When my kids turned in their summer reading logs at the library, the girl helping us asked, “Do you want to keep your reading logs?”
I shrugged. Frankly, I find reading logs cumbersome. I make my kids fill them out every summer because I know it helps the library get funding.
But then the librarian said, “I have a list of every book I’ve read since the beginning of high school. It’s a long list.”
Maybe it was the competitive side of me that perked up. Or that controlling girl who likes to keep up with details. But suddenly, a book list sounded appealing.
We kept the reading logs.
Three reasons why you should keep a list of the books you read
- Pride Let’s be honest, if you love books and pride yourself on your ability to consume them, it’s nice to have a comprehensive list of every volume you’ve read. You’d have a record of all the classics and “must reads” you’ve devoured. For this mama who spends a lot of time doing things that have no material proof (parenting, laundry, dishes), a concrete list of accomplishments sounds lovely.
- Accountability Having a list allows you to analyse your reading habits. Maybe you read more science fiction than you realized. Perhaps you’ve read fewer classics than you thought. A record can help you fill in some voids (yes, that includes some non-fiction or biographies) or not – but at least you’d have a clear picture of your reading choices.
- Recommendations If you’re a book nerd and other people know it, chances are they will ask you for reading suggestions. If you keep a list and add a few notes for each entry or use a rating system, you’ll be better equipped to help people find good stuff to read.
Have I convinced you yet? Hope so! But now…
How should a reader set up a list of books read?
For the technology savvy, I recommend a Goodreads account. Using the site, or the Goodreads mobile app, you can set up a “Books Read” shelf and enter your books by:
- using your mobile device to scan the ISBN number on the back of printed books
- downloading your Amazon purchases
- using the Goodreads search function
- adding books manually
Goodreads prompts users to rate and review every book entered. This helps users to remember details about books. Unfortunately, with Goodreads, as well as most social media sites, you don’t own your content. So if Goodreads ever shut down, your list would disappear.
Another option is a file on your computer. You would always have it, especially if you save it in a cloud like Dropbox or a program like Evernote. My friend Rachel has kept a running list of our book club reads for years. Thank you, Rachel! However, sometimes digital devices and files aren’t handy.
That leaves good old pen and paper. You could buy a pretty notebook at Barnes and Noble and record your books. You’d always have a hard copy with space for notes and ratings. However, if your friend asks you for a mystery recommendation at lunch, and your notebook is sitting at home on your nightstand, you’re outta luck.
I haven’t mentioned a color coding system… Oh, the possibilities!
How do you keep track of books you’ve read? What is the benefit of doing so?
Thanks for sharing your ideas!
Julia
Tweetable: 3 reasons why you should keep a list of #books you’ve read via word nerd @juliatomiak #amreading
