I don’t use Good Reads or Storygraph. Instead, I have 5 years of lists pinned in my notes app titled books 2024, books 2023, books 2022, books 2021 etc. It’s messy and includes titles I wanted to read at the time and ‘READING’ next to books that I have shelved (but I will come back to them, and I’ll pick right back up where I left the bookmark/page folded.) I don’t want to make books I’ve read into some sort of data, however, adding that book and author to the bottom of the list each time I close a book fills me with delight, akin to what I imagine a kid completing the library summer reading challenge feels.
At university a lecturer made us keep a reading diary to help us make analytical thoughts and pick out references that might be useful later. I always used a black Moleskin dupe from WHSmiths and filled it with notes, thoughts, quotes and postcards from art galleries just to add whimsy. I was living my The Secret History/ dark academia dream – minus the murders. Looking back on these diaries now it’s wonderful to see snippets of what I was reading during a time where I didn’t meticulously record books and end of year recaps.
But I love reflecting. I love looking back and seeing that one year when I read probably the most books I’ve ever read in a year and thinking how did I accomplish that (lockdowns). Or working out roughly when I went on that holiday by tracking how far down the list of books my holiday read lands. By seeing what trends in styles or fiction/non-fiction was taking my fancy and thinking back to what was happening in my life at that moment.
I don’t keep a reading diary anymore, but I do keep a journal and honestly the last 18 months makes for a wild read. I think diaries are magical capsules into yourself at a totally different time, different emotions, different circumstances. I recommend a book called The Private Life of The Diary by Sally Bayley which explores diaries as an art form focussing on famous diarists from history alongside her own.
Reflecting through the pages of my journal I can see now I was nervous and unsure of the bookshop plan. Instructing the solicitor and signing the lease in September last year now feels like a distant memory but reading the journal takes you right back to the moment. A year since and we’ve successfully launched a Crowdfunder on National Bookshop Day, renovated the shop space and achieved so many lovely things I never thought I would have the opportunity to do.
We’ve just made it through our first summer on the high street, and it was fabulous. I met some wonderful characters, had some beautiful conversations and lost count of the amount of book recommendations I was given. Meeting people who choose to spend their holiday in our hometown is lovely and I hope the books they’ve purchased in Clemo Books remind them of their holiday here in many years to come.
It feels weird to recap or reflect on something you never thought might happen. I was apprehensive of our first summer at Clemo Books but now it’s finished I’m taking stock and thinking how far we’ve come as we creep closer to our first year on the high street.
Life moves fast and it’s mad but keep a journal and make a note of the books you read. Just so you don’t forget when you’re looking back. Lord knows what our diaries will look like this time next year.
SIDE NOTE: here’s your save the date for our first birthday party, 6pm, Saturday 23rd November. It’s a few months away yet but we’re already getting excited! Expect cake, drinks and, of course, books.
Thanks for reading, Jaimie x
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