I read a lot of books, and for a brief period, I tried to keep a reading notebook. I didn’t stick with it for long because it seemed kind of boring: it was just a notebook with a list of everything that I’d read. But when I came across this post at Bookriot, I loved the concept of using a book journal as a field book you’re keeping during the expedition through each book’s world. Even if you don’t keep a whole separate journal about books, the linked article gives some nice ideas for how to engage with your reading in your journaling.
I first learned about reading journals from one of my professors. He recommended we keep a notebook to use as a field book of sorts during the expeditions we took through the worlds of books. The journal was not intended to keep track of every book we read with our reviews—I find Goodreads more enjoyable for that. Rather, any memorable quotes we came across while reading could go into the notebook.
My reading journal allows me to carry the words and their power with me after I’ve turned the last page in a book.
Read more: Why I Keep a Reading Journal and How to Start Your Own
Is that kind of a commonplace book then?
Yes, the original post is basically talking about keeping a commonplace book, which is usually a collection of quotes and ideas taken out of a book. But the quote I cited about it being like a “field book from an expedition into the world of a book” made me think it should go beyond a commonplace book, to encompass the notebook keeper’s own ideas and responses to the book, something engaging with and expanding on the reading experience rather than just quoting from the book.
Ok, cool! I like the expansion in the “field book” idea.