.JPG)
Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about recording your reading…Do you keep track of what and/or how many books you read? How long have you been doing this? What's your favorite tracking method, and why?If you don't keep track, why not? (question courtesy of MizB)
PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks.
Oh no.
See, I really wanted to ask this question some time ago but was too chicken; too afraid to let you all know JUST how crazy I really am (Wendy, I can hear you snickering from you, you just shush)... but then MizB went and offered up this question and now I just have to face the music.
I think I suffer from some weird kind of latent OCD so when you factor in my obsession with lists and record keeping with the thing I love even more than that - books - you get, despite my conscious efforts to limit myself, many avenue for recording my reading.
I have several files -including graphed monthly books/pages read - that live on my hard drive but also come with my on my phone and ipod, but my number one record file is my "Book List" excel sheet (... in as much as someone who doesn't *really* know how to use excel can do).
I file by author's surname, then title, but have in recent years added page number, year written, date read and isbn (a little patchy in places where I'm going back to add in info on books I read before I got more detailed). I've been keeping this solidly for three years now, but whenever I come across a book I've read in the past that I've forgotten about, I add it to the list. I also use this file for keeping my list of books I want to read from various reviews and if/where I can find them in various libraries. (note: If anyone has any suggestions for improving/refining this system, I welcome suggestions!)
As well as this I also keep a separate excel file for books in my actual collection, with sheets for various series I'm working on. Because I take this with me on my phone, it's excellent for when I go on unplanned second hand book store exploring.
Online, this blog aside (which is very handy for tracking what/when I read), I also have accounts at Shelfari and GoodReads (user rebeccavoy at both, if you want someone to chat too). Why both? Why not?! Okay, truth is, I started at Shelfari and absolutely fell in love with it. But then I discovered GoodReads and hey! Neverending trivia! But I couldn't leave Shelfari behind and because I couldn't decide which one I preferred, I maintain both...
So basically, for every book I read I update:
- on my 2009 monthly file
- on my book list excel file (both under 2009 and the main sheet)
- tick the 'read' box on My Library excel sheet
- update here on the 2009 reads post as well as post the review when I (finally) write it
- add it to Shelfari
- add it to GoodReads.
Crazy, yes? Oh well, I am so excited to hear about all your tracking systems.
52 comments :
OH, I'm first!
I am so easily excited...and speaking of exciting, HERE is my post this week.
Try to control yourselves...
I am much simplistic by your standards!
Musing Mondays
My answer is rather short this week by my standard. :)
Wow, I'm awed!
Here's my answer.
Happy Monday! :)
Wow! You really do a lot! I don't think you're crazy ... I do much of the same. It was recording my reading that led me to blogging in the first place!
Here is my post:
http://findyournextbookhere.blogspot.com/2009/03/musing-mondays-recording-your-reading.html
I thought that I was obsessed - but I am in good company! My post is here.
Here's mine! http://www.bostonbibliophile.com/2009/03/musing-mondays_30.html
Wow! Spreadsheets, graphs, etc? I'm impressed. I'm barely able to keep up with my blog. My answer is here: http://debbiesworld.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/musing-monday-march-30/
Oh thats just way too organised! I wish I could be that good! Mine's here
That's amazing - my answer is quite simple really.
See here.
Wow and I thought my little notepad with the title and author plus the title and dates read in my notebook (so I can cross it out once I've written my review) was a little much! I'm not going to play this week since I just summed up what I do really quickly but loved hearing about your system!
Your system is very similar to my own! I love my Excel spreadsheets, and don't feel as though I have actually finished a book off until I have come and updated all my lists and saved the synopsis in my blog!
Ah, someone else who's OCD about books and lists! My response is here.
Here are my musings for the week!
Mine is up
http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2009/03/monday-musings_30.html
Here is my response
I'm so impressed with your method!!
Here's my MM.
My musings are here:
http://planetbooks.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/musing-mondays-march-30th-2009/
Wow, Rebecca! I don't judge at all -- in fact, I'm a little bit envious! :)
I'm posted here!
I saw the screenshot of Excel and immediately realized we were not in the same league! You are uber organized, but that is awesome. It fits you,your personality, and reading habits.
Good for you Rebecca!
Here is my musing:
http://jennylovestoread.blogspot.com/2009/03/musing-mondays-march-30.html
I am Jennygirl on Goodreads too!
I keep track in more than one way, too; not as many as you though. =)
Here is my Musing Mondays post.
Thanks for using my question, Rebecca! I can't wait to read everyone else's answers!
Here's mine, complete with pictures! :D
~MizB
Hi!
Great system you have. Very organized! I have been wanting to put my books into a database on my hard drive, but haven't gotten around to it yet! Mine is posted here: http://sherriesbooks.blogspot.com/2009/03/its-mondaywhat-are-you-reading-and.html Have a great day!!
Sherrie
Here is mine
Monday. Unfortunately the comments aren't working.
Wow! Now that's quite a tracking system!
Here is my post!
quite the system!
well better late than never
here is my post
http://ladygaladrielkj.blogspot.com/2009/03/monday-musings-book-lists.html
I still haven't learned how to make a link in a comment, but I'm studying.
What a great Excel sheet, min is here, http://zetor-mogsblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/musing-mondays_30.html
Impressive! Love the screenshot of your spreadsheet. I have loads of columns in mine too.
My answer is up.
Mine is up!
http://pageafterpage-kim.blogspot.com/2009/03/record-keeping.html
I just posted mine:
http://bibliophile23.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/mm-march-30/
I thought I was crazy =)
http://kristinasfavorites.blogspot.com/2009/03/monday-musings.html
My post is here.
Here is my Musing Monday!
That's quite the system. Here's mine.
Wow, your system is way more complicated than mine.
http://carolsnotebook.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/musing-monday-10/
Wow - complicated, but I like it. My post is up now.
here
Happy monday!
Oh my, you put my little handwritten lists to shame! I feel positively antiquated ;)
Here's my post:
http://ravenousreader.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/monay-musing-reading-record/
Happy Monday everyone!
Here's mine: http://nanscorner.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/musing-mondays-march-30/
Looks like a lot of us use spreadsheets!
My Musing.
Thought I'd finally join the fun. Here is my post.
Here are my thoughts
My musing is up. http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com/2009/03/musing-monday.html
It's a little late, but here's my response:
http://memybookandthecouch.blogspot.com/2009/03/musing-mondays_30.html
Very late, but I'm here! And, BTW, Rebecca, seek help...
Late but up!
http://www.morbid-romantic.net/2009/03/30/musing-mondays-book-record-keeping/
Forgot to post my link this morning! :)
Here it is!
Great question. Here is my answer. If I may suggest a follow up question: How to you keep track of your to be read list?
http://marineko.blogspot.com/2009/03/musing-mondays-tracking.html
From one crazy person to another - I do exactly the same thing!! I have a checklist that I go through each time I read a book. The only one I don't post to is GoodReads - haven't investigated that site yet. But I have severl different Excel spreadsheets I post to, Shelfari, and then my review and book list on my blog.
Just curious - I don't have it in front of me - but aren't you the person that graciously posted your graph excel sheet so that others can use it? Because I use that sheet too - I love to see the graph progess and see the info about pages read, how many pages a day it averages out to, etc.
Musing Monday on Friday - no elaborate tracking systems for me, I'm afraid :-).
Here's mine.. late as always :)
http://desertrosebooklogue.blogspot.com/2009/04/musing-monday.html
When I was in the Peace Corps (1967-69) the PC provided us with paperback books which we could trade for others at the PC office. I kept a journal which included a list of the books I read in the two years I lived in Brazil ---quite a few because without TV, reading was my only entertainment.
When I returned home, I created a file with noted cards and added all the books I remembered reading before the Peace Corps, each card devoted to an author. I continued to add all the books I read.
In the early 90s, I transferred my book list into a database. It includes, author, title, a code for the type of book (F=fiction, NF=nonfiction, etc.) a rating from 0-5, date read, and sometimes a word, phrase or a few sentences about the book. I rate few books below a 3, because if a book doesn't do much for me after I've given it a reasonable try, I will not complete it. Why waste my time on something I'm not enjoying when there are a million other reads at the library?
Post a Comment