My Reading System

To me, being organised is one of my best traits. I love stationary, calendars, diaries, and keeping tabs on my reading. So when I was working at my local bookstore a couple of years ago and saw we were selling these cute little book diaries, a new love was born. Thus, my reading system became an imperative tool in my organisational belt and I haven’t looked back since. Pictured above are the two diaries that I record every book that has been recommended to me or books that I’ve always wanted to read in. Once I’ve read them, I put a different coloured highlighter through it.

The different colours don’t represent anything, I just use my twelve different colours and repeat the cycle with each new book. As you can see, it pops more on the page as opposed to using the same colour throughout. Plus, it’s always fun to cross something off a list!

Once I’ve highlighted the latest book I’ve read, I turn to the author section and record the author and the title. The author section is organised alphabetically, much like an address book. So adorable!

This is a simple way for me to remember what I’ve read by different authors, so if anyone at a dinner party (should I ever attend one) or over a cup of coffee asks me what specific books I’ve read, I’ll be ready!
After writing the author and the title down, I go to my bedroom door where the list of books that I have in my possession that also appear in my diaries are located, and cross off that book respectively.

Again, my obsession with ticking things off lists comes into play here. It’s also a great way for people visiting me to see my progress (if they’re ever interested) so they know what books to buy for future birthdays (hint hint). And don’t be alarmed by the lack of sharpie over the “HP Series” entry! I’ve read the Harry Potter series roughly ten times, I just haven’t read it in the last four years which means I’m due for a catch up. The same goes for the “Lord of the Rings” series!

As you can see, having this much on my “To Read” list can be overwhelming at times. I’m interested in so many genres and I always have trouble picking which book to read next. Being a Libran means I’m rubbish when it comes to decision making so I let fate decide for me…

The same list of books as the one on my door are written individually and put in the “To Be Read Box” and shuffled around. I reach in without looking and whatever entry I pull out is what I read next. If I pick something out that I immediately feel hesitant towards, such as James Joyce’s “Ulysses”, I put the entry back in for another time when I know I’ll be ready to read it and repeat the process until I pick something I’m excited for. If I pick out an entry that is part of a series that means I read the entire series. If I have multiple entries in the box by one author (e.g. Jodi Picoult) and I draw one of her books, I return it to the box and draw/read her first published work that I haven’t read yet. This way my mind can stay focused on what I’m currently reading rather than looking ahead to the next book, which is something I used to struggle with when I drew out entries before I’d finished the book I was reading.

And of course immediately after I read a book I give it a rating out of five and write my immediate thoughts on my Goodreads page! My thoughts aren’t always coherent and structured, but they reflect the emotional state I was in upon finishing which I personally think can be indicative of the story I read. I take that review, tweak it a bit, and post it here on my blog so I can remember my experience.
So there you have it, my personal reading routine!
If you would like to check out my Goodreads page for past reviews and ratings, you can click here to grab some great recommendations: https://www.goodreads.com/readingreviewingloving

Do you have a specific reading routine like me, or do you just wing it? Does the thought of crossing things off a list make you giddy with happiness? How do you go about choosing what to read next? Was there anything on my list that you’ve read before or have always wanted to read? I’d love to know how you organise your reading life!