My Book Journal Journey

BookJournal_2020

“My book journal is a reflection of me, mistakes and all.”

-The Wise Librarian

About two years ago, I started keeping a book journal.  It happened by accident.  I had heard of something called “bullet journaling” which was created by Ryder Carroll.  He defined bullet journaling as a method to “help you track the past, organize the present, and plan for the future.”  As a planner, bullet journaling didn’t work for me - I needed a little more structure to organize my everyday life.  But….I had this dot grid notebook just sitting there.  I thought about the definition Ryder Carroll had used - “track the past, organize the present, plan the future”. Why couldn’t I apply those ideas to my favorite pastime? 

I am a relatively fast reader which isn’t necessarily a good thing.  I read a book and then have difficulty describing it to a friend a week later.  I had a hard time “tracking the past”.  Or, I would be reading a book and see a quote or phrase that struck me in some way.  I would vow to remember it but it was out of my mind by the time I finished the book - I needed a way to “organize the present”.  And then there are all of those new books being released every Tuesday!  How should I “plan the future” (i.e. remember which books were coming out when)?

I decided to take that blank dot grid notebook (a Leuchttrum 1917) and turn it into a book journal.  I am now in my third year of tracking, organizing, and planning.  A typical book journal entry includes:

  • Title

  • Author

  • Date finished

  • Number of pages

  • Notes about the book (genre, plot summary, character names)

  • Source and type (hardcover, paperback, or e-book; where I got the book from)

I also keep track of titles I want to read, favorite quotes/passages, book release dates, and reading challenges.  

My book journal has evolved as I discover what I want my reading life to look like.  I used to focus on the number of books I read every year.  That isn’t as important to me anymore.  Personally, I want my reading life to complement and improve the rest of my life.  So, I try not to stress about what it physically looks like - if my handwriting is messy or if I have to cross out mistakes.  My book journal is a reflection of me, mistakes and all.

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