Book Journal

[Kiki5435]

I wondered if anyone had any suggestions for a keeping a Book Journal. I've seen several on the market at varying prices and different styles. Any recommendations?

 

[abecedarian]

It depends on your personal taste. I don't care for most of the formal journals I've seen. I tend to just keep lists of books read, the date completed, and a 1-5 rating system. I also keep lists of books I want to read one of these days. For me, a simple 3-ring binder works just fine. I keep binders for everything though; I have binders packed full of recipes and crochet patterns. For personal journals, I've taken ordinary composition notebooks(not spirals) and covered them with pictures I liked, then laminated it with diluted Elmer's Glue. Nobody else on the planet has one just like mine. A book journal is just like any other journal; you make it your own once you bring it home.

 

[sparkchaser]

Not a book journal per se, but someone here at BAR once posted something to the effect that they used index cards as bookmarks and wrote their reviews on the index card. It's a pretty novel idea although I am pretty sure I got the exact details wrong.

 

[abecedarian]

Index cards would only work for me in that respect if I kept the cards in an index box. I don't think I'm disciplined enough for that. I do like to use index cards for bookmarks so I can make notes or write down new words. Depending on the book, sometimes, there's leads to other books I might want to pursue.

 

[sparkchaser]

You could get a 3 ring binder and those plastic/mylar sleeves that people use for collecting post cards and keep the completed index cards in there.

 

[abecedarian]

That would work well. I know of Coupon Queens who use these for their coupon binders.

 

[Peder]

I keep my information on the web and occasionally print it out for permanence. A nice handy list for easy reference at used book and library sales, maybe e-based, is my next goal.

 

[Kiki5435]

Thanks for all your replies

 

[LoeMa]

I use an Access database, where I enter all my books.
I mark them when I've read them with a rating system and sometimes a few comments as well, and an "x" when I don't want to read them again.

 

[Ell]

I use an Excel workbook with different sheets for what I've read, favourites in different genres, TBR, wishlists, recommendations (including from who and where), current reading, abandoned, etc. I can sort by author, title, date read - I love that.

I used to use regular paper journals, but ended up with them all over the place and no easy way to look up titles/authors. Spreadsheets are much tidier.

 

[pontalba]

I've only kept track for the last 3 years, unfortunately. I keep a list only on another forum, and in a Word document on my computer.

I like Library Thing as well, although they're getting irritating with all the new "improvements" they've come up with lately.

 

[Ell]

I've only kept track for the last 3 years, unfortunately. I keep a list only on another forum, and in a Word document on my computer.

I like Library Thing as well, although they're getting irritating with all the new "improvements" they've come up with lately.

Pontalba, you should try a spreadsheet. It's great being able to make your own categories and sort whenever and whatever you like.

I also have partial lists on LibraryThing and Goodreads, but it takes so long to enter everything!

 

[pontalba]

Pontalba, you should try a spreadsheet. It's great being able to make your own categories and sort whenever and whatever you like.

I also have partial lists on LibraryThing and Goodreads, but it takes so long to enter everything!

I confess, I am computer illiterate. Spreadsheets are a mystery to me. :sad:
Plus the idea of re-listing some 4,600 books on a spread sheet is more than daunting.

The difficulty, or rather the irritation of posting everything on GR and LT is one of the plethora of reasons I dropped GR. Listing on both became such a pill I had to drop one, and I preferred LT.