Let’s Talk Bookish: Tracking Your Reading

Last Updated on May 27, 2022 by ThoughtsStained

I’m back this Friday participating in another Let’s Talk Bookish post! It was created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and co-hosted with Dani @ The Literary Lion. However, in April of 2022, Aria @ Book Nook Bits took over! For this week, our topic is: Tracking Your Reading, suggested by Aria!

Let’s discuss!

Tracking Your Reading

Here’s this week’s prompts: Do you keep track of the books you read? If so, do you use Goodreads? StoryGraph? Another platform? Has the way you keep track of your reading changed since you started blogging? What are the pros and cons of tracking your reading?

So, let’s dive a bit into my tracking process, how it’s evolved and what I’d like it to look like in the future!

My Experience

So, I track my reading in a few different places currently. For online platforms, I use Goodreads and StoryGraph. And both of those are usually used to track actual reading progress (like daily updates*) and reviews. I also post reviews on Am*zon, solely for the reason that it can help boost authors’ numbers and algorithm chances. And, of course, my reviews can always be found here on my blog!

For tracking other details much more in-depth, as well as content planning for the blog, I use a Book Blogger Spreadsheet. It’s created every year by Kal @ Reader Voracious and y’all, it’s one of my favorite things EVER. I love the graphs and how I can keep track of so many things (like books I owe, ARCs, amount I read, etc.). Highly, highly recommend it.

*More like monthly updates since your girl is hardly reading and reading slowly (lolsob)

The Evolution

I used to only use Goodreads, when I first started tracking at all, ages ago. Then, I discovered it’s a bit trash, being owned by Am*zon, subject to one star review bombs and being an unfriendly interface, to boot. I still use it, but much less than I used to. And, for the same reason I post on Am*zon at all: to support authors.

I switched to StoryGraph because I loved its features (different star options, a much friendlier and more appealing review interface, option for content warnings, etc.). It’s been fun, so far!

I have seen Kal mentioned Readerly and Bookly, both which I’ve been interested in because of the stats. But, the idea of adding another app on top of StoryGraph and Goodreads seems a bit silly (even for the stats). Plus, using Kal’s spreadsheet gives me a lot of what I want, anyway!*

*And, am I even reading, really? 😭

Hopes for the Future

In terms of tracking my reading in the future, I think it’s going to stay the same how it is now! I plan to always use Kal’s spreadsheet (as long as she’s comfortable making them, that is). There are also plans to properly update said spreadsheet so I have the correct publisher info and checking off books I’ve read and reviewed, since I’m a bit behind on that. Mostly so I can see how much I own that I haven’t read, so I can make it a priority.* I also want to find a way to track the types of books I read, in turns of diversity in content and by author (i.e., ensuring I’m reading books by and about BIPOC and queer writers), without being invasive.

Oh, and I hope Am*zon and Goodreads get destroyed by better things. 🤷‍♀️

*If I ever get back to reading regularly. Like I want to. And should.

In Sum

So, those are my thoughts about tracking your reading! A fun topic that, even a few years ago, I don’t think I would have had much to say about it. Since I haven’t always done it. But now, there are so many different ways and options!

What about you? How do you track your reading (if you do)? What do you wish you could change or start doing? Any tips you have for those who want to start? Or things they should avoid? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!*

*And dealing with all of my self-own “footnotes”.