My 2017 book list is not up yet, but I do have another post about books to share. Ever thought of having a book journal? One of my college friends expressed an interest in keeping a centralized book list, but she wasn't sure how. Here's how I do it; maybe it will be of interest to one of you!
In 2010, I decided to start keeping track of all of the books that I read in a given year. I bought an ugly journal at Target and made some decorative covers for it. Much better.
How do I use this journal?
I make a list for every year. I write down the books as I finish them and add a few labels, if applicable. My current labels are:
AB: audiobook
GN: graphic novel
PB: picture book
RR: reread
I count audiobooks, graphic novels, and rereads in my list because I try to read or listen to every word and thus can say that I read the whole book. I add, but don't count, picture books when I find a really fun picture book that I want to remember, either for my annual book list, for myself, or for a friend.
At the end of the year/beginning of the next year, I write a long post of reviews of all that year's books. These annual reviews are linked at the top of my blog, right under my blog banner (Twenty-Six, Fifteen, Forty-Seven, etc.). After I've written, proof-read, edited, and published my list, I still find typos...I mean, I print out my list and glue it into my book journal. That way, I can see my lists and my reviews all in one place.
My journal only has my book lists in it; no losing lists in another journal or on random scraps of paper or in a planner. I keep my book journal in the same spot at all times (on my nightstand). I do write down quotes and notes in a separate spiral notebook. (I want things to be organized and simple; nothing jumbled up together.)
So, there you go! My book journal. :)
One more note:
Sarah Mackenzie at Read-Aloud Revival has her kids fill out their own simple reading journals (you can watch a free master class on how they do this). I like my current method of separate notebooks, but I do think it would be really cool to start reading journals when you are very young so that you can look back on all of the books you read as a kid, especially if you want to find those books (which may be rare or out of print) as an adult.
In 2010, I decided to start keeping track of all of the books that I read in a given year. I bought an ugly journal at Target and made some decorative covers for it. Much better.
How do I use this journal?
I make a list for every year. I write down the books as I finish them and add a few labels, if applicable. My current labels are:
AB: audiobook
GN: graphic novel
PB: picture book
RR: reread
I count audiobooks, graphic novels, and rereads in my list because I try to read or listen to every word and thus can say that I read the whole book. I add, but don't count, picture books when I find a really fun picture book that I want to remember, either for my annual book list, for myself, or for a friend.
At the end of the year/beginning of the next year, I write a long post of reviews of all that year's books. These annual reviews are linked at the top of my blog, right under my blog banner (Twenty-Six, Fifteen, Forty-Seven, etc.). After I've written, proof-read, edited, and published my list, I still find typos...I mean, I print out my list and glue it into my book journal. That way, I can see my lists and my reviews all in one place.
My journal only has my book lists in it; no losing lists in another journal or on random scraps of paper or in a planner. I keep my book journal in the same spot at all times (on my nightstand). I do write down quotes and notes in a separate spiral notebook. (I want things to be organized and simple; nothing jumbled up together.)
So, there you go! My book journal. :)
One more note:
Sarah Mackenzie at Read-Aloud Revival has her kids fill out their own simple reading journals (you can watch a free master class on how they do this). I like my current method of separate notebooks, but I do think it would be really cool to start reading journals when you are very young so that you can look back on all of the books you read as a kid, especially if you want to find those books (which may be rare or out of print) as an adult.
