Give each book one entry with its title and author, then leave the rating blank until you have decided your final response. Use the open status area only with a clear key. A reading list is a short reference record; longer reviews and quotations belong on another page.
Why a book title needs a little context
A title remembered without its author can be difficult to find later, especially when titles are similar. A few stable details make the list more useful than a row of abbreviations you no longer recognize.
Decide whether the page is a to-be-read list, a finished-book record or a mixed list with clear statuses. The layout can support any of those purposes, but the marks must tell you which. A blank rating beside an unread book should not look like a poor review.
You can start on plain paper with three entries: title, author and status. Add a rating only when it serves your own record. You do not need to rate every book, finish every listed book or turn the list into a reading target.
A title, a by line and five rating circles
The approved Reading List gives each book a title line, an author line with a small italic “by,” and five rating circles. An open 10 mm area at the side can hold a status or genre mark; the listing describes space for an 8 mm dot sticker, sold separately. A7 holds five books per side and M5 four.
| Area | Recording job | Example |
| Title line | A recognizable book title | Pride & Prejudice |
| by line | Author | Jane Austen |
| Five circles | Your final five-point rating, if used | Four filled circles |
| Open side area | Optional status or category | D = done |
The circles are a rating field, not a five-stage progress bar. If you want to record chapters or minutes, use another page with a defined progress unit. This page also has no preprinted start or finish dates; put those in a note if they matter.
Build a readable list in five steps
- Choose the scope. The example mixes finished, current and future reading, so it needs a status key.
- Write title and author. Use full enough names to identify the books. A familiar abbreviation is fine only if it remains understandable later.
- Define status marks. D = done, R = reading and T = to read in this example. These are optional user marks, not printed product labels.
- Add the final rating when ready. Choose what your scale means before filling circles. Keep unread books unrated.
- Review a next choice. Pick a book you want to read or find again. Archive finished pages if you do not need the whole list in your carry binder.
A filled-in example
Illustrative example: Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen is marked D; The Secret Garden by F. H. Burnett is R; A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf is T. The status letters are teaching marks, not customer records. The completed book has an illustrative four-of-five final rating; the other ratings stay blank. This synthetic rating explains the field, not a book recommendation.
The titles and authors are real bibliographic examples, while the reading statuses and any rating choice are invented for instruction. They do not express the founder's reading history or an editorial recommendation to prioritize one book.
The next action could be looking up the T entry at a library. The list itself does not track a loan due date; use a calendar or a separate loan note for that.
Three list purposes
To-be-read reference: fill title and author, leave ratings blank, and use a status mark only if it adds information.
Finished books: add your final response after reading. Define the scale in a note so a four-point mark has the same meaning later.
Book-club choices: record candidates and authors. Keep discussion questions and quotations on a journal page rather than squeezing them into this list.
If you stop a book, use a clear status such as S = stopped instead of rating it as though it were finished. Keep the distinction between a personal response and a record of completion.
A list and a reading journal serve different jobs
Cloth & Paper's Bibliophile tutorial distinguishes an overview log from pages for deeper book notes. That distinction fits this compact method: find the title in the list, then use another page for the longer response.
No research claim is needed to say that title and author are useful identifying fields. This guide does not claim a paper list improves comprehension, memory or the amount you read.
Design notes: preserve a compact book record
The approved Reading List groups the title, “by” line and five small rating circles within each entry. The open side area leaves status or category coding optional. A7 provides five entries, while M5 provides four rather than shrinking the same number into less writing room. The front and reverse repeat the book-record function with mirrored binding geometry. These details come from the approved digital design, not a founder's reading story or a physical pen, sticker or paper test.
Common mistakes and a simple review
- Rating a book before reading it: keep the final rating blank.
- Using circles as progress without explaining it: use a separate progress record.
- Forgetting the author: add enough information to identify the book.
- Mixing statuses without a key: keep D/R/T or your own key visible.
At review, ask which entry you want to act on and whether the details are complete enough to find it. The useful outcome is a clearer reference or next choice, not a fuller page.
Choose A7 or M5 for this page
Choose the size that matches your existing binder: A7 / Pocket is 80 × 120 mm with six holes; M5 / Mini 5 is 67 × 105 mm with five holes. Front and reverse keep the same page function with mirrored binding margins. A7 gives you a larger surface for handwriting. M5 makes the page smaller; it does not make every field larger or fit an A7 binder.
Compare the finished dimensions and complete hole pattern with a refill that already fits. Current listing specifications use 19 mm consecutive hole spacing; a matching number of holes alone is not proof of compatibility across brands.
Current listing prices checked October 6, 2026: A7 / Pocket $6.99 USD; M5 / Mini 5 $5.99 USD. The pack contains 15 double-sided sheets on 120 gsm paper. Binder, pens, stickers and other accessories are separate. Each side provides another page of this layout.
Allow 3–5 business days for processing where stated on the listing; processing is separate from transit. Digital product previews and public availability do not establish physical print, writing or binder-fit QA, or on-hand inventory. Check the current product page before ordering.
FAQ
Can this hold books I have not read?
Yes. Keep their final ratings blank and use a clear status key if the list mixes unread and finished books.
Do the circles mean reading progress?
The current product uses them as a five-point rating field. Keep chapter or page progress on another record.
Where do long reviews go?
Use a separate journal or note page; this list is a compact title/author/rating reference.
Related guides and sources
Read what to keep in a pocket planner to place this page in a useful compact setup. Read planner size guide for size and system selection.
Layout basis: the approved JOYJOY Reading List digital master documented in this guide's image manifest; product information checked October 6, 2026. All filled examples are illustrative, not customer evidence or a product test.
Looking for your next read? Choose from our books for your 20s by the question you are living with.