Keeping Track by Eric beetner

 My mum used to mark a J in the inside cover of library books with a soft pencil, to show that my dad had already read them. Dru Ann Love's record of what she reads evolved into an award-winning, guest-infested daily blog. Where do you sit when it comes to reading notes? Do you keep a record, write reviews, make annotations in the margins . . .?

I have, in the past, kept a running record of books I read that year. I don't know why I stopped, because it is actually a very helpful tool to have around, especially when awards nomination season rolls around. I need to get back to that.

I don't feel the need to write down what I read for others, but I also value a good Amazon review since I know it impacts how books get seen on that platform. Also, mostly because I read small, indie press books that need the attention. I certainly only will write a positive review. If a book wasn't for me, then best to say nothing since it is proven time and time again that my tastes run far away from the mainstream. Writing enthusiastically about books I truly enjoyed is a pleasure and I think a valuable part of the reading community. If you want to have discussions about books, want to share the things you love, then you should absolutely be out there reviewing, hyping, praising and otherwise shouting from the rooftops about a good book.

For example, I recently finished What About The Bodies by Ken Jaworowski and it was easily in my top 3 of the year. I constantly struggle with shelf space in my office and this one immediately made the shelf, whereas I am getting close to another book purge and I've got my eye on a few who might not make the cut. But What About The Bodies is shelf-worthy. 

As for any Ex Libris on my bookshelves – no. I don't make a big habit out of lending my books out so I don't need to brand them. I do keep a stack of doubles in my closet. If I'm out at a Goodwill or used bookstore and spot a book I have read and loved, I will snap it up and add it to the pile of books I like to have at the ready in case anyone I know needs a book recommendation. Often if we have guests over I'll offer up a book as a parting gift, and if I pull it from this pile I know it's a banger. Many, if not most, of my signed books are personalized to me so that will stand in for any sort of "property of..." or "From the library of..."

As to notes in the margins, well, I'm not a psychopath so, no, I don't write in my books. I'm the type of reader who prefers not to crack a spine if I don't need to. I don't dog-ear pages or curl paperback covers in my fist while reading. I grew up civilized. I might like a line or a particular turn-of-phrase, but it would never cross my mind to underline it or, I shudder to even type it, get out a highlighter. 

And it has nothing to do with the resale value of a book. I just think the book is presented as it was written. It gains nothing by me adding to the page. 

Even when I kept lists, it happened far away from the actual book. But this will jump-start me into making lists again. It's not much to keep a file on my computer and add to it when I finish a book. I'm amazed at how many books fall right out of my head the minute I close the cover. I guess that's not a ringing endorsement of the books, but life moves on, I go right into reading something new, there are so many new distractions for us these days. 

To summarize:

I endorse reading lists, writing reviews, posting about books you like on social media.

I abhor marking up books with your own thoughts or notes. It's the one thing that separates us from the animals.