Do you take notes?
By patgalca
@patgalca (18425)
Orangeville, Ontario
January 18, 2010 1:07pm CST
Did not know whether to put this in the reading category or writing. I am reading a book right now and half-way into it I decided I wanted to write a review for it and post it on Triond. I had to skip back a couple of pages and find a couple of lines that really hit me. I realize maybe I should have been taking notes all along. But... I didn't know I would want to write a review until I got to the good parts.
So, do you take notes while you are reading a book? Especially if you plan on writing a review, you must take notes, do you? I'm not going to highlight passages in the book. I won't "damage" books in that way.
Your thoughts.
So, do you take notes while you are reading a book? Especially if you plan on writing a review, you must take notes, do you? I'm not going to highlight passages in the book. I won't "damage" books in that way.
Your thoughts.3 people like this
14 responses
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
18 Jan 10
I usually read Fantasy fiction for fun, and although I do sometimes review books... I don't take notes. If one line is so awesome that I have to write it down, then I will. But that rarely happens. If I need to cite lines in the text then I will make a mental note and go back to find the lines later.
When I'm reading a textbook for school, I will take notes, but that's learning and it is most certainly a given.
1 person likes this
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
18 Jan 10
No, I just skim back over it. I'm pretty good at remembering where things are or at least where they generally might be.
1 person likes this
@daviseban (2)
• India
19 Jan 10
yeah ,i have also read books.But that was all for pleasure reading and not for any comprehension works.So i haven't till now took notes of any books i have read.Because none of them were read seriously and all the books i have read was fictions or novels..
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18425)
• Orangeville, Ontario
19 Jan 10
I have reviewed on novel simply because I loved the book so much. The book I am reading now is also a novel, but very inspirational, and I feel inclined to do a review on it too. I am more of a novel writer rather than an article writer, but if I can make some money and bring attention to some good books, then that's what I will do.
@BarBaraPrz (50602)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
18 Jan 10
I don't think I've ever taken notes when reading a book for review, but that's not a bad idea. Usually, I would just read the whole book, then start with my impressions of it. If I wanted to quote something from the book, it wasn't too difficult to find the particular passage again.
1 person likes this
@cream97 (29085)
• United States
18 Jan 10
Hi, patgalca. If, I am planning on writing an review then I will take notes on the story that I am reading. I used to take notes as the teacher was talking in class and I have came up with some great notes. This is something that I am very good at. My observation. You are doing the right thing. Take down your notes so that it will be easier for you to make a good review. Good Luck on your review for Triond.
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18425)
• Orangeville, Ontario
18 Jan 10
I have never been good on taking notes when listening to people. I have fibromyalgia so my concentration and understanding level is limited. If I am talking to a fast-talker I have to ask them to repeat themselves.
My difficulty here is not realizing I was going to write the review until half-way through the book. I suppose I need to plan ahead. 
@cheryltippett (231)
• United States
19 Jan 10
A good way to take notes is to get you a hand held pocket recorder and keep it close to you when you want to make a mental note . Makes it easier to go back later and put everything on paper in its proper order . Also helps you keep your thoughts together and seems easier to get your thoughts out clearer on tape than on paper for the first draft .
hope this helped you some .
1 person likes this
@macdingolinger (10385)
• United States
18 Jan 10
I do like to highlight books,but haven't done so in a long time. I was collecting a set of interesting quotes and used to write those in a notebook, but haven't done that in a long time. I do take notes when I really wnat to remember something!
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64052)
• United States
18 Jan 10
I like audio books in the car - but I've also listened at home on the computer - does mean I can't do much of anything else, since I can't concentrate on mylot or other things and listen to the book - the word on the computer get in the way of the words in my head...
@elitess (5070)
• Ipswich, England
19 Jan 10
Hi there Patgalca.
Well i think notes are essential especially if you are planing to make a book review, and i do use these but only if i have the time, when it comes to learning for my session exam at college. Otherwise, since not using Triond or other reviewing sites, i don't really make use of notes from books.
@iakulchen (615)
• Singapore
19 Jan 10
I don't take notes. I tend to want to devour a book in one sitting, usually finishing a book in a few hours, and taking notes kind of subtracts from the enjoyment of the book for me. I can see that it would be helpful if I were writing a review of the book, but I want to enjoy the book first and foremost.
@megamatt (14290)
• United States
19 Jan 10
For the most part, no. I read for fun and not to do reviews. The one time I do remember doing notes when I was reading novels for school. Since we had weekly quizzes on the assigned chapters, I felt that helped me study. However, in general, I do not take notes on books. It just takes the fun out of reading.
@adamc151 (476)
•
19 Jan 10
Nope i don't take notes when reading a book. I suppose if i was writing a review i might try to, but i would probably like to stay focused on the book and not think too much about the review at the end :)
@patgalca (18425)
• Orangeville, Ontario
19 Jan 10
It is hard to know if I'm going to like a book enough to want to review it until I've read it. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to take notes and then NOT write a review. But as previous poster said, taking notes takes the fun out of reading. I do read non-fiction but would have no interest in doing a review on those books, but would take note of a quote that caught my attention.
@chaithebest (14)
• Philippines
19 Jan 10
I don't usually take notes when reading books but what i do have beside me is a dictionary. I am a Filipino so reading english books is kinda difficult for me especially words that are poetical and not so common.
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
20 Jul 10
I take notes and highlight, as well. Almost every book I read, I do plan to write a review for, and even those I don't review, I like to highlight for my own personal purposes.
