Comments on: TSS: Taking Notes

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:03:00 +0000

I don’t take notes, for the most part, but I will write down thoughts and stick them in the book if something is funny, disturbing, wrong, etc. or if it’s really just something I want to talk about in my review. I don’t like to write in books especially library books so this sort of system works as long as I remember to remove the notes in the end.

By: Jennygirl

Jennygirl — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:29:08 +0000

I NEVER write in books, personal or otherwise. As for note taking, it depends on the book. Mysteries or romance books for me don’t require in-depth reviews; although there are always exceptions. I try to jot notes down of things I would like to remember to write about in my review. Some books have a quote or phrase I want to incorporate, but it just kind of depends. I guess I’m flippant about it.

By: heidenkind

heidenkind — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:35:12 +0000

Yes, actually I usually take notes via Goodreads on books that I’m reading for fun. With books from the library that I’m going to use for a research paper, well… I know this will annoy you, but I always write in them! It just helps me remember what I thought about a particular passage. My notes are pretty restrained, though: I usually just block out the section of text I think is important with a pencil.

Speaking of notes in library books, I think it’s fascinating what other people choose to take note of! I ran across some marginalia this weekend while I was working on a paper, and to me it seemed like it was utterly random.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 01:19:03 +0000

I really need to take notes while I am reading too. I have the same issue; when I get around to writing a review, I have forgotten what I wanted to focus on!

By: Jodie

Jodie — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 21:44:47 +0000

I like to find notes in my book (as long as they’re not, y’know gross or something, for example I don’t want to find anti-feminist notes, whereas I do enjoy finding notes correcting anti-feminist statements). However I can never quite bring myself to write in books. Note taking is so useful though, but usually I forget to do it past noting page numbers.It does make it easier to write back reviews (she says looking at her undocumented to review pile with fear).

By: cbjames

cbjames — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 21:27:28 +0000

I love marginalia. I wish second hand books stores had a section just for books with notes written in them. Those I’d buy. I’ve no trouble ignoring them as I read, so I can go back and check them out after I’m done with a chapter or two.

I only write in books I’m reading for a class, which is very rare these days. I’m rereading Great Expectations right now, a copy I used in college twice so it has two sets of marginalia in it. It’s interesting to see what my thoughts were the first time around. I’m pleased to see how insightful I was at times and taken about at how big a yutz I could be.

As far as blogging goes, I keep a draft of each post where I put any notes I need to keep. I delete the notes as I write up my post.

By: bermudaonion (Kathy)

bermudaonion (Kathy) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:28:07 +0000

I would never write in a book – my elementary school librarian drilled that into my head. I don’t take notes while I read, but I really should.

By: Marie

Marie — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:18:15 +0000

I do take notes as I read a book – but I can’t bring myself to write in books.I suppose in my life I have done it a few times but I find writing my notes in a separate book journal, although a bit more time consuming, works better for me. I write the name and author of the book and try to add page numbers when I make a note – things to follow up on or historical research to do – perhaps a word that strikes my fancy and I want to know the etymological background. I like having the book journal to go back to. Helps me remember what I’ve read sometimes too ! Arkkkk ! I’ve been pleased a time or two as well that I did not mark up a book because then I can give it to someone and they can enjoy it without my personal note baggage being in it !

By: Aths

Aths — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:16:34 +0000

I take notes as I read – helps me when I have to review since my reviews are usually several days after I finish a book. I used to jot down in a spiral notebook initially, but over time, I found it inconvenient to lug it around, esp since now I read books everywhere and in any format. It’s hard when you want to write down a point and the book is not around. Since I go to the library a lot, I collect all those receipts and keep one of those in every book I’m reading now, including one in my handbag for “travel-reading”. Once I’ve reviewed that book, I just dump that receipt in the recycle bin.

I absolutely hate writing in books, esp in library books. Every time, I see that someone has written in a library book, I feel like screaming “Dork, there’s a reason this is a library book and not the your property!”

By: Annette

Annette — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 18:56:45 +0000

I have been taking notes in spiral notebooks on what I read since the beginning of blogging–4 years ago. It does help immensely when I get ready to post a review. It also helps me to concentrate on what I’m reading and it helps my brain better retain why I read.
I love to look back at my reading journals and see what I’d read and how I felt about the book, etc.
Taking notes was easy for me, I love to write!