I’ve been reading quite a decent amount since I was a kid, and I’m now in my late 20’s. I’ve recently realized that the books I’ve read in the last couple of years, I struggle to remember much about them.
I can remember the general outline of the story, or most of the major plot points, but any character names or place names I struggle to remember.
I’ve been going through and reading many fantasy/sci-fi series, and it usually feels like once I get to book 2 of whatever new series I’ve picked up, I can’t remember the previous series I read.
For example, I’m currently reading The Thief series, and really enjoying it. However I’m finding that I can’t remember much of the names or characters from the Red Rising series, which I read just before this. I can remember most of what happens, and I remember really enjoying it, but names just get lost entirely.
If you were to ask me what happens in the books I read the last couple of years, I would be able to tell you in quite decent detail, but I’d struggle with any names.
The only exceptions are books I read when I was young, like the Lord of the Rings books or the Hyperion books.
Does anyone else have this issue? How can I better remember details like this?
At first it is so, really… Slow and cumbersome.
Like anything new, I’m tempted to say. And it took me a while to learn to ride a bike, to write (even more so in English than in my native language).
But then it should become more of a second nature, something you won’t even notice much. To be gross for a second, it’s a bit like you don’t break your immersion when you pick up your nose while you’re reading, right? Not that I would imply you ever do such a thing, it’s just me that is so poorly educated… and I can admit that doesn’t break my immersion ;)
More seriously, the key element is to find the set up that works the best for you. The one that will create the less friction between you and your note and the book.
For me, it’s an A6 sized piece of paper, plus a tad larger piece of cardboard (to rest said piece of paper upon when I write) and a cheap ballpoint pen. I slide it in the book (the pen resting in my hand or in my shirt pocket) and I don’t even have to think about it when I don’t need to take any note. The moment I want to mark a passage, have any question or any idea regarding what I read, I slide it out, jot the page number, add some key words for when I will read it later so I will remember what it was about, and slide it back in. I’m back to reading barely noticing I made a pause.
But I insist, when starting out it will be cumbersome and… not great. Just give it more time to get used to it ;)