Post from the Pagebound Club forum
Long ago I found that annotating books just didn't work for me. I tried so many different methods and ways of doing it, I tried just straight up taking notes in a separate book, but it never felt right to me or like I was really helping myself in any way, and I just didn't feel like I was retaining as much of what I read as I could. The thing that I eventually found that helped me isn't any type of annotation or note-taking, but it does combine reading with another hobby of mine: collecting Bratz and Monster High dolls. Every time I finish a chapter, I re-enact it completely from memory with the dolls. I have found that I actually remember more than I think, and the re-enactment helps me remember it for even longer. I've actually found it to be super fun and I've gotten really into it by holding casting auditions with the dolls for every new character introduced and everything. It might seem a little weird to other people, but I enjoy it and it actually helps, so I was wondering if anyone else has special ways like this that you probably wouldn't learn in school as a way to retain more from your reading and interact with the text but that are fun and help you?
TheWhimsyInLife joined a quest
Lady Knights Who Like Other Ladies ⚔️👸👩❤️💋👩
💎 // 703 joined
Not Joined

This Quest was inspired by the List "Lady knights who like other ladies" created by lukewarmreader, winner of Q1 2026 community voting.
TheWhimsyInLife joined a quest
Latin American Horror 👻🦇😱
💎 // 503 joined
Not Joined

This Quest was inspired by the List "Latin American Horror" created by strawberrymilk, winner of Q1 2026 community voting.
TheWhimsyInLife made progress on...
TheWhimsyInLife started reading...

The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop
Takuya Asakura
TheWhimsyInLife is re-reading...

Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows, #2)
Leigh Bardugo
TheWhimsyInLife made progress on...
TheWhimsyInLife started reading...

Dracula
Bram Stoker
TheWhimsyInLife joined a quest
Japanese Crime Fiction 🌸🕵️🔍
💎 // 655 joined
Not Joined

Japan has a long history of crime fiction. From police procedurals, thrillers, murder mysteries and assassins, Japan has it all.
TheWhimsyInLife joined a quest
Strange Plagues 😷🦠❓
💎 // 757 joined
Not Joined

Forced into unending sleep or perilous insomnia, repeating tedious daily routines until your body rots, watching as your skin starts to glow or your hands sprout scales—these novels feature illnesses that are far from typical.
TheWhimsyInLife finished a book

The Count of Monte Cristo
Alexandre Dumas
TheWhimsyInLife made progress on...
TheWhimsyInLife TBR'd a book

Heated Rivalry (Game Changers #2)
Rachel Reid
TheWhimsyInLife TBR'd a book

The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop
Takuya Asakura
TheWhimsyInLife made progress on...
TheWhimsyInLife made progress on...
TheWhimsyInLife started reading...

The Decagon House Murders (House Murders, #1)
Yukito Ayatsuji