Howdy!
Today, I want to know if you take notes while reading. 
I mean any kind of note-taking. Do you make comments in the margins, or highlight quotes, or write notes on a separate sheet of paper?
I normally don’t write notes, but lately I have been to make reviewing easier.
Do you make any kind of notes when reading a book? Why or why not? Let me know!
If you are interested in other “how do you read” questions, check out here where I ask if you reread books and here where I want to know if you use bookmarks.
In Italics 
Sherry Thompson
I take extensive notes on any book I think I might review. I read so many books that I sometimes forget things I want to include in my reviews!
Arial at In Italics
I do the same thing, although I wouldn’t quite say my notes are extensive. I know that if I don’t write some things down, I will certainly forget them later.
Kim (@Kimw1992)
I never used to do take notes as I thought it would take me out of the story. But lately I’ve found that I wanted to write something down, sometimes to remember something and sometimes just because something annoyed me. Since I’ve done that I think this helps me with writing reviews. Oh and the way I take notes is to just type up a note on my phone as that’s always in reach. And I’m often too lazy to grab a pen and paper haha.
Arial at In Italics
Same here. I thought notes would distract me. Usually it is when something annoys me that I find the need to write it down, but it could also be a good comment that I don’t want to forget to mention later. I think it helps make my reviews better, too. I am old fashioned with my pen and paper note-taking, but I think using your phone works just as well.
mdnaseemashraf
Yeah, I find it extremely necessary. As I tend to spin my own yarns and stories, I mark out ideas. I highlight, underline and even write notes on separate A4 sheets to be folded and put in with the pages of these books. But, I prefer to leave paper-books untouched in mint-condition.
If its a PDF or Ebook, I use FoxitReader to add notes, highlighting and comments.
Arial at In Italics
I like to leave my books untouched too, unless they are for school, in which case I annotate almost each and every page. I think it’s really interesting that you take so many detailed notes and then keep them in the book.
I like having an e-reader so that I can highlight passages that I want to make a comment about or re-visit later. I will have to look into FoxitReader when I am reading on my tablet.
flipthatpage
Nope, not at all! I know a lot of people who don’t mind writing on their books, but as for me, I like mine crisp, clean, and note free at all times. I’m not really the note taking type outside of school (where I LOVE to take notes), so yeah, untouched books for me XD
Arial at In Italics
I love having crisp, clean pages in my books too, so I just take notes on a separate sheet of paper. I know what you mean about loving to take notes for school books. When it comes to those, I annotate practically every page. (The picture is from my latest assigned reading.)
Suz @ A Soul Unsung
Sometimes I take notes, like if I’m reading on Padfoot (my KindleFire HD) or if I see a quote or read something that really moves me or I feel like really needs to be in the review and I’m afraid I might forget it…I’ll mark it down or write the page number to kind of flag it to go back to later. But, other than that, I sort of gave up because I found it was detracting and pulling me out of the story.
Arial at In Italics
I think reading on tablets or e-readers does have the advantage of being able to easily highlight quotes that you want to come back to later. I do the same thing of writing down page numbers, so I won’t forget something to include in my review later. I can understand how note-taking can draw you out of a story. On the other hand though, sometimes I am too distracted by the story to remember to take notes.
Mel (@Dailyprophecy)
I love taking notes. I have a special notebook where I write things down I want to remember. It can be quotes, page numbers or just general things I’ve noticed – and how I feel about it. And when I’m reading an e-book, I also like to highlight and leave ‘bookmarks’ on the pages.
Arial at In Italics
Your notebook sounds so cute! Your notes sound a lot like mine. I also love using the highlight feature on my Kindle because it is so easy to find and keep track of quotes.
Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity
I have never taken notes while reading a book. Ever. Haha. It just doesn’t come naturally to me. And I fell that if I stop reading, and take down notes, I am wrenching myself away from the world that I am reading – and feel as if it’s more of a job to read, rather than a recreation.
I can understand how taking notes may make reviewing books easier, but for me, writing reviews is very easy. I write them directly after finishing the book so everything is fresh in my mind. 😀
Arial at In Italics
Well, whatever floats your boat. 🙂
I think being distracted from the story is the number one reason a lot of people don’t take notes while reading. I think it is interesting how you pointed out that it makes it feel more like a job that way.
For me, taking notes helps when I know that I won’t review the book right away. I am jealous of your ability to review right after finishing a book. I used to do that, but then I would just get busy or not feel like it, so the notes hep keep my thoughts about the book fresh.
Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity
True, true. 😛
Ah, I can understand getting busy or not feeling in the mood for writing a review. I feel like that sometimes. But my reviews don’t take too long to write, and once I am actually writing them, I enjoy it so I just tell myself to get it over with, haha.
Arial at In Italics
I think I am going to start taking your advice of just getting it over with. I like writing reviews too, otherwise I wouldn’t have started a book blog, but I usually have to give myself a push before I start actually writing them. 🙂
Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity
Exactly! Writing reviews is fun 😀 I knuckled down last night and wrote one, and I wrote one this morning. It makes you feel so much better when they’re done and dusted!
Arial at In Italics
I think I am going to write two (or maybe more, who knows?) tonight. It is a lot of fun to write them and walk around feeling accomplished after you have done so. 🙂
Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity
I hope you achieved your goal of writing two reviews, Arial! 😀
Exactly. I always feel much better after having written them.
Jackie G.
I’d say I take notes on about 40% of the books I read. Not for the purpose of organizing my reviews better. It takes me out of the story. For the most part, It’s just underlining particular passages that struck a chord with me. Or, maybe I’ll have a strong reaction to a scene and I’ll write something in the margins of the book.
When i read particularly challenging texts, the margins are littered with notes. i’m reading Stephen Hawking’s the Universe in a Nutshell, and i have a pen in hand at all times. The subject matter is fascinating, but I’m not a science guru. I usually do some extra research on an idea, and then make note of it in the book; it helps me understand the text better.
Arial at In Italics
I wish that I underlined certain passages or quotes more so that I could easily refer back to them later. But, I usually like to keep my books pretty pristine. I wish I was brave enough to actually mark them up!
I do have to say that, like you, when I am reading a more challenging text I take notes in the margins too. My challenging texts are usually assigned reading for school, but it is pretty neat that you are tackling books like the Universe in a Nutshell.
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theinbetweenplace
When I’m using my e-reader, I highlight all of the quotes that I like or bookmark certain pages to come back to later when I’m writing my review. A lot of the time, though, I start out writing notes and then get so absorbed in the story that I completely forget that I should be writing things down…. and then, next thing I know, I’m finished the book. 😛
Arial at In Italics
I love the highlight feature on my e-reader! I use it to highlight quotes that I like as well. I do the exact same thing of planning to take notes, but well… the story keeps me so entertained that I forget! I completely understand. 🙂
Joséphine @ Dudette Reads
Most of the time I don’t’ take down notes, although I do have a small dedicated notebook that I carry with me everywhere I go, just in case. Once in a while my notes end up on my phone, especially when I’m reading in the subway or at night in bed after my sister has already switched off the lights. But I do hope to make note taking a habit this coming year, so I can remember details more easily.
Arial at In Italics
I think I need to invest in a small notebook so that all my reading notes can stay in one place and travel with me too. I’m going to try and make note taking a habit of mine too in 2014.
Nara
I don’t really do it often when I read print books (I never have anything to write notes on on hand), but I sometimes highlight quotes and write notes for eARCs. I do notice that it helps when writing reviews because I have a really crappy memory haha.
Arial at In Italics
If I can’t find a notepad within reach when reading, I probably won’t end up taking notes. I love using the highlight feature on my e-reader. I have a terrible memory too, so the notes help me remember to include certain points that I want to make.
Abria @ Read. Write. Discuss.
I used to keep notes in a Moleskine Book Notes journal before I was a blogger, but since then I find I need more space to keep track of things. I just use a plain notebook now. I never mark up my book’s margins, though. My mother raised me to treat books like artifacts 🙂
Arial at In Italics
I use a little notepad to keep notes, but I will probably use a plain notebook soon, too. I only mark up the margins when I have to read a book for school because my teachers always highly encourage it. Other than that I can’t even bring myself to dog ear a page. 🙂
JB
I use an app on my phone to take notes that I can reference when writing my review. I like to note:
-any curse words, sexual stuff, violence, etc to add to the content advisory at the end of the review
-predictions I have
-favorite scenes and quotes
-anything else I think will help me when I’m reviewing
I’m not a big fan of making notes in books, but I recently got an iPad for reading ebooks and LOVE taking notes and making highlights on the reader instead of using my app. So convenient!
Arial at In Italics
Those are good things to make note of. In my head I note any theories/predictions I have, but on paper I note the pace of the book, anything that stands out that delights/annoys me, and favorite quotes too.
I can only stand making notes in books when they are reading for school. I love how handy the highlighting on my e-reader is! I am starting to use it more and more.
Brianna (The Book Vixen)
All the time! I mainly read ebooks so I’m constantly highlighting and making notes. It makes writing my review so much easier. It’s one of the reasons I prefer ebooks over print.
Arial at In Italics
When I am reading on my e-reader I use the highlight feature all the time. It definitely keeps things more organized and I write better reviews because of it. I still love having print books to fill my shelves, but I do love my e-reader.
Brianna (The Book Vixen)
It’s more convinient for me to read an ebook because of the highlighting and notes feature, so I rarely read print. When I do read print books, I’m one of those people who doesn’t crack the spine or dogear pages. LOL
Arial at In Italics
I like to keep my books all nice and pristine too! I try and keep from opening up the book too wide or letting anything bend the cover. The only exception is when I have to annotate them for school. When I read print books I use a separate sheet of paper to keep track of notes, but it is so much easier to just use the handy dandy highlight/note feature on my e-reader.
Arial at In Italics
I like to keep my books all nice and pristine too! I try and keep from opening up the book too wide or letting anything bend the cover. The only exception is when I have to annotate them for school. When I read print books I use a separate sheet of paper to keep track of notes, but it is so much easier to just use the handy dandy highlight/note feature on my e-reader.
DoingDewey
I can’t do a review without taking notes. Even if I don’t refer to them while I’m writing the review, I think I remember more about a book because of having taken notes.
Arial at In Italics
I am going to try and really improve my note-taking this year, so that like you, I won’t be able to write a review without having notes. I think taking notes really helps me remember certain qualities about a book that I may otherwise forget.