My Reading Life: A Book Journal—March Book Pick

---

My book recommendation for this month isn’t exactly a book in the sense we usually think of one. It’s not a novel or a memoir or even a how-to. Rather, it’s a book that’s partially already written and partially waiting to be written by me. I’m talking about a reading journal.

Your life isn’t the same as mine; the things I find valuable might be useless to you. But then again, you might find value in them too.

​And one of the things I’m finding value in right now is My Reading Life, a book journal created by Anne Bogel.
​

Why a Book Journal?

First, there’s basic curiosity. I read a lot of books throughout the year and find it hard to keep track of them all. (I finished more than fifteen in January and February.)
​
Then, there’s the segment of this blog where I recommend books that I’ve enjoyed or found valuable. Life can get hectic, and I don’t always have a chance to write a post right after I read a book, but I don’t want to forget important information. Keeping a book journal allows me to take note of interesting points and quotes.
​

Isn’t There an App for That?

Probably. Actually, I’m sure there are all kinds of apps and websites that help you track your reading. I’ve tried keeping track digitally through services like BookBub and Goodreads, but I find it cumbersome to pull out an electronic device and pull up the app or website whenever I start a new book or want to record some information.
​
There’s just something about putting pencil to paper that comes more easily to me. Ironically, I find less friction in the action of physically writing in a book.
​

What Are the Disadvantages?

Before purchasing this particular book journal, of course, I read a bunch of reviews, and while I’ve found most of the reviews helpful, I disagree with the people who said there was plenty of room for recording your thoughts.

This is true for many of the books I read. I read and reread a lot of books for pleasure and really only need to note whether or not I enjoyed them and why.

​However, there are some books I have a lot more thoughts on, and each page of the journal only has so much space.

---

In summary, despite the fact that it’s not perfect, I love this little book. It’s cute and handy and contains multiple lists of new books and authors for me to explore.

Once it’s completely filled out, I may or may not get another one, or I may just get a regular journal to keep track of my reading and customize it to what I want.

​What about you? Do you keep track of your reading habits? If so, what do you use? I’d love to hear about it!

---

​Rebecca Miller is a professional copyeditor and general fan of all things having to do with the written word and the English language.
You can check out her website at Oakdale Editing or connect through Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Email.