May Reading Journal Setup & What I Read In April 📚

Рет қаралды 13,511

Күн бұрын

Let's track my April reading, review some books, and set up my May reading journal tracker spreads together! It's been a busy month, so I'm leaning into a more minimal decoration style to make the setup much more manageable while keeping it cute.
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0:00 Updating yearly reading tracker spreads
General supplies used throughout the video:
• Archer & Olive B5 Charming Picnic journal - from March 2023 subscription box/Charming Picnic gift box - no longer available
• Star rating stamp: bit.ly/3Y1b4zn
• You can also get a similar star rating stamp in this set: bit.ly/3QQn6tU
• Alternate option: star rating stickers: amzn.to/3w7pOna
• Light blue fountain pen: bit.ly/3EvlfEm *
• CAWPILE rating sticker template printable: bit.ly/3OZdNGv
• HP Sprocket mini printer: amzn.to/4bcjrh8
• Tombow N15 black brush pen: bit.ly/47dIfmS
• 15cm flower ruler (similar): amzn.to/44oliNs *
• Curved pointed tweezers: bit.ly/3g0IYTs *
• Tool set: spatula, glue pen, tweezers & craft knife: bit.ly/4a2tlky *
• Sakura Pigma Micron 03 fineliner: bit.ly/3JPNRIA
• Glue tape: bit.ly/3urMygw *
• Tombow Mono Graph mechanical pencil: bit.ly/3uiR3Hi *
• Vintage scissors: amzn.to/3Hfj9cf *
• HP Sprocket 2x3" mini printer: amzn.to/3HgQR0Z
• HP Sprocket paper: amzn.to/48Tmh9J
• White acrylic paint marker (for fixing mistakes) - mine is from this set: amzn.to/48KT68s
02:42 Flawless - Elsie Silver
• Book link: amzn.to/4abU2Du
• Grassy washi tape: bit.ly/4bm6GAq *
• Tombow dual brush pen in 817 mauve: bit.ly/3tBHqpR *
• Vintage country sticker book: bit.ly/3TJ9VuI *
• Rodeo sticker sheet (similar): bit.ly/4bg5K1f
06:32 Updating final March tracker stats
08:32 Updating April reading trackers
09:39 The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic - Breanne Randall
• Book link: amzn.to/3UjSfWS
• Metallic paint marker set: amzn.to/3zZKH1g *
• Whimsical rituals sticker sheet (similar): bit.ly/3QuZfiq
12:20 Sourdough - Robin Sloan
• Book link: amzn.to/3K4Vehn
• Bread sticker sheet: bit.ly/3y54fEk *
14:20 Check & Mate - Ali Hazelwood
• Book link: amzn.to/3QvKpbz
• Solid colour washi tape set (similar): bit.ly/3WotStE *
• Clear letter stamps (similar): bit.ly/4bE8PYL
17:20 The Viscount Who Loved Me - Julia Quinn (Bridgertons 2)
• Book link: amzn.to/3UH6PJr
• Vintage homewares sticker book: bit.ly/3U59KeO *
• Tombow 569 Jet Blue: bit.ly/3Nkt1DM
20:00 Powerless - Lauren Roberts
• Book link: amzn.to/3Wr544u
• Black A4 paper: amzn.to/3WtBdZ1
23:18 An Offer From a Gentleman - Julia Quinn (Bridgertons 3)
• Book link: amzn.to/3WqcdSp
• Tea Temptations washi sticker set: bit.ly/48l5Hi2 *
26:46 April & yearly tracker updates
29:51 May cover & stats spread
• Transfer sticker sheets: bit.ly/3POLhaX * and bit.ly/3U30Az7 *
• Tombow N79 warm grey: bit.ly/493suQt
32:06 May reading dashboard spread
• ‪@JashiiCorrin‬ Goober Readathon: bit.ly/44op75g
34:58 May Page Mages spread
The Cat Who Caught a Killer - LT Shearer: amzn.to/4blU7VT
36:44 Flip through
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Пікірлер: 81

@blackhellebore89 2 ай бұрын

You can get a blunt needle syringe (5ml syringe is well plenty). Buy the colour ink that you like. Watch a video on how to clean your pen and you can also rinse out your empty cartridge. Use the blunt syringe to refill the cartridge with the ink of your choice. Pilot Iroshizuku inks are beautiful and very beginner friendly - their cartridges won't fit in your pen though (some company's have their own proprietery feeds so their own cartridge sizes) so you'll have to buy a bottle. Places in Australia will also sell ink samples which will be enough for almost 2 fills in your pen and a cheaper way to try colours

@nourin_siddique 2 ай бұрын

On top of that I would recommend Robert Oster since it's an Australian brand. Also, just get plain old platinum cartridges until you want to experiment with the inks you already have from ferris wheel press.

@blackhellebore89 2 ай бұрын

@@nourin_siddique Just don't get Shake and Shimmer Envy! It is the cloggiest pen destroying mess!

@KitSixx 2 ай бұрын

@@nourin_siddique I dunno man, Robert Oster is not very beginner friendly. understanding all the different aspects that can destroy a nib... Robert oster is a pain in the tush. despite how dang pretty they are.

@nourin_siddique 2 ай бұрын

@@KitSixx oh I didn't know. I know everyone loves their ink and has beautiful shading. But, yes I have heard not great things from the shimmers :33 maybe van dieman? I see Liliyinaustralia use that brand as lot too.

@KB_Espy2009 Ай бұрын

FYI, if you’re writing with Fine nibs, any shimmer ink will likely cause clogs.

@veredlevy5982 2 ай бұрын

I love your videos💕 Also, YES! I don't like adaptation book covers, they feel very wrong.

@JashiiCorrin 2 ай бұрын

Yay for Goober Readathon 🥳 Glad to have you on board, Erin! 😄💜

@ErinSmith 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for doing cool stuff Jess! 😍

@annag8448 2 ай бұрын

Your reading journal videos are honestly my favourite part of the month

@GigglesFPS 2 ай бұрын

I was waiting for this!!! Oooh my silicone stamps were the same (16:13) Then I saw a reel where they used an eraser and "erased" the surface of the silicone. I tried it and it worked!. The ink got on quite beautifully after that

@beckatea 2 ай бұрын

Reading journal content kinda sprurred me into getting back into reading.. it used to be everything to me, when I was younger, but I just don't ever find the time for it as an adult. Your love of audiobooks convinced me to give them a try, since I can listen to them on less hectic days at work - and now I'm reading like crazy! I read some new stuff in April, and am looking forward to plenty more in May. And once we've finished moving house, I look forward to setting up my first reading journal.

@catherinetessier8542 2 ай бұрын

It's so fun to be watching something and go "I know that place. I was there!" Totally get your excitement on that! I love your videos so much they helped me get back in to more reading this year and they are just so pretty! ❤

@buniwinter7678 2 ай бұрын

About Bridgerton Benedict will be getting a season! They went ahead and skipped his book because of the time skip would make it weird for the show so dont worry every Bridgerton gets their own season

@paginator 2 ай бұрын

I also hate the movie/tv tie-in covers! I refuse to buy them or print those covers for my reading journal. Beautiful spreads as always!😊

@planningwithcaroline 2 ай бұрын

My favorite read for the month of April is The priory of the orange tree by Samantha Shannon but I think that I should have read A day of fallen night first because it happens before the first book 😅 these two books is about mages and dragons and in an ancient world (also a little bit of love)

@mariakeogh1147 Ай бұрын

Love watching these videos, I find them so calming 😊 Benedict's book is my fav of the Bridgertons btw 😏

@ErinSmith Ай бұрын

It’s such an interesting story! It’ll be interesting to see how it changes for screen 👀

@vivianwakoff 2 ай бұрын

These spreads are so awesome! I'm currently reading Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao and I'm loving the "Pacific Rim meets female rage" vibes! I'm a mood reader so I never know what I'll read next, but I think I'll pick up Galatea by Madeline Miller as soon as I'm done with Widow.

@kata7628 2 ай бұрын

Love this!

@KB_Espy2009 Ай бұрын

Late to catching this. I’d almost forgotten about the Goober Readathon and spent the month binging a favorite author’s back catalogue. I was just reminded last week. I have been able to apply my reading to the bingo board and get 32 points, but no actual bingos. Also, sent a GoodReads friend request. I think my handle there is the same (or close to) this one.

@trehs98 2 ай бұрын

I love your reading journal. Do you have a video showing the set up of the rating system? I think that would help me tremendously on rating my books. ❤

@ErinSmith 2 ай бұрын

I did show it a little in the New Journal setup for this one back in November, but I think it makes way more sense coming from G of the channel Book Roast - she created it! She has quite a few videos on it, I recommend you start there 🥰

@Aviplotbunny 2 ай бұрын

Always so satisfying to watch~

@VioletPhoenix922 2 ай бұрын

Love your setup, as always. So much fun to see how you represent each book you’ve read, and I love that your pages are colorful and fun! I despise adaptation covers on books, even when I genuinely loved the adaptation. I refuse to have them in my house in any way (books, covers in my reading journal, etc.). I will happily go out of my way to find a copy that is the original cover, not the adaptation. What bugs me nearly as much are the printed-on stickers on book covers “Now a movie” or “TV series coming soon” or whatever. I wouldn’t care if they wanted to put on a removable sticker with that on the cover, but not the kind embedded in the cover. The funny thing is I know a ton of book people, and it is a remarkably universal opinion that these things are hated, so I have no idea why publishers keep doing it!!

@melissajeffers5251 2 ай бұрын

I enjoy watching your journaling videos!! Thanks for sharing your creativity. My favorite book of April: Six Months Later by Natalie D. Richards.

@lauroralei 2 ай бұрын

Gorgeous! Not sure my *maybe* 4-5 books a year warrants such effort but am maybe inspired to journal a bit more about things I read. Also went through a whole phase of Australian "cowboy romance" a couple years ago and it's honestly so good 😊

@ParisLeShea 2 ай бұрын

So this past month (April), I read: The Lore of the Wilds, Paladin's Grace, To Bleed a Crystal Bloom, Powerless, A Promise of Peridot, and Legends & Lattes. Among them all, my favorite was Powerless.

@amandabrown9871 2 ай бұрын

My favorite book from April was my read of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone I enjoyed Check & Mate a too and can't wait for Ali's next book. Me and my friends are planning to read Powerless together as soon as library holds come through!

@juliangelus 2 ай бұрын

Hi Erin, what a beautiful set up, I have copied your progress calendar this month and am really enjoying it even though my reading seems to have slowed this month. I hate the movie/tv tie in covers, I'll go out of my way to avoid them. I bought the entire Chestnut Springs series for my kindle yesterday as they were on the kindle daily deal and I'd heard such good things about them (even though romance is something I rarely read) so I'm looking forward to them. My standout April book is Everest Inc by Will Cockrell, it's a look at the guiding industry on Mt Everest and the history of it. I have a slight... no major obsession with anything to do with moutaineering for some odd reason. I also really enjoyed Dracula as an audiobook read by Mark Gatiss, I live really close to Whitby so it's nice to read about places I know really well.

@c_gmoney 2 ай бұрын

Love seeing your set up! My favorite books in April were Project Hail Mary (Andy Weir) and Aloha Alibi (Jasmine Webb). Great reads!! Also, I just finished It (Stephen King) and I feel so accomplished.

@cherylmccallum725 2 ай бұрын

That layout for May is so cute! I may have to "borrow" that idea for next month! My two April recommendations are As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh and The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. Both books stayed with me for days, and I passed Lemon Trees on to one of my former students, so that I have someone to talk about the book with!! Thanks, Erin!

@MysteriousMind91 2 ай бұрын

Haha, I loved the little 'Mitsu now loading' bar! Love me some Mitsu cameos ^_^ My book of the month for April was Fourth Wing. I finally jumped in and it has me in a chokehold, I tell you. No book has made me start right over (after Iron Flame) but this one had me do it. And I even got my husband to listen to it so I think hell has frozen over but I am also soo excited to be able to talk to him about it! ^_^

@TheConsultingReader 2 ай бұрын

My favourite book for April is a tie between Fourth Wing (finally read it and it was just sooo entertaining!) and a middle grade book called A Tail of Camelot, the first in a series about mice living in Camelot. I hope to read The Viscount Who Loved Me this spring/summer (UK based). It‘s been on my tbr for a while now.

@RusKms 2 ай бұрын

I so love your reading journal content Erin! It’s always relaxing to watch and super inspiring. ❤️ I have read the first 4 books of the Bridgerton series. I quit because I got very frustrated by the character development, or lack thereof, among some other choices that didn’t sit well with me. I fully agree that the show is much better! My favorite book of April was The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I am working my way through his catalogue, and books by him have been my favorites for the last two months in a row!

@annabaranek8669 Ай бұрын

Caraval series is the best, I loved all the books, and I was also reading to my boyfriend and he loved it as well. Hope that you will read it some day^^

@ErinSmith Ай бұрын

I finally read it a few weeks ago! 🤣

@annabaranek8669 Ай бұрын

@@ErinSmith perfect, are you going to read the other two books from that series as well?☺️

@ErinSmith Ай бұрын

Probably eventually! I really don’t like Donatella so I’m putting it off 🤣

@birdsbooksbujo 2 ай бұрын

I loved hearing about your recent reads - thanks for sharing 😊 Also, you mentioned something about resizing the book cover image in Canva and eye-balling it to get it to approx. the right size. In case you weren't aware, if you select the image and go into 'Position' options, you can enter the dimensions you want the image to be resized to. On the phone app version you need to select 'Position' then scroll across and tap 'Advanced'. (I had been looking for this feature for ages but never thought to look under 'Position' until recently 😅)

@KellyAK 2 ай бұрын

Love your book spreads! I'm intrigued by the transfer stickers, I'm going to have to give some a try. I'm pleased to find another person who didnt enjoy The Name of the Wind! I did finish it but really struggled and am 100% not bothering with the rest of the series. All my friends love it though, so I am an outlier and didn't like to say I didn't enioy a book they adored. I joined Bujo Buddies Book Club this year though, and seeing the wildly different opinions on all the books in the discord has been really interesting, and made me really appreciate that not every book is meant for every person! I'm also doing the Goober Readathon and having such fun with it! I'm up to gung-ho goober with 9 points so far 😊

@ErinSmith 2 ай бұрын

The transfer stickers are SO much easier to use than I'd expected, I really like them! It is really interesting to hear different opinions on books, I agree - you did so well to stick it out through such a long book! I didn't have it in me! I haven't worked out my Goober Readathon points yet but WOW that sounds like you're absolutely smashing it! I'm definitely not at 9 points, I'm likely around 5!

@lvandiermen 2 ай бұрын

I'm late to reading the Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley but really enjoying them

@sarahgilson5172 Ай бұрын

I love watching others book journals. I really want to set one up, but I'm currently reading the Outlander series and it's taken more over a year! I'm on the third to last book and I hope to finish them all by the end of this year. Doing a tracker like that per month doesn't work for me. However, I love your set up and layouts that I might create one and just use it as a non-monthly tracker.

@ErinSmith Ай бұрын

You could almost have a dedicated Outlander journal! 😍 I’m really keen to read those one day too!

@sarahgilson5172 Ай бұрын

@@ErinSmith They are really good, but I'm a slow reader and only read about 15mins a night. They first three books I got through quickly, but the last several are huge!!

@MarieCraftCO 29 күн бұрын

Thank you! I tried to read Throne of Glass on my kindle and couldn't get through it. I should try the audiobook.

@ErinSmith 29 күн бұрын

It’s much more digestible on audio but I’ve still hit book 5 and then stalled out 🥲 they definitely aren’t hitting for me like they seem to for so many people!

@rachelburke7969 2 ай бұрын

I just finished ‘Annie Bot’ on audio and it was so hard to put down. It’s dark and fast moving and also just fascinating. I am also about 40% into The Sword of Kaigen on Kindle and same thing, SOOOOO hard to put down. It was a little hard to start, but doesn’t really take long to start moving. 😊

@Haffina 2 ай бұрын

April was a light reading month for me, I only finished 3 books and they were all digital.

@Karen_Tries 2 ай бұрын

OMG yes, I also don’t like it when they change book covers to the actors from the adaptations! It’s annoying, and it makes it look like I’m only reading that book because of the show/ movie, which I don’t want people to think (for some reason) 😆

@all-for-one-- Ай бұрын

18:40 I also hate the TV book covers i'd be fun if you made a poll

@ErinSmith Ай бұрын

I think from the comments so far… it’ll be 100% against TV and movie book covers 🤣

@Bookbonkers8439 2 ай бұрын

The Chestnut Springs series just gets better with each book! I absolutely HATE movie/TV tie in covers on books, and I also hate it when they put permanent stickers on old covers to advertise a show!

@ErinSmith 2 ай бұрын

I’m reading Heartless at the moment 😍 I love Willa so much!

@kimstr8755 2 ай бұрын

Can you make a Video on your rating System, please ? 🥰

@ErinSmith 2 ай бұрын

It isn’t actually my system - I’d recommend you watch the original creator’s videos about it in case I’m doing it wrong 🤣 it’s called the CAWPILE system and you can find the creator G at Book Roast, she has a few videos about it! youtube.com/@BookRoast?si=Uy2dyaJJyxcS9OWm

@emmanuellegrach8564 2 ай бұрын

Hi! Love your aesthetic !! I’m late on my reading journal… what app on your phone do you use? It’s so nice and do all the stats! Have a beautiful day!

@ErinSmith 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! 🥰 I use an app called StoryGraph - it’s so good for stats! I’d recommend watching a video about how to use it so you get all the right info in your stats - it isn’t hard, but there are a few things that may not be obvious right away! 🥰

@alyxbeauchamp7883 2 ай бұрын

I also thought that the viscount who loved me was better as the tv show than the book! The changes were so beneficial to the show. And YES i abhor the movie covers. They are the worst. Especially if they have those printed "stickers" so they arent even removable, its just part of the cover.

@ChantelleArts 2 ай бұрын

what a gorgeous set up, I love the aesthetic ☺☺

@confusedlook 2 ай бұрын

You said something about sending your library book to your kindle. I need the details! What library app/website, and how to achieve!!??

@ErinSmith 2 ай бұрын

I followed this clever TikTok creator’s instructions 😎 vt.tiktok.com/ZSFKhKC3B/

@libbysreadingcorner9564 2 ай бұрын

I love this, How do you make your Calendar? I can't get mine big enough the squares anyway

@ErinSmith 2 ай бұрын

I’m using a B5 journal which is pretty big - I think that might be part of it! But each day in my calendar has boxes that are 5x5 dot grid spaces this month, which seems to work ok for me 🥰

@libbysreadingcorner9564 2 ай бұрын

@ErinSmith I'm not sure what I use. Just one from Walmart. I've been trying to get it right. It might be a b5

@ErinSmith 2 ай бұрын

Most standard notebooks are A5, which are 145mmx210mm - the B5s are a bit bigger!

@libbysreadingcorner9564 2 ай бұрын

@@ErinSmith ok then I have an A5 most likely

@moultingrook8091 2 ай бұрын

About fountain pens: join us! Join us! If you want some ink samples to try a range of colors, I have tons of inks I can share. Just let me know what kind of colors you want, if you’re comfortable with it! If you know what the pen brand/model is, I can see if I have a spare “converter” you can use. They’re super simple to use: just pop it into the back like a cartridge and twist the back to suck ink up into the pen. There are lots of brands that have cartridges but some only work with certain brands and you get a lot more color variety with bottled inks. Another person mentioned using a cheap blunt syringe to fill an empty cartridge you’ve already used and cleaned out which totally works too 😊 I think I heard you use an archer and olive notebook? I would like to know if you’ve experienced any bleeding with your fountain pen. I’ve read mixed reviews but they’re all old and it seems A&O have jumped on the fountain pen train, so maybe that has been improved?

@Blue_Caribou 2 ай бұрын

Boo to adaptation covers - I read the books to get my *own* mental image of the characters, thanks! Also, the *printed on* "as seen on" stickers - can we ban those from the publishing industry please?! If you want it as a sticker *make it a sticker that we can take off*. Rant over... This month has been such a reading struggle for me - I'm demotivated from my current audiobook (it's too similar to a podcast I listen to, so I find myself getting confused between the plots, and I don't want to get behind on the podcast again so can't stop listening to those...), and my book club read this month is "Lessons" by Ian McEwan - objectively beautifully written, but 450 pages long in second-hand hardback, and hit me in the face with CSA on page 2, so I've been dreading picking it back up in case of more of the same. I'm usually able to read through 400 pages in around 8 days... I started this on the 2nd and still have 150 pages left. The curse of being a reader whose FOMO is so bad that "if I starts it, I finishes it." - still, I'm hoping to finish it by brute force this weekend and have some nice recovery time with Legends and Lattes and an easy non-fiction...

@KitSixx 2 ай бұрын

I absolutely detest movie cover books. I was missing two Bridgerton books and still haven't purchased them. Waiting until I do another eBay purchase for books. I have not watched the show though, not really a TV person. - as for when you brought up the topic of Audio books not being reading. that was some little bite there in your tone. I was just like.. woooah. I was also giggling a bit >.> - I didn't realize there was even such a strange argument, Audio books are 100% still reading. I clicked over to search and holy moly, that is a big fight. x.x it makes no sense. of course audio is still reading. its a book! xD

@ErinSmith 2 ай бұрын

I usually get at least one or two ‘helpful’ people telling me my journal and reading habits aren’t valid in the comments, thought I’d save them the trouble this time 😅

@arellskan 2 ай бұрын

I've only read The unfortunate side effects .. and I'm with you, not my fave at all. I think I rated it 2,5 and was so dissappointed. Where was the gilmore girls in that comparison? :P

@kimradoes6227 2 ай бұрын

I don’t like movie/tv adaptation covers of books as it causes a concrete image of characters that may not go exactly with what the book says, but imagining the characters is so much more fun than being shown the characters