How Do You Keep Track of Books You Want to Read or Have Read?

Updated on November 11, 2011
M.M. asks from Vail, CO
16 answers

My kids are old enough that I can now find more time to read which I love. I've got a notebook to scribble books I have read and want to read but I think there must be a better way to keep track. Any suggestions ?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

This is awesome! Thanks ladies-I'm going to look at all the great options you have shared. I never thought to create an excel spreadsheet(!). Being able to quickly 'find' a title or author would be a huge time saver compared to a note book.Plus leaving comments. I also like the idea of something like Goodreads as you cannot accidentally loose your history. (and maybe print out a wish list for Santa ;-)

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.H.

answers from Hartford on

I used Goodreads.com. You can set up whatever lists you want to track what you've read. I like to track by year. I also keep a "Want to Read" list. You can review the books you've read, read others' reviews and "friend" other members. It's a great site!

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.K.

answers from Denver on

I keep a list in an Excel spreadsheet with titles, authors, and comments. I also separate it out by the year I read them. :)

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.M.

answers from Cleveland on

i like Goodreads.com, i like having it on the computer and I like the visual aspect of seeing the cover art. that often jogs my memory. There may be an app for this but I don't have a cool phone just my gasp Desk Top.

If you want you can write a reveiw for all the world to see, or just jot notes to yourself and mark it as a spoiler, maybe people can still see it but they would have to be trying pretty hard.

I think goodreads is better but i have seen people post bookcovers to Pinterest.com I suppose you could use that too but i don't know how much space you have to jot down things you would want to remember.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Amazon.com wish list! I may not end up buying the book from them (although I usually do in either book form or Kindle form), but I put everything I want/need on there for everyone in my family of 4 - each has their own WL - so I can put books I want for my 10 year old on his, or my 6 year old on his, and I also can add presents (non-book related usually) I think up during the year - in particular for my 'hard to buy for' husband.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

I have used goodreads too, but I don't really keep up with it. Do you have an Amazon account? I sometimes go through the amazon website and add stuff to my wish list. Even if you don't buy it through them you can store lists and whatnot on their site to reference. I have also seen books in the store and come home and added them to my wishlist so I don't forget. I'd lose papers I have at home for sure! Or I'd have so many that I'd have 5 lists going at once! ;)

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Chicago on

I have a list of books I want to read on my phone. If I hear about a book I think I want to read, I pull out my phone, open the notes app and add it to the list.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.C.

answers from Savannah on

Goodness! How could I keep up with all the books I've ever read, lol? However: I do have a list (alphabetical) of books that we actually own in alphabetical order because it's hard to remember (this is needed when I go to a used bookstore or friends of the library book sale---many books, I've read but consider classics and want to own, and I can't remember if I read it a million years ago and donated it back when I moved around a lot, or if I checked it out at the library, or if I actually own it). This list was easier for us than it may be for some with millions of books because we donated nearly everything back when we were young, childless, and "nomadic", and then once we moved to this house we made the list as we unpacked and arranged. We have close to 1000 books now, which is why alphabetic order is important to us. :P

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.K.

answers from Kansas City on

I also have signed up for Goodreads but have found I go to my little notebook more often.

I have to admit though, someone else started the list for me initially. I belong to a book club and one of the woman started a paper list after a couple of years. I have it in ONE notebook and just keep adding to it.

I also have started using my camera phone to take pics of books I WANT to read. I saw a couple at Target one day I thought looked good. So I took a picture with my phone that when I not only get caught up on my reading I can see what else I thought I wanted to read.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.K.

answers from Omaha on

I see people meantioned goodreads! I was also a fan of Shelfari, and now there is booklikes.com I find that new site very interesting. Kind of like a pandora for books! Seems pretty good too.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.D.

answers from Denver on

I keep a file in Excel also, and save it online so that I can always access it easily. I have a list to read, as well as a list I've read, and comments, so that when it comes up in conversation, I can remember what I liked or didn't like.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.B.

answers from Denver on

another vote for Goodreads!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.W.

answers from Eugene on

My library website has a list of every book I've check out. There is also a place to save titles of books I want to read, like a wish list. When I have time, I request one of the books on my list and they pull the book and hold it for me to pick up. If there is a book I want to read that they don't have, I click on "suggestions for purchase". They have purchased about 90% of my suggestions, so I rarely buy books anymore. You might want to check your library to see if they have a similar set up for you.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.M.

answers from Denver on

Goodreads.com. Great site for tracking both what you have read, want to read, and are currently reading. As well, you can get book recommendations. It's sorta of a Facebook for books in that you can add friends and track what they read as well. I love it!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.J.

answers from Seattle on

For books i WANT to read: I don't. I just go to the bookstore and wander.

I come across stuff ALL the time that "Oh! I've been meaning to read that." but if I don't have the cash in hand (because I have another book I want to read more already in arms), I don't buy it and forget again for awhile until I have the money/time to wander the aisles again.

How I keep track? I own them. I ran into a BIT of a problem with a basement flood awhile back (lost 17 garment box sized book boxes - that hadn't been unpacked, because I'm DIY'ing my house, and a LOT of stuff stays packed in the basement). Thousands and thousands of dollars worth of books. HIGHLY vexing. Esp. the text books at a couple hundred a pop. Fortuantely MOST of my beloved books were spared (I reread books). A flaw in the insurance (because this is my first house, so I didn't know better) meant that everything we lost in the flood wasn't covered. ((ACTUAL floods... like feet of water overflowing from a river... we were insured for, water damage from pipes we were insured for. Not rain and a busted drainpipe. Aaaargh)). But aside from the drown and mouldering books (about 1000-1500 in total), I own the rest (but I give away what I didn't like at all). Libraries are the bane of my existance... since they never have the ENTIRE series, and there's always a wait / 'in transit', or they don't have the books at all yet (waitlist for months).... and then I finally GET the book, read it in an hour, and forget to return it racking up $20 in fines. Ugh. Libraries. HATE them. ((Love them for school, not for pleasure)).

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.R.

answers from Minneapolis on

Goodreads is the best way to keep track of what I have read, and what I want to read, that I have ever found.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.Y.

answers from Chicago on

I just have a list in excel that I send myself when I go the library then I have a list of like 80 books and can always find one instock that is on my list.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions