Look, here is how I used to organize my book notes.
I have three of these journals. They aren’t all filled but it’s kind of fun to look through these and see what I was reading years ago. The earliest entry I could find was for October 1996. Wow, I had forgotten about some of these books. In the back of the journal there’s a section for “Notes to Myself” which I used to jot down bookish quotes I liked.
Now I keep track of the books I’ve read on the computer. It’s a nice way to organize by year and I can sort my list and all that but just looking through these jouranls kind makes me want to go back to that way of record keeping.
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There is something about pen on paper isn’t there?!
I agree, there is “something about pen on paper” and I, too, have many journals. Keeping track on the computer is better is some ways and is much quicker than writing by hand, but the typed page does lose some of the personality, doesn’t it?
I have a couple of paper book journals too and like to look at them from time to time. But I keep my list on the computer now as well, much tidier, easier to find a book I think I read in 2003 but turns out it was 2001. Can’t help but feel a bit nostalgic for paper though.
I’m using a tiny little notebook (maybe 3″ x 2″) to record the books I’ve read and a little bit of info about them. That way I can bring it with me when I don’t have access to the comp.
We are in the in-between generations.
Most of us grew up with paper and started using computers later.
In the Star Trek – New Generation series, everyone on the Enterprise thought that Capt. Picard was weird for reading books in book form, but no one said so to his face. Everyone downloaded books to this mini-pads and would read them that way.
I had a journal like that some time ago, but kept misplacing it or forgetting to record things in it. At least I always know where my computer is! (And I use it too often to forget to type out my book selection.)
I am with everyone on “pen & paper” vs modern technology. I really miss handwritten letters. I loved receiving those and luckily my British friend Gerry still sends me letters written by hand. There is something so much more personal.
As for cataloging – can you believe my husband has decided he wants to get a program to start cataloging all our books and DVDs etc. I am excited that he is taking this project on… hurrah.
My journals only have titles and authors listed–I wish I had written something about the books. I guess that is what my blog is for, but when that disappears–I’ll be lost.
I wish I had done this!!
That is so impressive. I love the idea of a book journal.
I just started journaling again, and my life bores even me. I used to love pen and paper, but I think I’m so used to my fingers flying over keys, I am having trouble slowing down.
I agree with everyone that there is nothing like the nostalgia of looking back through old pen and paper journals and records. Although I recently found an old printed out email from 1999 and that was quite interesting, too. 🙂
I have 7 or 8 book journals and while I use my blog for the meat of my reviews, I still use the written journal to jot down details about the book (title, author, copyright, genre, start & finish dates, own/library, etc.). However, I think I’ll stop once I complete my current journal and move everything over to an Excel file. It’s gotten more and more difficult to track down when I read a book, especially since I started these journals back in the mid ’90s. I used to know exactly which journal mentioned which book, but not so anymore!
So good to hear everyone misses those good old paper days too 🙂 I’m enjoying hearing how some of you keep track of your books – excel spreadsheets, little notebooks to carry along, etc. I love my iBook but journals are awesome things aren’t they?
When I started book blogging I quit my paper book journals. I only have 3. I would record a bit about the book because the title didn’t always bring anything with it to jog my memory. I originally intended to print out my blog so I had a paper trail in case something every happens to the blog, but I haven’t done that yet.
I do both, actually. Well, the journal has absolutely every book I finish. My blog only has the ones I feel like posting about.
Your journal looks gorgeous. I wish I had kept a record of impressions for the books I’ve read. Nevermind, at least it’s a goal to work towards in the future. I think I’ll be sticking with the computer though, because my handwriting is just atrocious!
I always see paper book journals like that, but I’m afraid to get one because I don’t know if I can squeeze my impressions down to one paragraph! I see from the picture that every entry you wrote took up the entire alloted space. 😛
Booklogged – I’ve been meaning to print my journal too. One of these days. Adrienne – I love your idea. I don’t blog about every book I read so it would be great to have some kind of notes aside from the title & author. Litacquisitionist – Thank you! I know a lot of people say they don’t like their writing but I kind of think that’s what makes handwritten journals so wonderful. Sara – That’s true. I do have some entries where I just say how wonderful the book was. 🙂
I write in a Moleskine before I type it all up on the blog. That’s a nice picture of your journals.
I’ve never had an actual book journal, or any other kind of journal for that matter. I have always written diary entries down randomly on odd pages and scraps of paper, usually when I’m feeling very emotional, and I have a box full of miscellaneous entries. Something I do have and write in regularly is a poetry book – it is a small red notebook which fits in my handbag and when I come across a poem that I particularly like, I copy it out in there. That way, I always have something I love to read wherever I go, and it can be a real help – not just with boredom, but calming me down, or making me smile.
Loving those journals – I want one! At the moment I keep a notebook, where I scribble vague thoughts and page numbers/quotes, and aside from blogging I’m keeping note of books read in my diary/planner. A nice book journal seems like a very attractive idea though – there’s just something about putting pen to paper…
JCR – Oh I love Moleskines too! There is just something about them isn’t there?
Max – What a great idea to carry a “poetry” book. Hmm, do you mind if I steal that idea from you? 🙂
Quixotic – Exactly. I love the computer but I still like putting pen to paper. I have tons of other and they are some of my most prized possessions, aside from the books of course 🙂
Those are very gorgeous notebooks! I keep all my notes on molekine notebooks which I take with me everywhere I go. I have a special attahment to my notebook–like Claire has mentioned–something very special about paper and pen. I still write down all my thoughts, scratch out a phrase here and there, change a word, revise a line, and make sentences snap in place, before I hit the computer.
I have one of those too! It is not full yet but between moves I always seem to loose it. It seems that I am always moving. I love looking back in the book and seeing what silly things were important to me at that time. I do love the ones you took pics of though. I dont find there is enough room though. Just a short paragraph per book. Dam isnt that what is great about virtual?! You never have to worry about length and neatness. I still do both though… there is something about writing you can not get with typing.
I started a book journal for the first time this year, as I’ve never written out quotes, or more than a few scribbled notes on scrap paper, and promptly lost them. It feels good!