do - mine dates back to 2002. There are some books listed that I have absolutely zero recollection of, but most I can remember a little. I wish I had left a sentence or two to remind myself if I liked them or not!