How do you organise your reading?

[rickyrickygrimes]

Paper wish list ? Physical pile of books? Some electronic wish list? What works best?

Do you have a goal? Like reading the classics, or some other ‘must read before you die’ list?

My reading has got very random and messy and I think it’s putting me off actually reading anything. I have a few books I ‘have’ to read each month (book clubs) but otherwise its random purchases on kindle, which then seem to disappear into the whole library of rubbish that I’ve built up. I read reviews in newspapers and think ooh I’d like to read that, then forget.

and my kindle is a Mess. It’s so unappealing to go raking around in it. And it’s so slow and clunky - it’s not old, it’s just the design of them I think compared to an iPad / tablet.

I use the Amazon wish list, even though usually get from Bookshop.org for physical books.

I used Bookly for a while it’s an app. I don’t know why I stopped. I am mostly like you, chaotic !

Kindle. I have loads I want to read already. I am also in a book group.

I keep my unread books together - some on shelving upstairs, some just piled up on a storage unit the living room. I have a small notebook where I write down what I've read, with dates, and anything I consider worth re-reading I mark with an asterisk. That's as far as it goes for being organised.

I don't have any specific order in mind for the TBR pile, sometimes its dependent on mood, other times I'll pick up two or three books and read a few pages of each before deciding which to focus on first.

Putting myself under pressure never works, I dropped out of the 50 books challenge here early on. I'm not in any book groups and I don't have a Kindle. I'm more of a free spirit, sometimes I read intensely other times sporadically. I prefer to just go with the flow rather than having an organised plan of any sort.

I see books I would enjoy, in charity shops, online … anywhere. I buy them and put them on my side table. When I have read them, I put them on the shelves. I currently have 19 awaiting my attention. No other system, no notes, no record of them.

I'm probably a bit haphazard, I have a pile of books next to the bed bought from charity shops, some classics, some that just caught my eye. I have about 40 on an Audible wishlist a real mix. I used to feel pressure to read the classics and the Russians, and I do from time to time, but it shouldn't be a chore. Don't put pressure on yourself, just read one book at a time and enjoy. I keep track of what I read by posting on social media.

My TBR list is on good reads app. Which I also use to log books I have read. I have a section of the bookcase with TBR books and move them over once read. My Kindle I only download 1 book at a time and delete once finished.

I have a small notebook where I write down what I've read, with dates, and anything I consider worth re-reading I mark with an asterisk. That's as far as it goes for being organised.

I have all my digital books on a spreadsheet so that I can log what I have read and what I thought about the book. It's a bit anal, I know 😁

In the Books app on my iPad, I've added a collection called '2025'. When I open the app, I go straight to this collection without getting sidetracked by all the other books in my library.

Problem is, there are more books in my 2025 collection than I can read in a year. But no matter, when the new year rolls around, I'll simply rename it '2026' and keep reading :)

I use the Goodreads app, plus I make a rough order of what I am going to read next on my bedside table shelves and update once a month-ish

I plan my reading each month. This year I’m reading book club books, aiming for one book from the TBR shelves (about 50 books) per month, and working my way through a self-imposed challenge to read all the books written by a female author that won the Hugo Award or the Nebula Award. So my monthly reading plan is usually:

• Book Club book
• TBR shelves book
• Hugo/ Nebula book
• And something else (spotted at the library/ re-reading an old fave) if I have time.

I track my reading on Goodreads and in a notebook, and I also add interesting books I see or hear about to my Goodreads ‘Want to Read’ list. If I can, I’ll request them through the library at the same time so I don’t forget about them.

Wow I have so much junk on my kindle, and I an also sharing with vs DH so have all his junk too!

i find the kindle good for reading but it’s so clunky and slow when doing anything else, it puts me off having a big ‘tidy up’.

Paper books - bookshelves though I'm getting rid of them, down to 3/4 bookcases from many 1000s. All in alpha order apart from two shelves which are TBR.

Kindle
All in folders, some in more than one folder.
Folders labelled;
TBR
Prime Reading
Crime
Historical
Humour
Chic Lt / romance
Probably won't read
DS2's books
Mum's books (she died years ago)

I record my reading on Goodreads and on a google doc. I used to keep a notebook which dated back 20+ years to when DS2 was a reluctant reader and we both kept a list.