Book Buying Addicts Anonymous discussion

When I read a book I am loving I always feel as if I'll remember it forever. Sometimes it's true. But most of the time someone will ask me what was a favorite book and I'm staring because I realize while I was entranced with this or that book three months ago all I remember now is the general plot and emotions, but the title is gone from memory and I'm completely lost as to who the author was. It's embarrassing and frustrating. So I started a book diary, but that ended poorly because in looking at pages from a year past I could not remember reading what my diary said I did. I discovered the only way a book came back was physically holding the book in my hands!! I'm so bizarre.

I've enjoyed reading everybody's comments here. I was beginning to feel stupid because I can't always remember the books I've read. But I've decided that I read for pleasure and at the time I'm reading the book, if it's something I'm enjoying, then that's what it's all about. That particular story/book is bringing me pleasure at the time I'm reading it, I don't have to remember it years later! It's still a good experience.

Well said, Patricia!

I do this too! That is why I have one book shelf devoted to those books that I could just read over and over again.

There are a few books, though, that I can only just remember enjoying in elementary school and middle school and I can't seem to find them anymore. I remember parts of the story, but not enough to identify the title! So annoying!

Sarafiliz wrote: "I'd also say I can generally remember enough to tell someone about it, and it all comes back if I start flipping through. Though often I don't remember it that vividly after a few years. Which is w..."

I compeltely agree!

Bridget wrote: "Ok. It was a sci-fi book with a white cover with a stip of green/jungle graphics in the middle.

I'm kind of hazy on the details since it was so long ago, but from what I remember, humans had se..."

Now we know where James Cameron got is idea to Avatar from (as if Dances with Wolves wasn't enough)!

Like someone else suggested earlier, try this group:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1...

Good luck!

Kristin wrote: "Sometimes I have trouble remembering details about a book I read a few weeks or months ago. ..."

I also have this problem. I find I can remember whether I've read a book or not, but the details often slip by me although I've been interested whilst reading it.

I can usually recall the story once I read the brief story description, but some books have just vanished from my brain. I wonder if it is a sign of too much brain activity. I don't mean that I'm super intelligent - just that I read quickly, and have so much going on in my life that I guess my brain doesn't retain what isn't vital. Does that make sense?

I can pretty much remember the books I've read - although Goodreads has presented the challenge of trying to really go back and recall ones from the distant past to put into my Read list.

My trouble is remembering what was in the book, above the plot or main subject, and that really frustrates me. Like many people here if I pick it up or people talk about the subject etc it comes back to me (mostly).

Pleased to see from this discussion this seems more common. It does amaze me how some people have the gift to be able to recall detail at the drop of a hat.

I don't worry about forgetting so much of what I read. There are no rules, and no quizzes.

I guess if you read for pleasure then it doesn't matter if you don't recall all the details. It just matters that you are enjoying what you are reading at the time you read it.

Thank goodness, I thought I was the only one who can't remember the details on books I read more than a month or two ago. Sometimes a book will make an impression on me and I will always recall the story but too many times I know I read a particular book but I can't remember what it was about.

I tend to remember a book pretty well at least for awhile after I read it. Then, it becomes lost as I tend to read a lot anyway, so that information gets replaced with something else.

I tend to remember a book more if I really, really liked it and have read it several times over the years. Of course, if I read it a lot, the information never has a chance to leave my mind.

That used to happen to me...until I started using this site. I guess it tends to happen when you read so many books back to back. Let me add, however, that I do tend to forget characters' names.

~Geektastic~ wrote: "I have a terrible memory. I remember sensations more than plot specifics when it comes to reading. I guess the advantage is I can re-read great books over and over without losing all of that sensat..."

This is me. My memory is terrible, especially with reading, but I generally remember if I enjoyed a book or not or if something stands out. It's one reason I'm a huge re-reader.

I remember books for months and if i try to reread them i usually remember the whole plot. It's a blessing and a curse cause i cant reread my favorite books for a couple years cause then i get bored, but i like buying books so they kinda just sit on my shelf for forever just waiting for me to forget them enough to enjoy them. This is also dependent on how much i enjoyed them, how fast i read them (if i really hate book i'll just speed read it at like 500 words a minute and finish it off), and whether the book is part of a series. Series tend to stick in my head for long periods of time. Its kinda like pokemon from childhood. Havent played Red for 10 years but i could make it through rock tunnel without flash.

What got me started with Goodreads was a desire to keep track of my books. I reread a lot and usually remember the story if not the exact details. Rarely I might pick up one of my books and draw a complete blank. My biggest problem is titles, I am terrible at remembering titles.

I can't say I remember every book I read but there are some that stand out and I do remember a lot of them. I often remember a lot about a book but forget titles (I'm the same way with music).

I reread a lot of books. How I think about and enjoy a book has been different for me every time I reread it depending on the time in my life, what was going on in my life and the mood I was in so even though it is a book I have read before I usually get something new out of it every time.

I remember books easily. I have a bad memory with other things, like I'm always losing things and I've always been like that, ever since I was little.

Kiera wrote: "I remember books easily. I have a bad memory with other things, like I'm always losing things and I've always been like that, ever since I was little."

Lol im with you there i always forget where i place things. I lose stuff all the time. But i read something and its like a steel trap.

This is so funny because I was just talking to someone about this the other day! Specifically Jane Green books. I like Jane green and I KNOW I've read several of them but for the life of me I can't remember specifics of any of them...! So I don't even give them stars here on Goodreads because it doesn't seem fair. SO happy I'm not the only one.

Yesssssss! I feel like I'm losing my mind. I read so many books now that I seem to forget certain things about the ones I finished just a month ago! Some will always stick with me, but others just get lost :(

I used to be great at remembering details but Ii had a stroke 3 years ago and now my short term memory is terrible. It drives me crazy

I think it depends on the book. Some are just not worth remembering. I read before I go to sleep, and it learned in a psychology class that if you really want to remember something, look at it and go to sleep. That being said, I try to keep my Goodreads account as up to date as possible. It makes me happy when I run across a book on here I forgot I read.

I still remember parts of the stories I've read when I was a kid. Though I must admit some of it was hazy and I just remember the moral of the story. As for the books I have read nowadays I can remember some parts clearly however the problem lies on the title of the book. I often forgot the complete title and that is a major problem if I want to reread a story that I like.

Lisa wrote: "Sometimes I'll reread a paragraph and think "huh?"..."

This usually happens when I read the Hobbit. I re-read a certain part for n number of times just to imagine what was happening in the story.

After I have read a book , I will put it with the books which got 3 stars or less in my main library. If it got a 5 , it goes in my bedroom bookcase which I see every morning and every night before sleep and will recall things about it over the years. the ones which got a 4 go in my office , again to be seen most every day and often thought of. The 4s and 5s will have characters and plots and facts which I will take to the grave with me.

John, you ponder your reads quite a bit. I guess that I spend so much time reading I don’t have the time to bask in the literary afterglow of any particular book. I have never been able to multitask so every minute I don’t read I spend on living, loving and life.

If we're talking about series than yes, I always forget what happened in the previous book/s, that's why I don't like reading series.

I rarely have problem with remembering books in general. I almost never remember names of characters (unless it's Silas, Marius or Demian!) but the story sticks.

I do have to read at least 3 books at the same time to stay in the mood, tho. I get bored easily, so to be able to switch from world to world is crucial! :D

i have difficulty remembering specific plots and characters, but I can recall titles, main events, and authors pretty well. I have a book journal where I write down these things, plus any quotes I liked, how long it took me to read it, any predictions I made, and my rating.

NO. Good or bad it sticks to me like day old eggyokes on a plate.

There are very few books that stick with me for long. Once a book is done, it's done and unfortunately forgotten in very short time. The good thing about this is that if I ever make my way through my unread pile (haha) I'll have shelves of read books to choose from and they'll all be new to me again.

Not usually. I like to read about five or six books at the same time, too. It baffles my family.