If you’re reading this, I can only assume that you read all the time and finish stacks and stacks of books each year. Unfortunately, if you’re anything like me, it’s difficult to remember the finer details of most of these books. Though Goodreads has been helpful in keeping track of the number of books I’ve read and effectively storing my endless TBR list, there’s still the issue of recording my notes and thoughts all in one place with extra space for doodling.
The diary style of Confessions of a High School Disaster (which we still have an extended excerpt of available to read until March 27!) inspired me to look towards an analogue solution. The bullet journal system seems like it might provide a better method for more thoroughly documenting my book list throughout the year. I’ve scoured the internet for tips, layouts, and ideas to keep an organized reading journal. Let me know in the comments how you keep track of the books you read!
Set up a page to keep all the books you want to read in one place. You can organize these lists into categories: books to check out from the library, books to buy, books to read each month, series to finish, etc.
(Image source: http://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/blog/how-to-bullet-journal)
Create a chart to keep track of page count, genre, and time period to make sure you’re reading broadly.
(Image source: http://www.lovelaughterinsanity.com/2016/06/bullet-journal-show-and-tell.html)
Practice your fanciest calligraphy when writing up your list of books to read, check off, and rank.
(Image source: http://bookmarksandbrushpens.tumblr.com/post/147019054659/this-was-actually-a-rock-your-handwriting-prompt)
Color in a reading countdown bar to meet those goals.
(Image source: http://productivecoffee.tumblr.com/post/146358868373/6-23-2016-happy-thursday-everyone-heres-an)
Merge your Goodreads account and ratings with your new journal setup.
(Image source: http://grangergrades.tumblr.com/post/146495729270/260616-a-new-addition-to-my-bujo-pages-i)
Boxes for each chapter will feel satisfying and add a pop of color to your spread, especially if you’re diving into an epic series.
(Image source: https://www.instagram.com/haleyjournals/)
Draw your bookshelf with all your favorite characters.
(Image source: https://www.etsy.com/listing/265149897/bookshelf-movies-and-shows-list-stencil)
Expand beyond your bookshelf to draw a bigger setup of blank spines of books just waiting to be read.
(Image source: http://productiveandpretty.com/bullet-journal-book-spread/)
Make a checklist to keep track of your reading challenge for the year.
(Image source: https://foxtailthreads.wordpress.com/2015/12/29/269/)
A bullet journal is the perfect place to write down all of your favorite literary quotes.
(Image source: https://www.instagram.com/p/BIaNYL2AkBD/)
If keeping a bullet journal for all your reading habits seems like too much work, I also found notebooks that are already designed for bookworms: My Bibliofile and Books I’ve Read: A Bibliophile’s Journal.
