5 Reasons You Should Keep A Reading Journal

Have you ever read a book and thought, I loved this book…and yet, I’m not sure if I’d recommend it to anyone else? Or have you ever read a book and thought, I hated this book…but maybe someone else would enjoy it? Have you ever finished a book, put it down, and not known what to think about it? That’s because reading is an intensely personal experience.

Many avid readers keep journals to help them remember what they’ve read, what they liked, and what they didn’t like. It’s a great way to help you make better reading choices in the future! Reading journals are a great way to keep track of your reading habits and preferences and learn more about yourself as a reader. Here are five reasons why you should keep a reading journal:

1. You can reflect on the books you’ve read and look for patterns in your preferences, like what genres you tend to enjoy or what types of books you’re drawn to.
2. You can look at the books that influenced you most and try to figure out why they had such an impact on you. Was it because they depict characters who are like you? Or maybe they share themes with your life? Or do they just make you laugh? A journal can help you figure it out.
3. You can start noticing trends in the kinds of things you get out of books, and how those factors influence whether you like a book. Do certain topics stick with you after reading? Do certain types of characters resonate with you more than others? Are there any parts of the book that really stand out for some reason? Your journal can help clarify these issues for you.
4. You can start making deeper connections between books, which will help make your reading both more interesting and more effective.
5. You can build a list of authors and books you enjoy or not. This allows to explore more of that author or genre which can be a steppingstone into mores adventures that are similar.