My Book Lists

I thought I'd tell you about my favorite book I read last year, but when I went back to my book list (yes, I really keep a list of all the books I read), I found I'd only read ten books last year. Ten. Looking back, I see I usually average about twice that. Sigh.

But it got me thinking maybe you'd like to know about my book lists and why I keep them.

I started keeping a list of the books I read back in 1999. I keep my lists in a spiral journal and at the start of each new year, I put the year at the top of the next clean page and write "1." on the left side of the first line in anticipation of completing my first book of the year. Usually, I'm part-way through a book when one year ends and another begins, so I likely already know what the first entry will be.

Each entry contains the title of the book and its author. That's it. Nothing fancy.

Why do I keep such a list? That's a good question. I somehow find comfort in it. I like seeing what I've read. And when I go back and look at what I read in a particular year, it spurs memories of what I was doing while I read that book. I suppose it's a journal of sorts. Some books I read while on vacation and I remember where I was and how relaxed I felt. Others I read during difficult times in my life and I'm able to see that period of life in a different light now than perhaps I could then. If someone asks me if I've read a particular book and I'm not sure, and I can go back and check. Or, if I want to recommend a book to someone and I can't remember the exact title or author, I have record of it and can give accurate information.

I know, I'm weird. But that's okay. I bet you are, too, in your own special way.

So, tell me, do you keep a book list? Or do you have another quirky thing about you that you'd like to share in the comments?

Happy Monday!

Linda