18th
Aug
Aug
As a fanatic reader and book blogger I loved reading book discussion. And since I also love having my own book blog I decided to post a book discussion myself. So join me on my little book discussion journey and let’s have some fun!
Writing
reviews isn’t for everyone. And as a perfectionist I’m always trying to find
new ways to improve my reviews. But I always find it hard to find a new way of
writing reviews that works for me. Now, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve
been writing my reviews as soon as possible after I finish the book. This means
that I sometimes write them late at night, sometimes the morning after, before
I go to work and sometimes a day after I finished reading the book.
reviews isn’t for everyone. And as a perfectionist I’m always trying to find
new ways to improve my reviews. But I always find it hard to find a new way of
writing reviews that works for me. Now, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve
been writing my reviews as soon as possible after I finish the book. This means
that I sometimes write them late at night, sometimes the morning after, before
I go to work and sometimes a day after I finished reading the book.
When I
started my blog I tried writing notes about the books I read. But I kept
wondering what I needed to write down, which took my mind of the actual
reading. And at times I forgot writing notes completely. I would finish my
book, and I tried to write some notes then. Which didn’t really work because
why not write the review immediately right?!
started my blog I tried writing notes about the books I read. But I kept
wondering what I needed to write down, which took my mind of the actual
reading. And at times I forgot writing notes completely. I would finish my
book, and I tried to write some notes then. Which didn’t really work because
why not write the review immediately right?!
But still,
I think writing notes while reading a book you’re reviewing is something that
works if you do it the right way. Especially with names. I’m so bad in
remembering names, that it would definitely help me out if I wrote the names
down. So should I only write names down? What is the right way for making
notes?
I think writing notes while reading a book you’re reviewing is something that
works if you do it the right way. Especially with names. I’m so bad in
remembering names, that it would definitely help me out if I wrote the names
down. So should I only write names down? What is the right way for making
notes?
Do you
write notes while reading your book? And do you have a method for it?
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Discussion: Reading One Or More Books At The Same Time
Discussion Post: The Review Policy
Discussion: Getting Out of a Book Slump
Maureen is a mom, wife, nurse, and Ravenclaw living in the Netherlands. She spends her days juggling mom-life, reading, blogging, planning date nights with her husband and working as a nurse. Maureen also is a big Anglophile, loves cooking, Gilmore Girls, Bridgerton and Harry Potter.. Always! Facebook | Instagram
I keep notes while reading. I just jot down the things I like and dislike since I often end up forgetting those if I don't, as weird as it sounds. Like, sometimes there are a lot or there are little things, and it's just hard to remember them all. If I don't write them down, I get distracted from the reading because I'm trying so hard to keep remembering all the things I want to say in my review lol. But if I write it down, I can just go back to focusing on the story!
That sounds right Kristen. I get what you’re saying that trying to remember everything gets me distracted sometimes from the actual reading. I should try that out! And do you write down only words? Or complete sentences?
I don't really have rules, it just depends how much I feel like I need to write. Sometimes a word is enough to remind me once I've finished, other times I get into whole rants in my notes lol.
Whaha.. Yes I guess that's how it goes. Thanks, I'm going to give it a try again! 😉
I take notes now, never used to, but blogging has me paying more attention to certain things lol. The funny thing is I usually do my review right after reading too, and half the time I don't even look at my notes! But other times I do- and for super complicated books like Game of Thrones, my notes are a lifesaver!
Yes, that's also something I noticed when I did write notes. If didn't really look at what I wrote down. But I'm definitely thinking of writing notes again, because now sometimes my head is just so full and I can't seem to remember everything I want. And I still have plans to read Game of Thrones so I probably need to write notes then 😀
I do make notes, but it's more like… I'll be reading and suddenly get an idea, an opinion about part of the book that I just need to write down. So I write it into a doc on my phone and then when I do need to write the review it's much easier. But sometimes I don't get these idea flashes – so it's absolutely fine not to write anything either. Sometimes if the book is very engrossing, I will not take notes at all. I usually write my reviews a month after I read the book xD so having notes helps. But I never (or almost never) recap what happens in the book, so I never take any notes about the events in it – I don't need to 🙂
I get what you're saying Evelina. I definitely have these moments while reading, where I think I really need to remember this. But since I don't write notes at the moment I seem to forget these moments. So it sounds like a good idea. 😉
Wow.. a month after you finish reading the book? I wouldn't be able to get the things I want to say down in my review.
When I first started, I basically rewrote the entire book. I had to quickly cut that out. I highlight things in my ebooks all the time to go back to, and I've just now realized I can make notes, so I've started doing small things here and there to go back to. It's little things I forget in the big picture, but things that mattered while I was reading. I think I do need to start physically jotting down some thoughts on paper as I read, though, because I've been questioning my reviews lately, too. I like to focus on relationships in my review, so showing examples of their character is something I like to do. I forget names, too, especially when there are nearly a dozen characters. It is usually at least a week later that I write the review, so I forget a lot of things I thought were important while reading. I'm trying to add some of those things into my weekly WWW Wednesday posts to go back and pull from.
I've been hearing about highlighting stuff on your eReader. I must say I've never done that before, and I wasn't even really aware that it was a possibility. Sounds like something that would work.
I'm definitely trying to improve my reviews too, and writing notes sounds like something that would work best.
Like you, I always write right after I finish reading. I'm not good with names too so my notes do help. It didn't always work that way though since I forgot take make notes sometimes.
Awesome discussion, Maureen. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thanks Geybie. I'm definitely trying to find a way to make writing notes work. Not only because it sounds like something that works, but also because I think it's fun to write notes!! LOL!! And there are so many gorgeous notebooks available! 😀
It depends. If there are a lot of characters I will jot things down or if something pops out at me. Often I highlight passages on my Kindle. Most of the time I just read and jot a few notes down at the end.
I really need to remember there is a possibility to highlight stuff on your Kindle. I just never thought of that before. Sounds like something that would make life much easier. 🙂
I'm not a note-taker. I will highlight things occasionally though. But my reviews are not super-detailed, more general impressions, likes and dislikes. I'm lazy, but I also sometimes feel like if it's not important enough for me to remember a day or two after, it's probably not important.
True.. But I'm terrible with names, and they are kind of important! LOL!! Now I need to go through the books looking for the names, which takes a lot of time.
And maybe I can take my reviews to another level by using notes. 😀