Article Contributed on: 11/13/2008 8:21:29 AM
How many books have you read this year? Which ones? What were they about? What was your reaction? On a scale of one to ten, what did you rate your last read?
These are the kinds of questions to ponder in a reading journal - a necessity for all readers. Those of us who are up past midnight reading, cruise through books like backyard bunnies munching their way around the lawn.
Unless we take a moment to reflect and record on those books, they pass into the oblivion of our busy lives. I have kept a reading journal for the last several years (wish I had started as a kid, but who knew I would care), recording the details and my reactions to the books as soon as I finish. I include audio books as well since they pass into the void even more easily than text. Every once in a while I count them and feel a quirky sense of accomplishment - evidence of how I spent my time!
I find the simply reading through my notes brings the book back again. Your journal can be any kind of notebook, but if you take the time to keep a journal, find a lovely one. Random House offers Potter Style mini journals that encourage reflection in many areas of our lives: what we read, what we eat, where we go. They are worth checking out and make great gifts for bookish friends.
And the bonus - when you go to your next book club, you'll be ready without relying on memory. How great is that?