I don’t know about you but I like to keep a running log of the books that I read. It’s nice to be able to look back and see that I have read something. I especially love being able to look back at the books I read during a particular time in my life. It helps me to remember what kind of mood I was in at the time. And it’s just nice to remember what books I have read and which ones I may have never finished (oops)!
In 2010 I created a reading log out of a composition notebook that I had. It was very easy. I just had to use a ruler to create the different columns for the information that I wanted to keep track of. To make the cover, I just used scrapbook paper, stickers, rubber cement and Modge Podge. Basically I used the rubber cement to glue the paper onto the notebook covers (I did the same thing on the back cover). Then I put the stickers on the front and put Modge Podge over it all to keep the paper from getting damaged.
I love bright colors so for recording the books I bought a set of colored RSVP pens. I used each color twice before moving on to the next color. My columns are as follows:
Date Started, Date Finished, Title and Author, Number of Pages and one last column to mark if it was a library book, Kindle book, borrowed, or a re-read.
I also like to give myself a goal for each season. I divide the year up into the four seasons. Winter season overlaps years. Each season is made up into 3 months. Winter: December, January, February – Spring: March, April, May – Summer: June, July, August – Fall: September, October, November. At the start of each season, which I usually call quarters, I make a goal for the number of books I want to read. I always record how many I read that season at the top of the page.
At the back of the book I keep track of what my goal was for the quarter and how well I did.
Then in another part of the back of the notebook I keep track of my Goodreads Yearly Reading Challenge Stats. I love using Goodreads to keep track of my books, find new books to read, see what my friends are reading. One thing I especially love about Goodreads is the yearly reading challenge. Every year you can give yourself a goal for the challenge and as you log the books you read it counts them towards your challenge.
Last year my goal was to read 48 books and I ended up reading 59! So for this year I decided to make my goal 60 books. I surprised myself by meeting that goal WAY early and really surpassing it!
I’m at 87 books already and I still have 3 full months to add to that total! And even better, only one of those months is my month to drive for carpool so I will have plenty of time to rack up the total!
Do you like to keep a reading log of some kind?