Do you use the Book Journal option that you can purchase here? If you do, how do you like it? Is it worth it? Will you renew? How useful is it? I'm sure I can set up my own journal but it sounds like the stuff that I have already listed here would show up there if I understand it correctly. A lot less work.

susan/vt

I use Book Journal to keep track of what books I have set aside to use in the games forum swaps.  For example, I'm playing in the Dee Dee Dee Swap.  So I created a category named Dee Dee Dee Swap and added the book I'm using for my reveal to the category.   It is really useful when I'm in more than a couple swaps at a time and if I'm offering more than one book for my reveal.   I haven't taken the time to utilize Book Journal for any other purpose yet.  Even if all I use it for is keeping track of the books I'm using in the games forum, I think it is worth it and I will be renewing later this year.

The Book Journal does have your existing bookshelf, your TBR pile and your existing BIR.

I've been using Book Journal since I joined in December.  I like it just because it helps me keep up with the books I've read and keeps them in both alphabethical and chronological (date that I finished them) order.  I'm sure that I could do this on my own but I rarely did.  For me, it's well worth the $8 a year and I will renew.

Hey, here's a place I could hope to learn something!  I don't get the Journal thing, someone explain it to the blonde again, lol.  Every time I read about it, it sounds a lot like paying to make lists of lists I already have.  I think they ought to tweak that FAQ.  :-)

I don't have a TBR, I don't have a BIR (I review every book I read, but I don't keep a list of them) - it sounds like, without those, I'd have no use for it.  Am I wrong?  I'm wrong a lot, so it won't surprise me!

I did the free trial, but it seemed like a lot of work to me.

I asked a similar question before I started the trial, and one of the responses I got sent me to shelfari.com, which is free and, to my mind, quicker and easier to use.

Thanks, I might try the trial and see how it goes. Glad to have all the responses.

susan/vt