Reading in Style: Unique Ways to Keep Track of Your Books

Do you keep track of the number of books you read each year? If so, how do you do it? Some people log the titles they read on websites and apps like Goodreads (www.goodreads.com), or you could simply use pen and paper to create your list. This past year, I sought creative ways to track the books I read. Here are some fun methods I explored:

1. Read Your Height - Stack the books you've read throughout the year and take a selfie to share on social media. We had a lot of fun with this one. Our Youth Services Librarian, Grace, had the tallest stack in the Robbinsville Branch!

2. Bullet Journal - I loved the creative freedom this method offered. I found various types online—both free and for purchase—and decided to design my own. I decorated the spine of each book after I finished reading it.

3. Crochet – Temperature blankets have been a popular trend for a while now, (assigning each range of temperature a color and crocheting various number of stitches for each day) so I was intrigued by the idea of using crochet to track my books. Some people created squares using prominent colors on the covers, others picked colors to represent genres read. I started this a little late and decided to make a dish towel instead. Each color change equals one book read - I selected colors that match my kitchen.

4. Bookmarks – I discovered two different ways to track my titles using bookmarks. This method may work well for people who also enjoy scrapbooking as the bookmarks would be great additions to scrapbooks.

• Keep one bookmark for each title that you read. This allows you to track not only the titles but you can also write a few lines about the book.

• Have monthly bookmarks and add the titles as the month goes on.

5. Reading Challenges – As I write this the Mercer County Library System’s 2024 Reading Challenge is coming to an end. We challenged our patrons to read books that fit into 25 different categories. The books I read fit into 8 of them. The 2025 Reading Challenge is available here.

A few of the titles I read in 2024:

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

One by One by Frieda McFadden

Happy Place by Emily Henry

Funny Story by Emily Henry

The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich

 

-Michelle, Robbinsville Branch