Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

Do you keep notes on books you read or what are ways that you remember the plots?

Always take notes for each book I read.
It takes me a lot longer than most to finish books but I’ve always been a note-taker. It helps keep track of characters, remember plots, great lines & things I had problems with.

Often it’s years, from the time I read a series book til the next time I pick up the following one. Notes really help nudge the ole noggin. Also helps with writing reviews (if I feel motivated to write one at some point) 😉

I post my reviews on Goodreads so I don't have to take notes:)

I make a point of writing a review on GR of every book I read. I started doing that when I realized how much I valued knowing WHY someone liked or disliked a book. It was a way of paying into that knowledge base of thoughts on books.

As I am looking back on my current year of reading, I’m finding that those reviews have a benefit to me as well. I can always remember whether or not I liked a book, but those reviews help me experience it again.

All good ideas. I'm in a face to face book club and if I read the book early in the month I can't remember it to discuss it. I need to start taking notes and reviewing.

I never took notes, never even thought about doing it.

Mainly, I read for the pleasure of the story.

Although for my Goodreads reviews, I will jot a quick note to remind myself of something I really like or dislike about a book for when I actually write the review.

I used to obsessively keep notes in journal notebooks of every book I read. I quit doing that years ago when the journals took up more shelf space than my paper books and ended up throwing all those journals away. I did not continue with most of those book series anyway.

Now I only take notes if I plan to lead a book discussion or doing a buddy read. I jot them down on scrap pieces of paper or note pad then throw them away later after I've typed them up.

I keep a spreadsheet, and include brief notes and my ratings for each book I read, and I post reviews on some of what I read, but I don't usually take notes on most of my reading. I keep intending to start a reading journal, but they usually are forgotten after about 3 entries. I'll try again for 2022, and this time I have a 3-section notebook, so I'll have one section each for reading journaling, crochet project notes, and deep sea livestream notes.

So interesting seeing the different ways everyone reads :)

I usually highlight key sections on the Kindle App. I have color codes for what each highlight means. Quotes, theme, etc.

Jamie wrote: "I keep a spreadsheet, and include brief notes and my ratings for each book I read, and I post reviews on some of what I read, but I don't usually take notes on most of my reading. I keep intending ..."

I hear you! I tried a notebook too, but found that it was never handy when I needed to quickly jot something down hehe. I hope your 2022 notebook system works :)