Book Buying Addicts Anonymous discussion

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Just for Fun > An idea for remembering what books you want to read

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message 1: by Colby (new)

Colby (colbz) When you are in a bookstore, do you ever go blank as to what books you have meant to buy? I do this all the time, so recently, I have started to use an index card every time I look at Amazon to write down the names of the books that I want. This way, the card is in my wallet and I can remember everything. Also, I can mark off the books that I have read.


message 2: by Miss Asima (new)

Miss Asima (missasima) | 21 comments I send myself txt messages listing the books I want to look for. I'm never far from my phone so it's been working quite well for me. One of my more brilliant ideas I think. Lol :-)


message 3: by Reese (new)

Reese Copeland (nonfreak) | 46 comments I generally don't remember the books I want to read. I only think of it like at 2a and then wake up out of a sleep and think "crap, what was that book!"


message 4: by Ellen (new)

Ellen (elliearcher) Me too, Reese, me too.

Or sometimes when someone mentions a book & I go to add it to my to-read shelf & see *blush* it's already there! :(


message 5: by Kristin (new)

Kristin (sewtechnicolor) | 55 comments I have a little notebook that I keep in my bag, where I write lists, notes, movie titles, book titles, etc. So when I'm in the bookstore, I pull it out and can see what books I want to look for. :)


message 6: by Patricia (new)

Patricia (pg4003) | 45 comments On my Kindle, I download a Sample of the book. This reminds me that I heard good things about it and I can check it out without purchasing.


message 7: by Ellen (last edited May 22, 2011 04:43AM) (new)

Ellen (elliearcher) thanks Patricia: I was using that feature & then somehow forgot about it. It was very helpful for keeping my book buying-especially impulse buying down.

And I seriously need to cut back on my bookbuying, especially on the Kindle. For me, that's the biggest downside of the Kindle-too easy to impulse buy! Just a couple of clicks, & the book is mine. It's worse than a credit card.

[btw, the other down side of the Kindle for me is that it forces you to read linearly & I often don't-I like to read around many books, skipping to the middle, sometimes even the end & then back to wherever I was. Weird but sometimes the only way I can read some books-it's why I can't read magazines at all on the Kindle since I never read those in a linear way!]

And those 99 cents books & $2.99 books really add up. :(


message 8: by McKenzie (new)

McKenzie | 45 comments MissAsima wrote: "I send myself txt messages listing the books I want to look for. I'm never far from my phone so it's been working quite well for me. One of my more brilliant ideas I think. Lol :-)"

Hah! I figured I was the only one who did that.


message 9: by Miss Asima (new)

Miss Asima (missasima) | 21 comments @McKenzie - Me too! Great minds think alike. (Lol)


message 10: by Thom (new)

Thom Swennes (Yorrick) | 592 comments We are all members of this group. Here we can keep track of what we've read and what we want to read. I keep my TBR list managable and use it when looking for new books. Simple...


message 11: by Jill (new)

Jill Hutchinson (bucs1960) I have a little notebook in my purse in which I write down all the books/authors I want to read.....but am running out of pages!!!!!! Looks like I am not very electronically up to speed, but it works for me.


message 12: by Ellen (last edited May 22, 2011 11:37AM) (new)

Ellen (elliearcher) I do that to, one of those tiny spiral flip kind.

I also use my journal that I carry around with me. Writing the title down also helps me to remember.


message 13: by Clara (new)

Clara | 27 comments I just bought a book journal at Borders. I will start writing titles down. I have too many duplicates and it has to stop.


message 14: by Coqueline (new)

Coqueline I don't actually go to a bookstore to look for a specific book. If I want a specific book, I usually order them online. When I go to my favourite local bookstore, I would first browse around their second hand aisle, and then to just browse around randomly. Sometimes I found something I want to buy, sometimes not (most of the time I WILL find something I want to buy, though).


message 15: by Jana (new)

Jana (janablaha) | 28 comments I was writing down lists for awhile and sometimes successful in keeping them in my purse lol. But not always. Now with the Kindle, it should be easy. I'm really being strict with myself on it and not getting out of hand, reading each book I buy on it before I allow myself to buy another. So hopefully this won't be a problem for me any more. :p


message 16: by [deleted user] (new)

I use SnapTell (from the app store) on my iphone. You just take a picture of whatever you see (books, etc), then you can add it to the app -- it has a feature where you can find stores that have the book available, too.

I also use the GoodReads app to keep track of the books I already own -- whenever I see a book I'd like to buy, I double check my lists to see if I already own it!


message 17: by CD (last edited May 22, 2011 09:18PM) (new)

CD  | 170 comments My Moleskine ©2007-2011, C.D. Price

What I use to make notes about books to read, to find, to buy, to review. My Moleskine.

Photograph is one in a series of 'true' digital double exposures done as part of an photo art series.


message 18: by Ellen (new)

Ellen (elliearcher) I'm very impressed: I can not figure out how to import photos onto a post. At all.

I love to use the Moleskin for exactly the same purpose, when I don't use my little flip pad.

My problem is I have so many ways to keep track of my to-read books, I can't keep track of the ways I keep track. I need some kind of master spreadsheet, but I'm so not that kind of person, I wouldn't even know where to begin. Excel just laughs at me.


message 19: by Jennifer C (new)

Jennifer C Funny you should say that Ellie because I was just going to post that I keep an Excel workbook. Tab 1 is the master list with all the books that I want to read, who the author it is, whether or not its part of a series and where it falls in that series.

The next tabs are for each year where I list what books I read/listened to.

the first tab is 17 pages long when its printed and I keep it in my purse. If I already own the book the row is highlighted so I don't buy that one again.

This really helps when I go to the library book sales on the last day when you just start to throw books in the bag to make sure you get the good ones before they are all gone. lol.


message 20: by Louise (new)

Louise | 280 comments I have a simple word document where I write in all the books I own/buy, so I can easily do a search and check if I have it.
Books I want to keep in mind for future buys I put on my amazon wishlist, and Danish books I either reserve on the library or write down on a pad of paper next to my computer.


message 21: by Colby (new)

Colby (colbz) Ellie wrote: "I'm very impressed: I can not figure out how to import photos onto a post. At all."

I upload to a site like Photobucket and past the HTML code here. :)


message 22: by Ellen (new)

Ellen (elliearcher) Thanks Colberto-I'll tell this to my daughter & ask her to help me. Nice job!


message 23: by CD (new)

CD  | 170 comments Ellie wrote: "I'm very impressed: I can not figure out how to import photos onto a post. At all.

I love to use the Moleskin for exactly the same purpose, when I don't use my little flip pad.

My problem is I ha..."


Goodreads has a photo upload as part of your profile/account settings. Then you can just 'copy image location' (right-click on a windows box) and paste the info into your post. The HTML functions will transform the information into a posted photograph. Or you can click on the (some html is ok) help note link at the upper right corner of the comment box and look at the way to generate well formed html code.

The Click n' Paste version is much easier!

I like using Goodreads as my 'cloud' app when I've got access. I can make notes, sort books by various criteria and 'shelves', and it is all together in one place.

It's also easy when I'm out and about to make a 'gasp' physical note in the notebook. More like a book :big_grin:!


message 24: by Kim (new)

Kim (mimig) | 7 comments I have a few different things I do...I need to narrow it down though. First of all, I write in a little notebook that I can carry in my purse. But, I have titles at home in so many notebooks that I need to organize those into one. Also, I have printed out my wishlist for a couple of sites, and then go thru them to see what I already have, what I really want, and delete the duplicates. My biggest problem is getting organized so I don't purchase doubles...ugh!! :)


message 25: by Ellen (new)

Ellen (elliearcher) I think what I really need to do is make a print-out or a copy in my little notebook of 10 titles at a time & try to read through those instead of keeping track of all of the books I want to read.

I mean, I can't actually read more than 10 books at a time anyway, can I? :/


message 26: by Pete (new)

Pete | 42 comments I've created a Google spreadsheet for my wish list. I can then see the list on my ipod touch. The list is sorted alphabetically so I can follow it closely when I'm in a bookstore.


message 27: by Peebee (new)

Peebee Does anyone use the Goodreads iPhone app? It's pretty awesome, in that you can grab a book, scan its barcode, and then add it to your Goodreads "to-read" list.

I spend a lot of time traveling, so I use it when killing time in the airport bookstores to supplement my list, then I can figure out when I get home how to acquire a particular title. Although I don't buy too many books, I use it to keep track of what to add to my Bookswim queue or library hold requests.


message 28: by Samantha (new)

Samantha (bookeater89) I have an excel spreadsheet of all the books ive read and its all colour coded so I know if I own it or need to buy it. I also mark books off if I have lent them out and put the name of the person who borrowed it...
Im not as good with remembering what books I want to buy I have lists everywhere, in diarys, scrap peices of paper, on envolopes. I usually find them all when ive a big sort out.

Ill dephinatly use the note book idea though.


message 29: by [deleted user] (new)

Peebee wrote: "Does anyone use the Goodreads iPhone app? It's pretty awesome, in that you can grab a book, scan its barcode, and then add it to your Goodreads "to-read" list.

I spend a lot of time traveling, ..."



I love the iphone app -- that barcode scan is one of my favourite things! I've used it to log my new purchases -- don't know why I've never used it to keep track of things to buy, though! Great idea!


message 30: by Thom (new)

Thom Swennes (Yorrick) | 592 comments Ellie, how can you possibly read ten books at a time? I know women are known for multi-tasking but that seem to me to be a bit much. I am now reading TWO books at the same time and require a time of adjustment btween books. Tell me how you propose to read ten.


message 31: by Peebee (new)

Peebee I don't know about Ellie, but I often have 30 or more books listed in "currently reading." I average reading about a book a day, and am already at 140 or 141 for the year. I generally read only one at once, preferably in one sitting.

I use the "currently reading" to indicate all books I currently have checked out from the library or in my possession from Bookswim. That helps me keep track so that I know what I currently have out. The "to read" shelf has just the ones that I still need to acquire possession of to read.


message 32: by Ellen (new)

Ellen (elliearcher) Oh me too. I usually have 20- 30+ books just in my currently reading. Then I have a "TBR next" list. And then I have a "TBR hopefully soon" list!


message 33: by Pete (new)

Pete | 42 comments You people are seriously addicted!


message 34: by Colby (new)

Colby (colbz) Thus the name of the group.

And I'm to the point where I pick up quarters off the street thinking that it's a fourth of an indie e-book!


message 35: by Neko (new)

Neko I tend to remember a book by it's cover..So if I place it into my TBR list I can have a look through that before heading off to the book store. I do forget things but quite often I don't.


message 36: by Chris (new)

Chris I buy almost all of my books on Amazon, so I have about 15 different wishlists set-up on there with books I want to buy arranged based on subject. I also have the Amazon app on my phone, so when I find a book I want to buy while reading another book that mentions it or however, I immediately go on the app to add it to my default wishlist. Next time I'm on my computer I go through the default wishlist to place the books in their correct subject wishlist. It works great for me


message 37: by [deleted user] (new)

I'm a list person...I love making lists so there is a list in my planner and in my wallet of books I need to get.


message 38: by Thom (new)

Thom Swennes (Yorrick) | 592 comments Chrissy, you can do that with Goodreads too. I use my ‘to read’ list as a reminder of books I want, one day, to acquire and read.


message 39: by Komal (new)

Komal (komalm) I keep a list in the notes section of my mobile phone, so that I can reference them when I go to the bookstore. Besides, Goodreads has been handy too, with it to-read section.


message 40: by Thom (new)

Thom Swennes (Yorrick) | 592 comments What a great innovative idea! Thanks for the idea Megan.


message 41: by [deleted user] (new)

Thom wrote: "Chrissy, you can do that with Goodreads too. I use my ‘to read’ list as a reminder of books I want, one day, to acquire and read."

The great thing about that is that you can also add them to your wish list, then you have an automatic list you can track on the book swap -- and anyone NOT making use of book swap is just silly, IMO!


message 42: by [deleted user] (new)

Megan wrote: "I take pictures of the name of the book with my cell phone and save them. Then when I get home, I look them up on Goodreads and add them to my to-read shelf."

If you have the goodreads app, you can also use the barcode scanner to search and add books right onto your account!


message 43: by Anthony (new)

Anthony Chavez (thekidstrumpet) | 11 comments Lea wrote: "Megan wrote: "I take pictures of the name of the book with my cell phone and save them. Then when I get home, I look them up on Goodreads and add them to my to-read shelf."

If you have the goodrea..."


And this is why i need a smart phone!


message 44: by [deleted user] (new)

Anthony wrote: "And this is why i need a smart phone!"

My husband bought me one for my birthday a couple years ago and I was very irritated because I didn't "need" an iphone, LOL. Well, after I tried it, I loved it! I'd give up my laptop before I'd give up my phone -- and I love my laptop!


message 45: by Rachael (new)

Rachael (r4ch4elreads) I have created another 'exclusive' shelf on my GoodReads profile, so now I can keep track of my WishList books as well as the standard Read, To-Read, and Currently Reading lists. That way, when I am in the bookstore, I can load the GoodReads app on my phone and presto, my shopping list is always with me.


message 46: by Kim (new)

Kim (mimig) | 7 comments OK..I hope this works. I purchased a JOURNAL, decent sized, from the "going out of business" Borders. I have started writing my Wishlist books and dates on the pages. Hopefully, this will help me stay organized, and I can carry it with me when I go to the Bookstore! Wish me luck..lol! :)


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