Why keep one
Most people forget the details of a book within months. A journal gives you something to look back on: what happened, which lines you liked, and how you felt when you finished. It also shows patterns over time, such as which authors you return to and which kinds of books you abandon.
What to record for each book
- Title and author.
- Dates started and finished.
- Where the book came from: library, gift, bookstore, borrowed from a friend.
- Format: print, ebook or audiobook.
- A few sentences on what you thought.
- Lines or passages worth keeping, with page numbers.
- Books it made you want to read next.
That's enough. Skip anything that makes the journal feel like homework.
Paper or digital
| Format | Good for | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper notebook | Writing slowly, sketching, a record you enjoy holding | Harder to search |
| Notes app or document | Quick entries, searching, copying quotes | Easy to forget about |
| Spreadsheet | Tracking dates, formats and counts over years | Little room for thoughts |
| Index cards | One card per book, kept in a box | Space for only a few lines |
Some readers combine formats: a spreadsheet for the basic record and a notebook for thoughts. If you read on an e-reader, exporting your highlights saves copying quotes by hand.
A simple entry template
Title, author. Started / finished. One sentence on what it is about. Two or three sentences on what you thought. One passage to keep. What to read next.
You can write the entry as you go, a line after each reading session, or all at once when you finish. Writing as you go captures first reactions you may later forget.
Prompts when you don't know what to write
- What made you pick up this book, and did it match what you expected?
- Which character did you think about when you weren't reading?
- Was there a scene you would like to reread? Why?
- What would you tell a friend who asked whether to read it?
- Did anything in the book connect with your own life or with another book you have read?
- What question would you bring to a book club discussion?
Keeping the journal going
Keep the journal next to where you read, and write the entry soon after finishing a book, while it is fresh. A short entry is better than none. If you fall behind, list the titles you have read and add notes only where you remember something worth saying.
A journal also supports a reading habit: a page full of dated entries is a small, steady reward for keeping it up.
Lists to keep at the back
Many readers keep running lists at the back of the journal: books to read next, books friends recommended, books to reread, and favorite opening lines. When you need a new book, the list is already there. Our themed reading lists are a good place to start one.