You are so kind! Thank you! I’m so glad it inspired you. I also have a bunch of unfinished journals, and I found that keeping the commonplace journal stupid simple (no organizing principle or commentary on the quotes) is what has worked to make me stick with it. Someday when my kids are older I’d love to try something a bit more involved like I’ve heard others do. And if you want some initial thoughts I did a Middlemarch post a while back!
Yes to simple common places! I literally just write quotes from whatever I'm reading. I think I even stopped dating it and just put each month and year. My problem is that when I read certain books I want to write down everything so I ebb and flow between common placing too much or not at all. I think my little notebook dates back to 2018 or something and I love looking through it!
My oldest daughter (almost 9) will already start to write down quotes from what she reads so I think I should get her a common place book. Right now her copy work book is basically her common place since she now chooses her copy work most of the time. I'm inspired to inspire her.
Definitely going to go read your Middlemarch post!
Same! And dating is something I might actually add so I don’t have to rely on goodreads for dates. And haha same. A lot depends on how tired/behind recording I am when it comes to writing down. I always mark down more potential quotes than actually get written. It’s so neat that your daughter is starting to record too-I can’t wait for that.
The beauty of homeschool is that beautiful life giving habits can be developed during school hours. I think I would have had a much better understanding of Literature in school if I had simply common placed and written down some things I noticed.
Thank you for sharing my post! And I’m excited to explore your Substack-I saw you read Middlemarch in the past and I love Middlemarch!
I hope you enjoy! I loved your post. I literally got my common place back out and put it in my reading stack. I was inspired!
Yes, we read Middlemarch during Lent this year and that book is a heart book for me! I would love to hear your thoughts!
You are so kind! Thank you! I’m so glad it inspired you. I also have a bunch of unfinished journals, and I found that keeping the commonplace journal stupid simple (no organizing principle or commentary on the quotes) is what has worked to make me stick with it. Someday when my kids are older I’d love to try something a bit more involved like I’ve heard others do. And if you want some initial thoughts I did a Middlemarch post a while back!
Yes to simple common places! I literally just write quotes from whatever I'm reading. I think I even stopped dating it and just put each month and year. My problem is that when I read certain books I want to write down everything so I ebb and flow between common placing too much or not at all. I think my little notebook dates back to 2018 or something and I love looking through it!
My oldest daughter (almost 9) will already start to write down quotes from what she reads so I think I should get her a common place book. Right now her copy work book is basically her common place since she now chooses her copy work most of the time. I'm inspired to inspire her.
Definitely going to go read your Middlemarch post!
Same! And dating is something I might actually add so I don’t have to rely on goodreads for dates. And haha same. A lot depends on how tired/behind recording I am when it comes to writing down. I always mark down more potential quotes than actually get written. It’s so neat that your daughter is starting to record too-I can’t wait for that.
The beauty of homeschool is that beautiful life giving habits can be developed during school hours. I think I would have had a much better understanding of Literature in school if I had simply common placed and written down some things I noticed.
Amen to that! We’re doing a homeschool/in person hybrid at this time, and I’m so excited to see what it brings in the future