How I Annotate and Remember What I Read!!! (War and Peace edition) // 2021

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  • čas přidán 11. 06. 2021
  • Hi Friends!!!
    My name is Carolyn, and I am an excessive annotater! :P hahaha
    Okay, in all seriousness, I'm very excited to talk to you all about how I annotate and remember what I read. These are two aspects of reading that I'm incredibly passionate about!
    In this video, I'm using my annotations from War and Peace to show you how much fun and helpful annotating can be!
    Let me just say, there are some very special books (like my Penguin Clothbound Classics) that I barely touch, let alone hold a highlighter to! There are some books that I would never think to annotate, because the idea of dog earring its pages gives me chills...(dramatic but true)!
    Then, we have my wonderful paperbacks, which I love seeing all tabbed, highlighted, spine cracked, completely well read and well loved!
    (duality my friends)!
    The greatest thing about annotating, is that there are no rules! You can annotate however you wish! If you want to highlight every word, you can! If you want to tab every page with an even number, I don't know why you'd want to do that, but YOU CAN! It's all up to you! There is no right or wrong way of annotating! :)
    I hope by showing you how I annotate, and therefore remember what I read, it may help you with your reading and remembering in some way too!
    I'd love to know how you annotate, or any tips you may have for how you remember what you read!
    Sending you my very best wishes!
    Carolyn :)
    ***Check out curated lists of my recent reads and all time favorite books in my Amazon Storefront - www.amazon.com/shop/carolynma...
    Annotation tools mentioned:
    ***Tabs - www.amazon.com/Lysas-Markers-...
    ***Post-it Notes - www.amazon.com/Post-65324APVA...
    ***2B Pencils - www.amazon.com/dp/B006CSPZK4/...
    ***Pens - www.amazon.com/Pentel-EnerGel...
    ***Yellow Highlighters - www.amazon.com/Sharpie-25005-...
    ***Mildliner Highlighters - www.amazon.com/Zebra-Pen-Mild...
    My Social Media: CarolynMarieReads
    ***Art/Book Instagram - / carolynmariereads
    ***GoodReads - / carolynmariereads
    ***Business inquiries: carolyncastagna.artist@gmail.com
    ***My Etsy Shop (sold out, but more are on the way very soon!) - www.etsy.com/shop/CarolynMari...
    ***Want to write me or send something?
    Carolyn Castagna
    P. O. Box 773
    Greenlawn NY 11740
    United States
    **Please don't feel like you need to send me anything, but if you'd like to I would be honored!!!** :)
    ***About me -
    I just graduated from college at the Fashion Institute of Technology with my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Illustration and minoring in English/Writing.
    My greatest passion in life is combining my two loves, literature and art!
    Happy Reading :)
    #annotating #literature #classicbooks
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Komentáře • 260

  • @jansfrontporch5512
    @jansfrontporch5512 Před 3 lety +467

    Annotation has a integral role in the life of an English major. As a college student, I did the best that I could; no one had ever taught me how to annotate. Your example is really beneficial, and I hope viewers pay attention. I've ruined so many books with ink! Ugh!! Pencils and stickies....yes. I also think an entire generation of readers have been mislead by thinking it's quantity of books read that matters. No one really wants to be the person saying, "Uhmm, no, I haven't read that yet." That statement does display our ignorance, but merely acknowledges that we have been reading other things. We should all get over trying to read fifteen books per month.

    • @Mariak82
      @Mariak82 Před 3 lety +19

      yes, I am 38 and The Hobbit at school when we was about 10 started my love of reading and books. Reading all these years before technology and social media I have always loved to take my time reading and enjoying books without having to rush through them to hurry up and read lots. Even these days I still only read 2 or 3 books a month. 🙂📚

    • @kurlykaitlyn
      @kurlykaitlyn Před rokem +5

      Interesting comment about ink in books! Im completely guilty! But honestly i love seeing other peoples little comments and thoughts.
      Though it is simple enough to switch to using post its

    • @TJ-kz1ul
      @TJ-kz1ul Před rokem +3

      Yes, finally someone says this!! Is this a new trend with people in their 20s and early 30s to read 5 million books a year? Lol I am an avid reader, it's by far my #1 hobby but I have never been able to keep up with this book tuber trend. In fact, I don't even pay attention to how many books I read anymore. It takes the fun away. I have a book journal where I make a list of the books I have read each year, but I pay more attention to writing Down my thoughts about the book and spending time contemplating it instead.

  • @melisabell7770
    @melisabell7770 Před 2 lety +110

    One of my favorite thrifted book finds is an annotated “Frankenstein.” There is no name, but I feel like I am having a conversation with the person who annotated it. I love it dearly.

    • @Drula-ie6yt
      @Drula-ie6yt Před 11 měsíci +1

      Very underrated comment

    • @sbu_englishclub
      @sbu_englishclub Před 10 měsíci

      It really does feel like a conversation. I always buy the worst quality used books I can find because I loved that feeling of connection

  • @sarahsperusals
    @sarahsperusals Před 3 lety +176

    for the longest time i wasn't annotating because i felt like what i wanted to write wasn't smart enough. and then i was like that's a dumb thought because it's my book lol

    • @eire02
      @eire02 Před 2 lety +27

      this was the same for me! and then I discovered a person’s comment on a video saying how they annotated The Picture of Dorian Gray and most of it was ‘that’s so gay’ or silly jokes. that comment made me realise that i don’t have to be thought provoking, I can be silly or not say anything at all!

    • @sarahsperusals
      @sarahsperusals Před 2 lety +8

      @@eire02 exactly!!! the margins of my books are comedy hour

    • @eire02
      @eire02 Před 2 lety +13

      @@sarahsperusals it’s a crime I don’t get paid for some of the one liners I write haha

    • @sarahsperusals
      @sarahsperusals Před 2 lety

      @@eire02 😂😂

    • @janicemacdonald4252
      @janicemacdonald4252 Před 2 lety

      Funny Sarah! 🤣🤣

  • @dailycarolina.
    @dailycarolina. Před 3 lety +127

    The sticky tabs make the book more aesthetically pleasing !!

  • @just_ella17
    @just_ella17 Před 3 lety +242

    I love annotating cause I love the possibility of someone reading my copy in like a hundred years and imagining what kind of person I might have been
    I also think it's a really great way to be remembered by people. To have them read my thoughts on certain books when I am gone...

    • @kaznova_
      @kaznova_ Před 2 lety +18

      this is why i started annotating! whenever im finished reading a book ill loan the copy to a friend (if theyre interested) and tell them to annotate in it as well so i can see what they thought of it, its not very practical but its a lot of fun!

    • @just_ella17
      @just_ella17 Před 2 lety +1

      @@kaznova_ that does sound fun, maybe I'll ask a friend of mine to do that!

    • @RossMcgowanMaths
      @RossMcgowanMaths Před rokem +2

      What a cool perspective !!!

    • @factcheckingyourmum
      @factcheckingyourmum Před rokem +4

      That's exactly why I don't annotate lol. I don't want people knowing my thoughts 😂

    • @connorlewis1150
      @connorlewis1150 Před rokem

      That’s stupid on so many levels. Dreamybullshit

  • @richardmoore6078
    @richardmoore6078 Před 2 lety +49

    Don't be scared writing in or marking up your books. I just saw a Ryan Holiday video at Daily Stoic. He says, "As I'm reading, I'm either highlighting or writing in the margins. If anyone does this with my books, I consider it to be an honour. You're supposed to be in an argument or discussion. It's a 2-way communication with the author."
    Hope that helps. :)

  • @marymurtha5674
    @marymurtha5674 Před 3 lety +216

    I love your passion for literature! I have never annotated but feel it would help me a great deal. I take notes and after I'm finished, I rewrite the notes in a book and log my feelings re the read. I am older..close to 70 and very much enjoy and appreciate your videos. One is never too old to learn something new and useful. Keep up your amazing work..

    • @gl4621
      @gl4621 Před 3 lety +20

      I agree! I am 60 and because of Carolyn feel like I'm reading for the first time!

  • @martasgreatlibrary
    @martasgreatlibrary Před 3 lety +71

    i've recently noticed (since i started annotating) that my brain remembers more what i read when i annotate! it also makes the reading experience way more engaging and fun so annotating only has a positive side!
    i also change my colour coding with every book since if didn't do that i would end up with lots of sticky tabs packages with only a few colors left

  • @mediumjohnsilver
    @mediumjohnsilver Před 3 lety +16

    For a big book, I usually just take notes in pencil on the inside back cover. As new characters appear, I note their names and page number. I will also note page numbers for key points and exposition.

  • @idahyttebakk5031
    @idahyttebakk5031 Před 3 lety +62

    I went through a whole English lit degree without much annotating. But with War and Peace I really wanted to go in depth and really digest it. And a tip I actually got from your previous annotation video is to use a triplus fineliner. I use mine in yellow as that isn't too visible if I am ever to reread the whole thing, and tabs, and post its. I write in the margins(I am still working up the courage to use a pen so I stick to my trusty pencilpen) and honestly I am living for it! I did annotate Frankenstein in Baghdad before and it is a book I feel like I have properly read. Cuz I did read for the bookcount as well, so I totally relate to that, but for me War and Peace is too grand to just read for the sake of having read it. I say this as if I have finished it, I am at part 3 book 1 still but I love the books so far, and I am defo taking my time with it. Cuz I don't want to rush it at all!

  • @mikithompson745
    @mikithompson745 Před 3 lety +43

    This is my favorite annotation video I’ve ever watched. I don’t typically annotate most books I read but I want to annotate my classics and read them more critically. This is the first classics annotation video I’ve seen that really hits the mark. Thank you so much!!!

  • @centaurora913
    @centaurora913 Před rokem +7

    For me I often like to annotate not actually to remember the book but to keep memories. I have a really hard time remembering my past and what it felt like a year ago let's say, but my brain is really good at connecting things, so whenever I'm doing two things at once, in the future seeing or remembering one of those things will bring everything back from the other one. So I like to annotate books because I've found that it's even better at capturing moments of my life than a journal because I'll read back through and remember everything that was going on while I wrote that. (I also add little journal entries at the beginning of chapters, like the date and where I am)

  • @authorgreene
    @authorgreene Před 3 lety +57

    I've only recently started annotating books. So far I've only used pencil to bracket and underline, plus dog-earing pages, but I'm going to get some of those tabs and contemplate highlighting. Currenting annotating the heck out of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Thanks for sharing your annotation process with us!

  • @camillafladberg673
    @camillafladberg673 Před 3 lety +22

    I like to keep my books prestine, but it’s interesting to see how the other half live😉. I love my books just as much, but I love the look of a clean, strait page. I think it’s the minimalist in me. My head get messed up by all of the mess.

  • @jenniferwatson1944
    @jenniferwatson1944 Před 3 lety +16

    I first heard about annotating when I was a freshman in high school in a literacy class then I heard about it again in my senior year English class. I had only ever heard about annotating a book being read for required reading but never a book being read just for fun. You have inspired me to consider annotating books I read so that I can remember them better. I’ve only ever highlighted or underlined parts in books that I enjoy but never considered annotating so thank you Carolyn for your tips and insights. I am so happy to have found your channel!!

    • @Amyduckie
      @Amyduckie Před 3 lety +3

      Books with Chloe also does a brilliant annotating video which is quite different and also quite in-depth for a good comparison of styles, highly recommend.

  • @gl4621
    @gl4621 Před 3 lety +12

    Dearest Carolyn, you have taught me how to really read. I know you know what I'm speaking of. I know now that I never really read before. Not really. You have opened my eyes to a whole new world and a way of really enjoying the books I read. Rather then rushing through them to find out what hapoens...I now savor each sentence sometimes going back to a page I've already read and have started annotating and taking notes both in my books and my Kindle. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for showing me. Your excitement has rubbed off on me and thanks to both you and Emmie I am reading now. Really reading. ❤ P.S. I don't think there is such a thing as excessive annotating!

  • @Kimberton149
    @Kimberton149 Před 2 lety +4

    I'm not as hardcore an annotator as this, but I use sticky tabs and keep a scrap of paper handy to write down thoughts when I'm reading, then compile it all in my reading journal when I'm finished. I do struggle to annotate because it takes me out of the "flow" of reading. My favourite thing about reading is being completely immersed in the language and pausing to write things down really breaks that up for me. Hopefully one day I'll find a way to balance the two! I absolutely LOVED what you said about interacting with the author and with the text.

  • @dessie123
    @dessie123 Před rokem +2

    The way she annotates is sooo relatable and I love it.

  • @narumolkala4578
    @narumolkala4578 Před rokem +4

    You look so happy when you talk about your annotation, I can feel it. Thanks a lot!!!!

  • @pattidoyle5102
    @pattidoyle5102 Před rokem +4

    Fellow spine cracker and annotator here!
    I love interacting with books I’m excited about. With novels I also love briefly summarizing each chapter immediately after reading it. It’s easy to do if I look back to see what I underlined or highlighted. For non-fiction I love to bracket single or multiple paragraphs and put a one or up to five word topic phrase.
    I am currently reading Anna Karenina. I am using my chapter summary method, writing in my small journal that is just for this novel. I also note any techniques the author uses as I notice. It’s easier to spot them as I’m summarizing.
    If I ever fear that I’ve forgotten the story, I read my summaries and it all comes back.

  • @jabberbone1
    @jabberbone1 Před rokem +3

    I have three young children I'm teaching these skills to. I call them my Annotater Tots.

  • @May-bd6dv
    @May-bd6dv Před 3 lety +24

    I love this so much, even without opening the book anyone could see how much it is loved by its reader :')
    Also I would love to see your quotes journal, or if you could show us the highlights of your top favorite books 💗

  • @jimrobbins8460
    @jimrobbins8460 Před rokem

    I’ve never annotated a book but your enthusiasm is so contagious, I can’t wait to start. I loved every minute of this video. It reminds me of my very favorite teachers from decades ago. I hope you never stop making them.

  • @patriciaspindle7960
    @patriciaspindle7960 Před 3 lety +5

    I love annonating my books because I feel it's a way to make them more mine, if that makes sense. My main problem about it is that my OCD always gets in the way and I want it all to look perfect. I'm trying to deal with that and just enjoy it. I loved the way you put it, as a way of communicating with the book so I'll try to remember that the next time I'm annonating and not fixate on whether that line is crooked or not. Thank you for making this video, it really helped me a lot. Greetings from Mexico!

  • @mika.pvlvc4
    @mika.pvlvc4 Před 3 lety +2

    This is my first time watching you and omg. Your love for reading and truly enjoying a book is just contagious. Thank you for sharing it with the world and making my day a bit sweeter (and my literal task to read more pleasant) 😊

  • @kirstennicole7203
    @kirstennicole7203 Před 3 lety +1

    finally! ive been waiting for your annotating video! 🤧✨ love you so much! you give me so much passion in reading classics and i dont regret anything ⭐

  • @snowyhut5205
    @snowyhut5205 Před 3 lety +9

    I love to see how everyone annotate their books!
    I use just sticky notes of whatever colour I have close to me to mark long passages (like... The whole chapter 5. Or the whole scene in pages 450 and 451. Etc... Then the sticky note marks where it starts and why it is worthy of being fully marked)
    And then I underlie paragraphs, sentences etc... With pencil, and get a series of symbols to draw in the margin (ex. *=style, rethoric..., ⭐=it speaks to me in a particular way, ❤=love, 💔painful to read/sad etc...) and crossreference text and ideas (like: here references something that happened in page 23, or this resembles that other book I read once, etc...)

  • @MartinDSmith
    @MartinDSmith Před 3 lety +9

    I don't feel the need to annotate,I try to savour the essence of the writing or characters or particular scenes. Paradoxically it has taken me less time to read War and Peace than Pickwick,and yet I've been completely and utterly present to both authors and am in love with both.✍️

  • @eliasmokbel1638
    @eliasmokbel1638 Před 3 lety +13

    I like writing a few notes (or as much as needed) on the book that I'm reading. I usually put interesting paragraphs or lines between braquets. I use arrow signals frequently. I use pens usually. Mostly blue ink. And to a lesser degree I use pencils. I abandonned (at least for the meanwhile) using color markers because I noticed, when I go back to books that I've read years ago, that the color used on the pages tend to fade with time or to spread a bit over the paper's surface and thus highlighting lines or words that I didn't highlight previously.

  • @bzylarisa
    @bzylarisa Před 3 lety

    I used to be a person that highlights every line when I was young and I've been trying not to do that through the years. I don't know why, but maybe I thought it was not good. Maybe somebody told me not to and I felt guilty about it. And I've been hesitant to annotate and highlight for many years. But looking at this brought back the pure joy of doing just that. I love how your book looks with all the notes. As you said, it is your book and it is your method, nobody has the right to say otherwise. Thank you for the lovely video.

  • @dodominimal
    @dodominimal Před 3 lety +1

    What a great video Carolyn! Would love a video on how you organize your time to read so much !

  • @BailyAbercrombie
    @BailyAbercrombie Před 2 lety +5

    I LOVE THIS!! I wish I could physically flip through this and take it in even more than this amazing video gave!
    Thanks for sharing! 💞

  • @EmmaSophieChannel
    @EmmaSophieChannel Před 2 lety +3

    I love annotating for the same reasons you described, and it definitely helps me read slower and really take it in! And it’s so true what you and everyone in the comments are saying-we really have gotten used to this idea that reading more books is inherently better than slow reading. It reminds me of a book one of my English professors asked us to read in our first year: it’s a book by the French literature professor Pierre Bayard, I believe in English it’s translated to “How to talk about books you have not read”. It’s a charming essay-form book about the fallacies in how we perceive reading, how we moralise not having read something even though all of us in a sense read a different book even if it’s the same text (because of what we remember and what we imagine)! It’s a great read that also gave me some great recommendations, like The Man Without Qualities!
    Anyway, I love seeing your videos about Russian classics! You’ve definitely inspired me to pick up more of them myself!❤️

  • @divinedia
    @divinedia Před 2 lety

    Your videos are so peaceful and I adore watching all your classics recommendations and reviews it’s gorgeous keep doing more!

  • @mizuki0328
    @mizuki0328 Před 3 lety

    Why are all your videos so lovely??
    I do feel what you say about certain books not sticking in my mind because I get impacient and want to finish them quickly. But I usually suck at annotating, just as I suck at any form of journaling, I just end up giving up. But I think this sort of system may actually work while re-reading stuff, because some books I truly only read to try out and end up not enjoying much or enjoying but not wanting to re-read, but the ones I love and know I'll come back to again and again, those will be worth spending more time on and highlight and marking!

  • @schaperow
    @schaperow Před rokem

    I’ve never even once thought about annotating a book that I’m reading for pleasure. I’ve just never thought of it! Wow! And I’ve been on this earth a long time now. I love this idea and especially when reading a difficult classic. I too love your enthusiasm for reading. I just discovered your channel the other day. ❤❤

  • @lettersfromkinraddie
    @lettersfromkinraddie Před 3 lety +1

    I completely understand what you mean by we are conditioned to read a certain number of books really quickly to achieve a goal!! And I agree that it is mostly driven by social media!! I did a challenge in which I read War and Peace in 10 days back in March, and as much as I am proud that I accomplished that, I still wish I took the time to fully enjoy the novel because Tolstoy is an amazing writer and War and Peace is the ultimate novel and I feel by rushing it I missed out on a lot of the amazing quotes and discussions and wasn't able to annotate as much as I would have if I just took my time haha!! Loved watching your annotation process!! You are so thorough with it!! It's inspiring!!

  • @mishelly
    @mishelly Před 3 lety +5

    This is such a great video! I love how you annotate how it’s so organized to find things specific for your debate. Annotating helps the book stick longer I can reflect more in the moment as you said I do get caught up on moving on to the next book and fin good books forgettable. It leaves reading unsatisfactory. I look back forgot several books and feel like I havnt read a book I get sucked into in a while. I think it’s me not the book. I want to read everything! Yes I also think what I want to read next then feel overwhelmed 🤣 my style is pretty similar to your especially with hearts and stars and noting “I love this” or “I’m crying!!!” Etc.

  • @yaleslittlelife
    @yaleslittlelife Před 2 lety +1

    Carolyn thank you so, so much for this marvelous video

  • @TEO.187
    @TEO.187 Před rokem

    I love annotating in pen because it helps me to relax and embrace imperfections where the pencil stresses me out because the ability to change it compels me to do so over and over again until it's "perfect"

  • @smilingplum
    @smilingplum Před rokem +1

    Loved!! This was so helpful. Thank you!!! I’m going to try and annotate all of the books for Game of Tomes! I’ve never annotated before because it seemed too daunting but after watching this I feel more confident to try :) thank you 💖

  • @nadeshkaholmes9511
    @nadeshkaholmes9511 Před 3 lety

    Carolyn, you have inspired me! I've been thinking about annotating since I started re reading the complete stories of Sherlock Holmes (One of my favorite stories ever) and I just felt the need to annotate more because there's so many meaningful and gorgeous things in the books I'm currently reading that I want to remember and just have easy access to it. But I didn't even know how to start and then I remembered "Carolyn has a video about this!" So I'm here now haha. I'm going to buy my suplies tomorrow and start enjoying my books more by annotating in them ❤ And by the way, the last thing you mentioned about thinking in the books we will read next or all the books in our tbrs, that HITTED ME lol I am guilty. But then again, you have inspired me, not just to enjoy more my books without thinking about reading as fast as I can to acumulate more titles in my "read" list but to read more classics.
    I know this is a very long comment and I don't know if you will read it but I just want to say thank you :') ❤

  • @RetratodaLeitora
    @RetratodaLeitora Před 3 lety +1

    I was so excited waiting for this video!!! Love it

  • @connorbooth7207
    @connorbooth7207 Před rokem

    This channel is so wholesome!

  • @IreniitaJonas
    @IreniitaJonas Před 3 lety +17

    I’m currently annotating Anna Karenina so much and it really enhances the reading experience! But I wanna put more sticky tabs since it helps a lot to know what the quote is about at a glance 😬

  • @muskaan1129
    @muskaan1129 Před 3 lety +1

    Love the video Carolyn!

  • @tine272
    @tine272 Před rokem

    the idea of annotating on your phone is so clever i cant believe ive never thought of that before! i have a fear of writing in my books so im totally gonna do phone annotating from now on!

  • @LinusE
    @LinusE Před rokem +2

    I had never annotated before, but when I started reading Marx I decided I had to annotate and comment on certain points and I realized after finishing reading some of his work I had remembered a great deal of what he wrote! How I wish I had learned it earlier!

  • @dianewalker9154
    @dianewalker9154 Před rokem +2

    Unless it’s a book for a class assignment, I cannot mark up a book. It’s graffiti to me. If something really strikes me as profound, then it goes in my reading journal. I cannot handle dog-eared pages either. Sacrilege! I must use bookmarks. Now, for class work, I can mark up a book with notes and highlights. For me, annotating is for schoolwork. A pleasure read is my relaxation and enjoyment. I cannot turn that into an assignment. I’m sure I am just as weird making this distinction. But that is the love of a reader - we all have different speeds, styles, and genres. Readers rock!

  • @LaCocinadera
    @LaCocinadera Před 2 lety +7

    Excelent! Thank you!

  • @maeiscompletelyfine
    @maeiscompletelyfine Před 3 lety +3

    love your dedication and passion! just kween things 👸🏼 ❤️

  • @ttowntrekker5174
    @ttowntrekker5174 Před rokem

    Love your vids and so glad I found your channel!

  • @ranasafi4858
    @ranasafi4858 Před 2 lety

    I only recently got into annotating and I feel the same way as you. I think books are loved this way. My favorite gift that I wish I can find someone to do with is to exchange favorite annotated books.

  • @Ozgipsy
    @Ozgipsy Před 2 lety +1

    Annotation pack. What a golden idea 👍 Thanks

  • @leonwill4265
    @leonwill4265 Před 3 lety +1

    Hello Carolyn, many thanks for putting together this video, you have a convert and I have got some of my paperbacks ready for annotation!
    To be honest and I have just realised (but it never clicked until I thought about what you have said) that I use to do this many years ago when I was working through university books -
    it does focus the mind.
    So I am going to use it and apply what you are saying to those books which I have, but never had the energy to read; I think your ideas will help me to get through them.
    by the way - for "War and peace" - I could never read such a big book (Congratulations) so it would have to be the "Audio book" - or the BBC TV series (which was V. Good in the day)
    SO THANK YOU.
    By the way, my Library is way over 1800 books (many years of working in London - being too close to good book shops), my wife has finally agreed to having a room for these and create a proper library (and not being in the attic, or my study room) - she did want to get rid of some - I could not decide as all are precious!
    Best regards from North Wales and say hi to Emmie (I like her channel as well)

  • @katec.4361
    @katec.4361 Před 2 lety

    Thank you for that tip on taking photos of pages and using the digital editor to annotate! I’m somewhat of a minimalist who tends to move every few years or so, so I try to contain my fiction books to one shelf. I like to donate my books to a local charity shop and know pristine books will get them more money. Or if I find a title I’m looking for in there, I’ll just donate it back after reading.

  • @properlittlemadam4789
    @properlittlemadam4789 Před 3 lety +14

    I struggle with annotating and have found this so helpful, Thank you so much for posting. Loved it all (except the 'dog-ear bit ) 🤣 I'm on page 262 of War and Peace (Penguin classics edition) and enjoying it so much,.at first I just couldn't get past the first 3 pages, each time I picked it up I read 3 pages then put the book down again ,I did this 3 times , on the 4th go I just kept on reading ,now I can't stop.❤

  • @m.i.miller8008
    @m.i.miller8008 Před 3 měsíci +1

    How I feel about annotation.. well, it basically changed my life as a reader...A Major major epiphany for me... I was clueless to this form of reading a book growing up... I will now attempt two major reads I have put off as I was totally perplexed as to how on earth I was going to remember all these characters and events.. I found two NEW copies at the thrift store that I will be my first annotation go .. Middlemarch by George Eliot and Tolstoys War and Peace.. I can't wait to start. Thank you for this great video that I stumbled upon by accident actually .. looking forward to many more..

  • @MilenaReads
    @MilenaReads Před 3 lety

    This video was so interesting! I have the same tabs, but use them for different things in the book. I love seeing what kind of connection people have to colors! :)

  • @ScottWeissCFP
    @ScottWeissCFP Před 2 lety +1

    Thank you for creating this video. I've been trying to improve how I annotate. This was very helpful!

  • @Amyduckie
    @Amyduckie Před 3 lety +3

    I change up my colours for every book, so I can try to use my tabs evenly. My current annotation has blue as my love colour and pink is foreshadowing. I also change the categories based on the book because I mostly annotate rereads and i like to cover specific themes that are unique to what I’m reading.

  • @saveenzahawi7239
    @saveenzahawi7239 Před 3 lety +1

    OMG, this is my furst watched video in your channel bc i come through it by chance from random suggestions of youtube aaaannndddd i am already fall in love with it 😍😍 thank you mu dear so much for sharing such a wonderful way to read .. And i really hope to have a friend like you in real life 💓 so much love and respect to you 🙏💓🌷

  • @Michajeru
    @Michajeru Před rokem

    This was wonderful. You show so much respect for the book that you are annotating. Everything that you enter is beautifully neat and clear. I see some people scribble and make marks on the pages in such a messy way that it seems to me to be disrespectful to the book. I learned a lot from your video and will follow your methodology for annotating.

  • @ExLibris-Alys
    @ExLibris-Alys Před 8 měsíci +1

    I’ve never annotated a fiction book. I used to keep notes on paper which I tucked into the book at the appropriate page, more recently I’ve been using the transparent sticky notes so that the text can still be easily seen and read and they have the advantage of being easily removable if I want to pass the book on. The thought of breaking the spine or turning the corners of the pages horrifies me as it’s like vandalism to me ☺️. BUT I can completely understand the attraction of fully annotating a book like you do to immerse yourself if that’s what works for you, and I’d be fascinated to read someone else’s annotations. This was so interesting to watch tfs.

  • @emiliah.o.3443
    @emiliah.o.3443 Před 2 lety +5

    if I want to make a project out of a book I'm reading (which happens a lot with classics) I use page markers. otherwise, something I almost always do (other than underlining/writing in the margins of the actual page itself) is using the title page, or several blank pages near the beginning of the edition to write page numbers of my favourite moments and sometimes next to it, key words to remind me what it is. also this is helpful for grouping together quotes with a similar theme.
    this might seem weird but I like to be able to reread a book without immediately reading my marginalia from the first time around. so what I do is write sideways in the margins so I have to tilt the book to read it. usually I would end up reading all the annotations though. in my copy of 'To the Lighthouse' there are some arguments with my past self in the margins!
    also, I am a fan of both pencil and pen, but I prefer pens that aren't the same colour of the ink i.e. not black. my favourites are blue biros; for some reason they write much more nicely on old yellowy book paper than in other situations.

  • @rosanaamira274
    @rosanaamira274 Před 3 lety

    That is the way I study, great video Carolyn!

  • @ellyt3429
    @ellyt3429 Před 2 lety

    i also crack every single spine 😌 it makes it easier to read and makes the book appear loved and well read!

  • @musicstewart9744
    @musicstewart9744 Před rokem +3

    This is very good. Wish I learned more of this when I was in school back in the 1970’s and ‘80’s.

  • @crazymusiclover30
    @crazymusiclover30 Před 3 lety

    New subscriber here and I’m happy that I watched this video! Made me want to spend more time reading books. Totally agree with how annotating makes the reading experience more meaningful. Take care, dear!

  • @lindaharrison3240
    @lindaharrison3240 Před 2 lety

    This is such a good video. I’d love to be this kind of annotator but I get so distracted. I discovered that if I really enjoy a book, I don’t think about my other books. “Cheating” on my current read is proof that I don’t like it much and it’s more of a chore to read than a delight.

  • @og5uh
    @og5uh Před 3 lety +1

    Thanks for sharing with us!

  • @maggiemerc7607
    @maggiemerc7607 Před 2 lety +1

    Excessive annotation? I’m here for it! 🙋🏻‍♀️

  • @CamsCampbellReads
    @CamsCampbellReads Před 7 dny

    Yes! Excellent topic. I'm reading War and Peace now, a fancy new copy I bought for this read, but I still have my old copy from my student days in the 90s and it's super fun to have it open as well so I can read the annotations I made then when I was writing my dissertation. I do tend to find myself annotating digitally a lot more these days, using Readwise and Notion. It's a killer combo. But your method with the colour coding looks really useful, and I do love me some stationery!

  • @e-senpai9240
    @e-senpai9240 Před 2 lety +1

    It's always interesting seeing what people decide for their colors to mean. My color key is completely different and based more on function than emotions (because I usually am reading nonfic), but I love the way you chose yours ❤

    • @calisongbird
      @calisongbird Před rokem

      Yes, and you can change the color key for various books (same colors but different meanings).

  • @shristigupta007
    @shristigupta007 Před 2 lety

    Loved loved LOVED this video so damn much!!!!

  • @divinedia
    @divinedia Před 2 lety +1

    The clear post it’s are quite helpful

  • @bryanchun5491
    @bryanchun5491 Před 2 lety

    Aloha Carolyn, awesome vlog, thanks for your insights and annotation tips. Thanks. Stay well.

  • @mohdfadhil8458
    @mohdfadhil8458 Před 2 lety

    Thank you. Very helpful part for the annotation style.

  • @Joy-ny9vw
    @Joy-ny9vw Před 3 lety +3

    Hello from France. First, sorry if I make mistakes writing in English. This video about annotating is the best I've ever seen. Thank you so much. I also annotate (underline, post it, color code...) and now I'm not able to start a book without a pen in my hand.

  • @lit.professor6265
    @lit.professor6265 Před rokem

    Great idea about encapsulating your first impressions.

  • @ragaya3043
    @ragaya3043 Před 3 lety

    I thought it was silly of me to want to annotate on books I read for fun !! Glad I found this video :')

  • @debrahorst8154
    @debrahorst8154 Před rokem

    Great content! From one excessive annotator to another-- hearts and all,

  • @algorithmimplementer415
    @algorithmimplementer415 Před 3 lety +10

    I feel pains since my childhood days when people marked my books with pens, I got some enemies due to my loath to them. 😄But now it’s okay! I use only pencil marking!

  • @ragaya3043
    @ragaya3043 Před 3 lety

    I adore the picture behind her with the hands it's so cute

  • @RetratodaLeitora
    @RetratodaLeitora Před 3 lety +1

    I love annotating my books!!

  • @athenasbibliotheca8099
    @athenasbibliotheca8099 Před 3 lety +8

    I always want to annotate, but never end up doing it. 😅 I like the idea of color matching the annotation supplies with the cover of the book though so if I ever get into it I’ll probably be doing that. 🙂

  • @divinedia
    @divinedia Před 2 lety +2

    I usually make a summary after each chapter! And write down key points and my perspective on each of the characters and their development.

  • @melanieandbookstacks
    @melanieandbookstacks Před 3 lety +1

    Hi. I’m new to your channel and I’ve wandered over from Emmie. When you said you annotate because you feel like you’re talking to the author or narrator I hit that subscribe button. I feel the same when I annotate.

  • @emilycurnow389
    @emilycurnow389 Před 3 lety +3

    Hello xxx
    I loved this video! I find peoples reading habits so interesting! I only annotated books that I was studying during my English degree I think I don't read them in such depth now so I don't annotate. Saying that I have just bought some tabs and I'm thinking of a dickens once I've finished 'pride and prejuduce' so I may try to use them then. X

  • @nicholashill9302
    @nicholashill9302 Před rokem +3

    Thanks for this. Benjamin McEvoy deep reading war and peace 8 weeks Jan 23. Will be very useful. And several other Russians!! C and P brothers K etc

  • @JD-ph1dz
    @JD-ph1dz Před 2 lety

    I've got an old second hand copy of the book and it's a little intimidating. After seeing your love for it, I'm going to make an attempt to read it.

  • @noureddinsouad6167
    @noureddinsouad6167 Před rokem

    I'm usually using traditional methods for annotating but I really like the way that you annotating your books and I will try some of your methods thanks for sharing

  • @girlmeetschaos
    @girlmeetschaos Před 2 lety

    One thing I've found useful, especially when I'm starting something new and I don't yet know how I want to tab ( I colour code but it's always different meanings each book), I'll usually underline and then highlight or tab later on and that's become useful especially with school readings.

  • @Madhelen
    @Madhelen Před 3 lety +6

    "Война и Мир" великолепная книга, перечитывая её в разные периоды жизни, находишь всегда что-то новое. I know I could have written it in English.☺

  • @maelenaorellanapalma9702
    @maelenaorellanapalma9702 Před 7 měsíci +1

    Hi. First time watching your videos. I loved when your said "becouse is my book"

  • @Mariak82
    @Mariak82 Před 3 lety

    i LOVE annotated books and I love to annotate books. 😍 I underline, highlight, tab and use sticky notes. 🙂📚

  • @carolleske7757
    @carolleske7757 Před 3 lety +2

    Your annotating so interesting. My deadline to finish W&P is 7/15 (22 pgs a day), well I am about 200 pgs behind. It drives me crazy trying to pronounce the billion names. I shall motor on. Wished I annotated, but at 81 I may never finish. ha I do annotate other books, your video so helpful. You are amazing!!

  • @blessedmamalife
    @blessedmamalife Před rokem

    on the topic of remembering a book... something we do in homeschooling, that is a part of a Charlotte Mason Education, is to narrate. In the younger years, the students give an oral narration of each reading and when the get older (as a high schooler) they write each narration. Narration is just retelling what you remember. So it's kind of like journalling what you read.

  • @kritichetri1938
    @kritichetri1938 Před 3 lety +1

    Tabs make books more beautiful❤

  • @chuucake
    @chuucake Před rokem

    thank you so much
    this is very helpful 🙆🏻‍♀️
    i used to annotate by using a pencil and now for this year i wanna challenge myself into adding sticky notes and tabs as well as highlighting 💗🎀

    • @CarolynMarieReads
      @CarolynMarieReads  Před rokem

      Thank *you*
      I’m so glad!
      Good luck with your annotating journey :)