{Reading Notebook} February update
You might remember that for 2026 I’m using just one notebook to record the books I’m reading, the classes I’m taking, creative ideas I have or want to do, farmstand info and ideas, and a section for journaling/Bible thinking. Here’s an update on the Reading section, which was off to a slow start, but I’m plodding along and finished my first book!
and I just finished reading Cranford. (I’m not sure if that link is the best version of the book, but you can start your search from there if you’d like to read it.) I got the used copy below, but it is brittle and yellowed and falling apart a bit.
Quick summary and thoughts
Cranford was a great novel written in 1864 by Elizabeth Gaskell and was recommended to me by a friend. It focuses on a small village that’s population is mostly women, who have their lives rattled by the men who come into town and mess up their way of doing things. (And ironically, a man ended up being the resolution to a lot of problems.) There were quite a few delightful moments that made me smile, and more then a few well written sentences that I had to re-read because they were so beautiful. This was a great short novel with a happy ending and some very well developed characters. Characters that I’m sure I’ll be thinking about afterwards.
Rating
After I finished, I had to decide on a star rating for the novel. I have some guidelines written down in the front couple pages of this section of my 2026 notebook. I settled on four stars: entertaining, enjoyable, possibly buy a used copy, and would recommend it to others. (I actually might be tempted to buy this new, since the used copy have is falling apart.)
After deciding on a rating, I checked it off on my book progress page and added the date finished and my rating. (I finished Schole Everyday also, but haven’t done reviewed my notes on it yet.)
Then I added a couple notes and a quote from the book on my journal page. (The top left section is a tear off sticker strip from Amazon.)
There’s also one other page in my reading section where I’m writing down books that I might want to read. Instead of just a list of titles, I’m also jotting down what I thought I might want to read it.
I’ll keep plugging along. I have a biography to finish!
what method are you using to get a photo of the book copy sized and attached in your journal?
for this one, I had to actually take a photo of the book cover and save it, then resize it and print it out. Sometimes I can find a picture online to save and print out. I just use regular copy paper and a glue stick to stick it in the journal.
I LOVE your rating system and that you really specified what each rating means for the different genres! I’m so impressed you were able to put it into words. I’m copying you. There is a movie version of Cranford that has Judy Densch (sp?) as Miss Mattie. I haven’t read the book but I liked that series a lot… but in Rowan’s words, “It’s kind of depressing, everyone dies.”
Thanks! I think the novel of Cranford must be really different than the mini-series (maybe there are more Cranford novels?) There were a couple deaths, but not a lot. And when I watched the mini series trailer, there were no trains being put through the town in the novel. So I don’t know if the novel was just the start of a series, or if the mini-series took liberties and carried on the stories. ??
As for the rating system, I think my fiction requirements are pretty basic, and I need to maybe add or change them. Fiction novels probably shouldn’t be just mindless entertainment… so I am rethinking what else to include. I’m trying to be a more thoughtful reader. Let me know if you think of anything to add!