Where I share my love of books with reviews, features, giveaways and memes. Family and needlepoint are thrown in from time to time.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Musing Mondays 3-30-2009

Musing Mondays is hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page.

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about recording your reading…Do you keep track of what and/or how many books you read? How long have you been doing this? What's your favorite tracking method, and why?If you don't keep track, why not? (question courtesy of MizB)

I have kept track of my reading very sporadically over the years. I would get into big "lists mode" - where I would have to record everything that I was reading, or every book that I owned by certain authors - or I would decide I was only going to read books off of certain lists (award winners, bestsellers, etc). Like I said-very sporadic.

Then, a few years ago I started keeping track of what I read in an excel spreadsheet - here are the results. Starting in July 2006 - read three books for that year. . . Then 2007 I read 28 books. In 2008 I read 43 books - I also started blogging in August of last year - and joined book challenges, so that increased my reading. Then, this year I have taken off - I have already read 34 books and hope to finish two more before the end of the month. This spreadsheet lists the title and author, as well as number of pages (or hours if it is audio) and the year it is published.

I also am currently keeping track of the books that I own by about 20 different authors - from Stephen King to Nora Roberts. Each author has their own spreadsheet - these lists have all the books that the authors have written - and then it is noted whether or not I have it and if it is hardbacked or paperbacked - that way I know where to find it if I need it.

Then, I have a spreadsheet that keeps tracks of all my challenges that I have joined and the books that I have read (or want to read) for each of them. When a challenge is completed (or failed, as the case may be) it is moved to a new tab of that spreadsheet.

I also have a list of all the ARCs that I have requested or received - this sheet has different tabs for books that I have found from different bloggers as well as books that I have won. I may not be as OCD as Rebecca says she is - but I appear to be well on my way!

It has been really wonderful to find a group of people that have reawakened my passion for reading, and have introduced me to so many wonderful books! Thank you blogging community!

13 comments:

Valorie said...

The Spreadsheet idea seems like a pretty good one! I might have to start one of these for my 2009 reading list.

Unknown said...

Oh you and I sound like spreadsheet soulmates! I'm all about a good spreadsheet :o). But recently, I migrated it over to Goodreads to keep track because it was easier to keep track of what I wanted to read and my reviews that way... I also like seeing what my friends are reading.

Rebecca Johnson said...

Yay, I love the spreadsheet obsession :) You actually do things that I do as well but forgot to mention (the reading challenge, ARC etc).

Jo said...

Oh I want to be that organised! Spreadsheets for different authors would begreat but I'd never keepit up! I thinkI do need a challenge spreadsheet though!

bermudaonion said...

I use a spreadsheet to keep track of the books I'm expecting and the books I've reviewed. I also keep a reading list on my blog.

Debbie said...

I really need to move into the
21st century and learn how to do a spreadsheet. I am jealous.

Jenners said...

Well, you seem well on your way to being a serious book tracker! And your reading has increased exponentially each year!

Sunny said...

I love using the spreadsheet too. I haven't gone as far as you...but I very easily could! Sounds like my kind of lists! :o)

zetor said...

Spreadsheets seem to be very popular Mine is a notebook, as well as on the blog.

Anonymous said...

That's awesome! I'm not quite as organized, with spreadsheets, but I do record everything faithfully on my blog and on LibraryThing!

caite said...

spreadsheets just remind me of work, and my books and work should not mix!

Besides, I know I would never keep one up..lol

Nise' said...

I have not clue about the books I own! I guess I should do that one of these days! LOL

Trish @ Another Piece of the Puzzle said...

Wow, that's amazing! I have kept lists at different times. Now I use Shelfari for a fun way to keep track of books read. :)

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