Luanne Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 How many of you keep reading journals for your own reading? What kind of notebook do you use? What all do you write in the journal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yabusame Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 I don't keep a journal but when I read a book I do create a document on my PC where I keep a note of the following: Book details (title, author, publication date, date read) Cover description Context in which the book was written (usually from SparkNotes) List of characters with brief description (I compile this as I read) Brief chapter descriptions (I write these after completing each chapter) Vocabulary of new words (list of new words and meanings) When I finish the book, I put a print out of the document in the book so if I need to reference something quickly then I can just grab the book and look at my notes. As I read, I also highlight sentences and paragraphs that I find interesting or well written. I am starting to write in books too, where I might ask a question of the author or add an example of what is being discussed for my own reference. I've no idea how to maintain a journal so I'd be interested to hear what others do in theirs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choirfarm Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Well, I keep a spiritual reading journal. I normally read books quickly all the way through. I just need to have a big picture. Then if it is a good book and worthy of the journal, I go through it very slowly. I underline passages. Then I copy them into my journal. I've never done it with academic books, although occassionally quotes from some literature will make its way in there. Christine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 (edited) in high school I used a small spiral notebook and wrote down quotes from the book I was reading & page #'s to reference the work during class discussions & to use for writing a paper on the book. I've use every kind of notebook since. I still write down quotes from the book that I want to remember with page #'s. I write the book title, author & date I'm reading it. I'm not currently keeping a reading journal because there is nothing I particularly want to remember from my current readings (The Hot Zone, Water for Elephants, etc.). My ds is keeping a reading journal (because he has to :D), and he writes a one sentence summary of each chapter of the book. You can read some of my notes on the book "How To Read Literature Like a Professor" on my blog. Edited November 17, 2009 by MIch elle added blog info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 I really like my current setup. I use a Circa/Rollabind notebook, divided by genre. If I have a lot of notes on different books in one section, I scribble a rough index on the first page so I can actually find things (b/c it's circa, I can go back and add this in). What I write depends on the book. Maybe just a quote or two and some general reactions, maybe more detailed notes by chapter if it's something I'm studying, not just reading. Sometimes I put reminders like "check his statement on compulsory schooling" etc. I like using the circa notebooks because everything moves around very easily, you never have to worry about running out of pages, you don't need to take your notes in order, & so on. If there happens to be an extra that kind of corresponds with the book or subject, like a map or brochure, that can go right in there too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 This older thread - Diogenes and Commonplace Book? - has several links with information about keeping a commonplace book. It might be of interest to you. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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