Opting for the theater experience presented a dilemma; throughout the film, the temptation to rewind and replay tugged at me. The notion of community consciousness emerged as a thought-provoking subject worth delving into. Despite having a satisfying day, the movie appeared impressive, yet I feel the need for a second viewing to assess it with the discerning mind of a confident critic. But then, Nicolas Cage, what an acting, man! Loved it.

Delhi.

Having called Delhi my home since my graduation, post my postgraduation stint, I decided it was time for a change of scenery. I needed a break from the city buzz, a detox of sorts. So, I packed my bags and headed to a quaint little town of Punjab. However, my city hiatus lasted only 10 months, and during this time, I found myself grappling with bouts of anxiety and depression. Passenger’s song became my anthem – “Only hate the road when you’re missing home.” Oddly enough, Delhi wasn’t my hometown; I wasn’t born here. Yet, it stealthily wove itself into the fabric of my existence. The weekends here are always full of incredible theater performances, heritage walks, warm friendships, open-mic poetry sessions, and enriching courses beyond the university campus. I realized it has a culture to offer. The culture full of literature, art, and poetry. And it hooked me. It hooked me enough to not leave the city for next few years, perhaps.

19 January, 2024

Overwhelming happiness, Qualified.

TBR

Entered 2024 fueled by a desire to delve into the pending classics from the Victorian era. The encounter with a book by David Daiches sparked my interest. Prompting me to explore. Currently reading “Jane Eyre“. I am optimistic that the coming year will unfold with ample time to satiate this literary craving. May the universe be benevolent to avid readers.

Also, feeling the itch to organize a reading meet with fellow readers (friends), envisioning a gathering where we immerse ourselves in the roles of Antigone‘s characters and engage in a dramatic reading of Sophocles’ masterpiece. Is this the perfect birthday party scheme?

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As an academician, notetaking has always done wonders for me. Recently, I attended a seminar on literature and ecology, even though ecocriticism is not my primary area of research. Nevertheless, I didn’t refrain from keeping my pen poised, meticulously noting the reading titles mentioned by the speakers. In fact, I went a step further and summarized each speaker’s presentation in real-time. Admittedly, I might not revisit these notes in the immediate future, but in the broader context, I realize that my future self might develop a thirst for knowledge in the field of literature and ecology. Thanks to this conference, I’ll remember that I have these notes to guide me on a path of exploration. Armed with newfound curiosity, I won’t feel lost.

I acknowledge the challenge of attending numerous academic talks and seminars. Does this mean I’ll diligently take notes for each one? The answer is a resounding “yes.” I won’t create extensive, detailed notes like I would for a formal course or class, but I will certainly compile concise, summarized notes for my future reference. Furthermore, I’ll expand my reading and watching lists based on anything mentioned by the speakers. Incidentally, I maintain this list using Google Sheets to keep my baggage from becoming unnecessarily heavy.

This is precisely why I consistently engage in the practice of writing while I read, listen to lectures, attend conferences, or seminars. Initially, it may seem like an unconventional exercise, but as you embrace it and witness its effectiveness, you come to appreciate the tremendous value it adds to your learning experience.

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Regarding annotations, when I read paperbacks, I employ the color-tab method, where I assign a specific color to each idea or section and make use of the margins to make notes. In the similar manner, Kindle allows you to highlight text in various colors and provides a dedicated section for each book where you can review your bookmarked or highlighted sections. Using different colors to highlight helps my brain understand and organize the highlighted sections more effectively when I revisit them, even in the digital space.

In addition to this, I maintain a commonplace book where I diligently jot down anything I read and believe could be useful in the future, whether it’s for writing a paper, developing an idea, or enhancing my teaching and learning experiences. This proactive approach ensures that I extract maximum value from my reading materials.

I previously mentioned the use of Open Library in one of my blogs. Open Library unfortunately doesn’t permit annotations or highlighting. However, the wealth of free editions it offers outweighs this limitation. When reading from the open library, I rely on my reading journal to capture my insights. This combination of techniques allows me to engage deeply with the content even without in-book annotations.

It’s important to note that not annotating directly within the book margins can actually lead to becoming a more attentive and engaged reader in a different way. This shifts the task of annotating to making notes. Which demands a bit more effort, making you an even more active reader.

I believe that one should not be afraid of not being able to annotate within the book. In any case, as a scholar, it’s crucial to cultivate the habit of reading borrowed books or e-books and diligently maintaining one’s own extensive notes and annotations, outside the main copy of the text. This approach not only aids in comprehending the material but also promotes critical thinking.

Lately, I’ve been reading “A History of Literary Criticism” by M. A. R. Habib. Given its theoretical nature and substantial size, I’ve adopted a digital approach to preserve my reading notes. I maintain a Google Doc where I simplify the content by creating concise summaries of each paragraph. I also jot down key points that I intend to revisit later. This strategy transforms the 800-page book into an easily manageable 80-page Google Doc, making the revisiting task much more convenient.

Google Docs offers the advantage of structuring the document with headlines and sub-headlines. This creates a well-organized navigation panel. When you access the navigation panel on the left side of your Google Doc, it provides a seamless way to navigate through the document. Thereby enhancing the overall reading and revisiting experience.

In simpler terms, Here’s how

I take notes and annotate e-books:

1. I use different colors to highlight text if the digital reading app supports it. This helps me visually distinguish my notes when I revisit those sections. If I am reading a book in PDF format I make use of the margins, as I would for a physical copy.
2. I keep a reading journal or commonplace book to jot down detailed notes while reading. The act of writing enhances my engagement with the material.
3. I use digital tools like Google Docs, Excel, and Evernote to digitally record what I’m reading for easy reference. This approach ensures that I have a well-organized and searchable repository of my reading notes and insights. It makes the learning process more efficient.

If you have additional suggestions on how one can annotate e-books, please share them with me. I’m relatively new to the digital realm and would greatly appreciate your insights.

Happy Annotating!

The post How I Annotate E-books: Effective Digital Reading appeared first on Ankita Taneja.

(un)fortunately, I already possess an abundance of notebooks filled with notes from my college days, and the prospect of lugging around another stack of notebooks, especially given my frequent changes in living spaces, did not appeal to me. After careful consideration, I found that the most suitable and, of course, cost-effective method for creating organized notes was to utilize Excel spreadsheets. It might surprise fellow humanities students to see one of their own using Excel for note-taking, as we aren’t accountants. However, I can attest that I never truly appreciated its value until I experienced how efficiently it works.

Excel allows for easy editing, re-editing, additions, reading, and further annotations. No longer do I need to flip through pages to locate information and then transcribe it once more. Additionally, the process of revision has become far less daunting. It is different from Google Docs in the sense of its appeal. The tables make the organization a lot better.

I am currently on a quest to explore additional methods of digitizing my notes. If you have any suggestions or employ a method that aids in digitally storing and organizing notes, please feel free to share it in the comments section below.

As I continue my journey of digital note-taking and organization, I can’t help but think that someday, when I feel my notes are complete and truly ready to be shared, I might make them available to fellow literature enthusiasts.

I wholeheartedly encourage to adopt the practice of making notes as we read. Read extensively, take notes diligently, and let’s collectively enhance our understanding and appreciation of the vast world of literature(s).

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1. Open Library
   Open Library is a fantastic platform that allows you to borrow books for free. You can borrow a book for as little as one hour or up to a maximum of 14 days. Your reading screen constantly displays the remaining loan time, motivating you to stay on top of your reading. What’s more, this library is entirely free, so if you happen to forget to return your e-book, the system will automatically retrieve it without any charges. Additionally, if a book is currently on loan to other users, you can add yourself to the waiting list and receive notifications once it becomes available for borrowing.
   
   

2. Poetry Archive
   The Poetry Archive is a delightful space that lets you listen to poems from poets all around the world. Whether you’re searching for a specific poet’s name or a particular poem’s title, you’ll find it here. It’s completely free, and the audio recordings are anything but robotic. I’ve found myself listening to some poems on repeat, and now, I remember them as fondly as my favorite song lyrics. Give it a try; it’s an enjoyable experience.
3. LibGen
   LibGen is a treasure trove that most scholars are likely familiar with, but if you aren’t, you’re missing out on an incredibly valuable resource. It serves as a repository for free PDFs and EPUBs, and you can even find various editions of the same book here. Best of all, it’s entirely free and allows you to download and read at your own pace. It’s a must-visit for any avid reader or researcher.

In addition to these resources, I’ve consistently relied on Kindle Unlimited, a fantastic platform that offers a vast selection of free books, including classics, for a minimal fee. It’s a valuable addition to my digital reading toolkit, enriching my literary journey with its affordable and diverse collection.

These digital platforms have not only expanded my reading horizons but also made the entire process more accessible and enjoyable. Whether you’re a bibliophile, a poetry enthusiast, or a dedicated researcher, these resources are certainly worth exploring. So, dive in, discover, and let these digital tools enhance your reading adventures as they have for me.

Happy reading!

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