The impression is fresh for a while. What is the first thing you do?
Do you discuss it? Do you write some kind of review for yourself? Do you explore professional reviews/analyses instead to compare the perspectives? Do you give yourself some time to form an opinion? Do you do something else?
Oh god this is depressing. I used to immediately go on reddit to see if anyone else had read it and read what they thought 🤣
Apart from that I wear the ear off my partner about the writing and the themes and the cultural context and how reading it in the 21st century changes the text. I rarely write down what I thought of a book, but that actually sounds like quite a nice thing to do.
To be honest I immediately start the next book or continue with another one I already started.
I usually take a moment to pause for reflection, digesting the material. It’s a simple step, but gives me some time to take in what I’ve read.
Same. It’s also helpful in remembering the plot later if there’s a sequel or two. The only time I don’t do this is when I know I’ll want to re-read the book later, so I will actively try to forget parts of the book. That way, it’s a fresh (well, fresher) read when I get back to it.
After having avoided spoilers I start searching discussions on it and theories to look through. Did this right after reading through all the A Song of Ice and Fire books, and more recently Fire and Blood
Check to see if there’s a Wikipedia article about it; if so, see if it can be improved in any way, if not, write one.
I have a notebook where I take note of all my lectures to not forget them. I usually write down remarkable passages, quotes or my thoughts. I have a little fear of being unable to remember what I have already read haha
Write down what date I finished it (so that I have the record of it), and write down any thoughts about the overall book.
If I’m reading the book on an e-reader then make a reminder to sync my notes and highlights (so that they aren’t just on my e-reader).
I started to write a short text for myself, whether I liked it and why or what I didn’t like at it. I like to think that my future self will be happy reading the theft when considering to reread the book one day.
I think as long about it as it requires me to on my bed and then do something else. Then I might tell someone/some people about it.
Rarely, when I absolutely had no idea wtf was happening, I made up a thesis and then looked up online what others think. Last time I had that was with Peter Handke’s Mein Tag im anderen Land 1. I was apparently right there with my thesis… but… still really didn’t know WHY. :D
Mostly though I shove reading sessions into the day like taking out my phone, except if the book is REALLY exceptional (Schachnovelle 2, Der aufhaltsame Aufstieg des Arturo Ui 3 or Traumnovelle 4).
1 My Day in a Foreign Country
2 Chess Story
3 The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
4 Dream Story
I read before bed, so I usually go to sleep