Thread: Do you take notes whilst you read?

Notes purely in regards to the book, that is. Details of the character, motives, underlying ideologies, the author's personal feelings coming through, etc. A more academic unravelling of the text, you might say.

I've always just read the book, retained the details, then discussed it all pro re nata. I have a good memory, though I don't believe that's anything to do with it. I could understand if one was a member of a book club, and was required to discourse to some length about the piece, though for the average reader, it all seems a bit pointless.

Your thoughts?

No, when I read for fun, I just read it and retain what I will. If the story is so complicated that I can't remember or understand the basics of the characters, motives, and everything else, then it's not the story for me. If I have to try too hard than it feels like I'm reading for English (and I have never liked a book I've had to read for English, simply because we always read historical fiction which is my least favorite genre).

Originally Posted by Dramatism

No, when I read for fun, I just read it and retain what I will. If the story is so complicated that I can't remember or understand the basics of the characters, motives, and everything else, then it's not the story for me. If I have to try too hard than it feels like I'm reading for English (and I have never liked a book I've had to read for English, simply because we always read historical fiction which is my least favorite genre).

I hear that. It took some effort to salvage A Midsummer Night's Dream from the three month discombobulation we worked on it in high-school. The same could not be said for Macbeth, The Catcher In The Rye and several Larkin poems.

No. I read for enjoyment exclusively, and as such I don't take notes or anything such as that. The main reason I can think of for which I might take notes is if I'm trying to study a book that I think is good in order to adapt some of its style in my own writing, and I don't do that due to what has been referred to as "creepily accurate memory." There's really just no need under practically any circumstances barring school of some sort.

I do. I highlight passages that I found note-worthy. It could be because I consider the prose really good, or because I am impressed by something the author did, technically.

I also underline and mark up stories to identify wherever the author slips from Exposition back into RealTime, because I consider the Transitions between the two to be something worth studying.

Occasionally, as KC mentioned, I'll make note of a particularly interesting or poignant passage or sentence, but otherwise no. I do, however, find myself making mental notes from the writer's side of my brain now - which can be a bit annoying, frankly.

I'm a note-writer,highlighter, post-it note sticker on most books I read. But perhaps I'm not the "average reader" of whom you speak. I'm a writer who is married to a writer, so we do a lot of book discussion. I have to do a certain number of reviews a year of new titles from my publisher, so when I read those I keep notes.

But mostly it's because I enjoy making notes. The conclusions I reach may not be earthshaking, but they are mine.

No never. My memory is fine.

Depends if I'm reading for education or just for fun. At the moment, it's the latter. whenever I pick up something more... advanced... I will pay more attention to particular details, but I still won't take notes. Might try it someday, though.

sounds awfully distracting and unnecessary to me. if a book is good i'll remember the important parts.