Discussion

A Reading Record and Reflection

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In previous years, I’ve always tracked what I’ve been reading on Goodreads and only Goodreads. Whilst, yes, I post reviews on my blog, I don’t review everything I read so lots goes undocumented. I decided that 2016 will be the year that I create a physical document of everything I read, including re-reads (I’m looking at you, Goodreads!).

So this is my plan: I’ve set out a notebook where I plan on keeping a list of all the books I’ve read, plus a page dedicated to a short piece of writing on each book. Then, I’ll either write up that piece on my blog or write a full review.

I think it’s so important to document everything I read because often those memories you have right after reading a book are fleeting and reading back through them helps to bring them back. I love the idea of keeping a notebook for each year and being able to look back on it in years to come, seeing what I thought on each book I read .

It will also help with my writing, by setting time to write each week. I’d like to improve my writing but I don’t do enough of it, so even writing blog posts is helping. It’s important to me that I keep using the part of my brain that loves writing, but if I sit down all day and write nothing, it’s being lazy and isn’t being worked enough.

I’ve set my goal on Goodreads to read 1 book again this year, which worked very well last year. It took all the pressure off of me to read lots and anything after the first book is a bonus (I actually ended the year on around 105 books!). I’d highly recommend doing this if you don’t like the pressure of set reading challenges because you can still track what you’ve read, but there’s no daunting number.

How do you track your reading? Are you doing anything differently this year?

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10 Comments

  • Reply
    Piper
    Twitter:
    1 January, 2016 at 11:02 am

    That really bugs me too that Goodreads doesn’t let you record re-reads. Good luck with your recording, I used to have a notebook (my ‘book of books’) before Goodreads.

    I think I’ll stick with Goodreads this year, I always have 52 as my target because I think a book a week is a good aim, I don’t feel pressured to reach it as I always do 🙂

    Although a friend if mine always increases her target by 1 or 2 to keep aiming for something. It’s funny how we’re all different 🙂

  • Reply
    Hannah
    1 January, 2016 at 1:38 pm

    Just to let you know, Goodreads does let you record rereads on the website! Click on edit review the ‘more details’ and there’s a little box that lets you record how many times you have read it!
    I just use Goodreads for recording stuff I’ve read!
    Hannah recently posted…The 2015 Book Awards!My Profile

  • Reply
    Gwen @ The Book Lounge
    Twitter:
    1 January, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    Yeah, I have heard there are ways of tracking re-reads on Goodreads but I think despite that it’s great to have a physical copy of what you read and your thoughts as well. I have found after reading a book the longer I wait to review it the foggier my thoughts get. Yesterday I finished Confess and immediately sat down and wrote my review. Not only because the book was amazing but because the thoughts were fresh in my mind. This year I want to try to do that when I can, I can always schedule the post for whenever.

    I’ve never heard of someone setting their Goodreads goal to 1 book but seems like a great tip for those who might suffer from number envy.

  • Reply
    Aubrey
    Twitter:
    1 January, 2016 at 10:28 pm

    I just started tracking through goodreads this year, but I plan to continue with my usual tracking method through google docs as well. 🙂 I think it is a good idea to have a separate copy of books read anyway and the journaling is a good idea. I didn’t know goodreads doesn’t let you record rereads… That stinks 🙁 Thanks for the post!
    Aubrey recently posted…December 2015 Wrap Up & January 2016 TBR + BOOK HAUL & READ-A-THONMy Profile

  • Reply
    Kyra @ Blog of a Bookaholic
    Twitter:
    1 January, 2016 at 10:40 pm

    I always write a review immediately after I’ve finished a book because I feel like it’s a more authentic representation of my thoughts and I also have this thing where I can’t start another book before I’ve finished the review for the book I’ve just finished. Is that weird? Not sure! Ooh, I really like the idea of setting the challenge to 1 book – might do that now actually!
    Kyra @ Blog of a Bookaholic recently posted…Books I’m Reading to Kick-Off my 2016!My Profile

  • Reply
    Graham Downs
    Twitter:
    2 January, 2016 at 10:16 am

    I review every single book I read, on Goodreads. But I only started about two years ago. I’m not going to try and figure out every book I ever read before I discovered Goodreads.

    You CAN track re-reads there as well, but I personally never re-read books (just like I never re-watch movies). There are just too many books, and not enough time, to even think of reading one of them a second time! 🙂

  • Reply
    Emma @ Never Judge a Book
    Twitter:
    2 January, 2016 at 10:33 am

    Funny I have the exact same book for my reading record this year too. I’ve started doing this as well to get my organised and less pressure on the whole thing too. Happy New Year!

  • Reply
    2016 Blogging and Bookish Life Resolutions | Books In Her Head
    3 January, 2016 at 2:04 pm

    […] spread the movement and share diverse YA with others. This resolution is inspired by Lucy’s discussion post about reading records.  I sort of do this sporadically on Goodreads, but I want to do this more. […]

  • Reply
    Denise
    Twitter:
    3 January, 2016 at 4:22 pm

    Last year, I only used Goodreads, and it did work quite well. I’m pretty much addicted to Goodreads, so uploading the books and recording them on there wasn’t a problem for me. I’m not going to stop using Goodreads, but this year for Christmas, I was given the Potter Style Reading Journal. It’s so cute, and prompts you to record your thoughts, and lots of different information about the book. I’m really enjoying filling it in, and I think it will be so handy at the end of the year!

    Your notebook sounds great, Lucy! I hope you enjoy filling it in; I personally love writing about the books I’ve read! 😀
    Denise | The Bibliolater
    Denise recently posted…My 2016 Bookish ResolutionsMy Profile

  • Reply
    Joséphine @ Word Revel
    Twitter:
    3 January, 2016 at 7:32 pm

    I’m so with you! Fleeting memories are the bane of reading! Every now and then I consider re-reading book from five years ago or more because I hardly remember what I read back then but then I always drop the idea because my reading tastes have changed. To help me remember more I made it a point at beginning of last year to at least publish my initial thoughts on Goodreads. When I have time, I go own to write my book reviews as usual. These snippets of thoughts have been very helpful in helping me recall what I read. There’s only book I didn’t write anything for ’cause I didn’t Internet access around that time. I plan to continue doing this this year as well. It’s an effective compromise for book I don’t end up reviewing.
    Joséphine @ Word Revel recently posted…Review Anthology #1: Mental IllnessMy Profile

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