I’m slowly wrapping up 2023 – at least reading-wise – so I definitely want to reflect on my reading habits and how reviewing queer books fits into my life.
About Let’s Talk Bookish
Let’s Talk Bookish is a bookish meme created by Rukky @ Eternity Books where bloggers write posts discussing the topic of the week each Friday! Now it’s run by Aria @Book Nook Bits. Here are the other prompts for January 2024.
Queer Reading Reflections
Last year I read 57 books – although, tracking 57 books I’ve read would be more fitting since there were books I’ve read without shelving them on my Goodreads.
Originally, I vowed to read 30 books because I fell into a huge reading slump and for the longest time I wasn’t sure if I’d manage 30 at all. Near the end of 2023, my reading game picked up though and I blew through some series which really helped me enjoy reading again. Some of those series have found a place in my list of favourite queer reads of 2023, too!
Out of those tracked 57 books 16 weren’t queer reads. This is mostly due to me (re-)inhaling the Sara Linton and Will Trent books by Karin Slaughter. So I’m fine with that quota, although I’m considering amping up my “bookish” reading. I don’t know yet if those books will find a place on my blog, but I am The Queer Bookish so it wouldn’t be that far-fetched I guess.
Bookish Changes To My Reading
Before I do that, though, I want to maintain my reading flow. I hope to get back into reading daily and use my Book Blogger’s BuJo daily. Right now I have an A6 notebook for note-taking but if everything goes smoothly, I would love to incorporate those review notes into my BuJo as well. Maybe giving each book I’ve read its one back to look back through in the years to come?
First, I want to try finding a new way of taking notes. Right now, I’m making myself write at least a sentence after each reading session – which I forgot to do today! – to really engage with what I’ve read. It kinda feels weird, especially when I’m using public transport and suddenly whipping out my notebook, but that’s mostly due to me being a socially anxious mess and not because it’s a weird habit to have.
What are you trying to change in regards to your reading? How does it go so far?
Categories: Memes
The Queer Bookish 
I started taking notes after each reading session like you’re doing, and i struggled with the same thing! The solution I found was to take the notes on my phone: it’s a lot less conspicuous and it’s only a few sentences anyway.
Then, when i have some time and a hard surface (so that my writing isn’t atrocious), i transcribe into my notebooks. It’s never more than 5 lines so it goes fast and i’m not stopped by anxiety anymore!
Hope this helps and happy new year!
(sorry if a variation of this comment appears twice, I’m not sure it went through the first time)
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So far, I’m not disciplined enough to transcribe the notes on my phone into my notebook and end up having to use both to write my review.
But maybe I’ll give it another try! Doing so once a week should be do-able even for me.
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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