How Reading Journal Prompts Revolutionize Your Reading Experience

50 Reading Journal Prompts

Ever finish a book and feel like it just evaporated from your memory? Discover how reading journal prompts can completely transform this experience by making your reading adventures not only memorable but also deeply engaging. Using insights from Clara Penrose's blog post, "50 Reading Journal Prompts," we break down a method that goes beyond surface-level plot summaries to meaningful analysis and personal connections. We'll discuss Lestallion's innovative approach, which seamlessly blends objective analysis with subjective reflection, allowing you to connect literary elements to your own life experiences and emotions.

In this episode, we delve into various categories of prompts, from character development and plot intricacies to personal reflections and future reading goals. Think of it as having your own seasoned book club leader guiding you every step of the way. We share our favorite prompts and how they can spark thought-provoking discussions and self-reflection. Whether you're an experienced journaler or a curious beginner, these prompts offer valuable tools to become a more intentional reader, choosing books that not only entertain but also challenge and expand your worldview. Tune in to revolutionize your reading experience and uncover deeper layers within every book you read!

LeStallion offers premium PU leather journal notebooks for writing, dedicated to all those who are pursuing their dreams and goals, or nurturing their personal development and mental health.

For More Info on LeStallion, check out:
https://lestallion.com/

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey there, bookworms and deep thinkers Ever finish a
book and feel like it just flewout of your brain as soon as you
closed the cover.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
You meticulously read every page, maybe even
dog-eared a few, and yet nothingreally stuck.

Speaker 1 (00:13):
Today we're exploring a way to make those reading
adventures.
Last Reading journal prompts.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
It's fascinating how a few well-placed questions can
unlock a whole new level ofengagement with any book.
Well-placed questions canunlock a whole new level of
engagement with any book.

Speaker 1 (00:24):
We're not talking about just summarizing the plot
here, but really diving intoanalysis.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Personal connections and those aha moments that make
you see the world a bitdifferently.
We're using excerpts from 50Reading Journal, Prompts
Lestallion, a recent blog postby Clara Penrose, as our guide.

Speaker 1 (00:40):
Now, you might not consider yourself a journaler,
and that's okay.
Think of these prompts as toolsfor unlocking a richer reading
experience, whether you jot downyour thoughts or just let them
simmer in your mind.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
What's brilliant about Lestallion's approach is
that it combines objectiveanalysis with subjective
response.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
You're encouraged to examine the nuts and bolts of
the book plot, characters,themes but also to connect those
elements to your own lifeexperiences and emotions.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
Okay, let's unpack this a bit.

Speaker 1 (01:08):
I noticed right away that the prompts are grouped
into these really helpfulcategories Characters, plot,
personal connections, themes andfuture goals.
It's like a built-in roadmapfor exploring any book, wouldn't
you say?

Speaker 2 (01:21):
Absolutely.

Speaker 1 (01:22):
It's like having a seasoned book club leader
whispering in your ear, guidingyour thoughts and helping you
uncover hidden layers within thestory.

Speaker 2 (01:30):
It plays into how our brains are wired for learning,
when we actively recallinformation, make connections
and ask ourselves why thoseneural pathways light up like a
Christmas tree.

Speaker 1 (01:39):
It's like the difference between passively
watching a movie and thenactively discussing it with a
friend afterward.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
The discussion brings it to life, helps you remember
the details and often leads tothose aha moments you mentioned.

Speaker 1 (01:51):
And it's not just about like remembering the plot
points right, it's about makingthose connections to the wider
world, or even our own, you know, inner world.

Speaker 2 (01:59):
Precisely, and that's where those personal
connections prompts really comein handy.
They're like doorways intodeeper self-reflection, like I'm
thinking about a time when ajournal prompt about a
character's moral dilemma incrime and punishment Well, it
sparked this whole debate with acolleague of mine about ethical
decision making in our ownlives Wow, that's a book club

(02:21):
conversation taken to a wholeother level.

Speaker 1 (02:25):
Own lives Wow, that's a book club conversation taken
to a whole other level.
It's wild how literature can dothat, spark these really I
don't know meaty conversationsthat you just can't come back to
.

Speaker 2 (02:31):
Totally.
And that brings us to anothercool thing about Lestallion's
prompts the way they make usthink about our reading goals
for the future.

Speaker 1 (02:42):
It's like she's saying okay, you've dug into
this book, Now what?
What are you going to read next?
What don't you know that youwant to know?

Speaker 2 (02:48):
Right.
It's about becoming a more wellintentional reader, choosing
books that aren't just forentertainment but for growth,
for exploration a littlediscomfort when a book
challenges your worldview.
Exactly.
I think that's something we'rekind of missing these days with
all the recommendationalgorithms.
I mean, don't get me wrong,algorithms have their place, but

(03:10):
there's something to be saidfor actively searching for books
that resonate with our owninterests, aspirations, all of
that.

Speaker 1 (03:18):
Okay, well, speaking of those aha moments and you
know, growing and all that,let's each pick a prompt that we
thought was really interesting,insightful, whatever.
What do you think?

Speaker 2 (03:27):
Yeah, let's do it.
One that I particularly likedfalls under characters, and it
goes analyze a character whoundergoes significant change.
What events or relationshipsact as catalysts for their
transformation?
I'm just drawn to prompts thatmake you think about the why.
You know the why behind acharacter's development.

Speaker 1 (03:48):
For sure.
It's like you're trying tofigure out human behavior, but
in a fictional world.
You know what this reminds meof.
This one prompt from the themescategory really stuck with me
Describe a book that focused onfamily dynamics.
How were the relationshipsportrayed and what impact did
they have on the characters?

Speaker 2 (04:03):
Oh, that's a good one .
Family dynamics, it's like theoriginal human drama from those
old Greek tragedies to likememoirs today.
It's a theme that never getsold and I immediately thought
about Tolstoy and Karenina, sortof powerful look at well, love,
duty, societal expectations andhow all of those things kind of
collide within a family.

Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yes, and I know it's kind of a different vibe, but
that prompt also made me thinkof Little Women.
Oh my gosh, that book.
When I was younger, it justswept me away.
I was the same age as Jo thewriter, and her struggles with
you know being taken seriously,breaking free from expectations.
All those experiences were justso real, so relatable.
It's crazy how you can feel soconnected to a character, like

(04:45):
you're not just reading about itanymore.
You're right there with them,you know.

Speaker 2 (04:48):
And that's when reading is at its best right.
That feeling of wow, I'm notalone, Like we're all connected,
Reminds me of that Anaya's Ninquote about how we read to know
we are not alone.

Speaker 1 (04:59):
That is so good.
It really shows how powerfulstories can be.
They help us understand eachother, connect with each other
and, you know, going back tothose family dynamics prompts
it's like getting a crash coursein, like how people work, how
relationships get so complicatedtotally like.

Speaker 2 (05:14):
Take the family in the Corrections by Jonathan
Franzen yeah talk aboutdysfunctional or that father-son
relationship, and never let mego by Kazuo Ishiguro.
It's heartbreaking, but in bothcases you see how family shapes
everything the plot, thechoices people make, even like
bigger ideas about love and loss, and how families stick
together no matter what.

Speaker 1 (05:35):
Those are some really great examples, and I think
what makes these journal promptsso helpful whether you're
writing stuff down or justchatting about a book with a
friend is that there's no rightanswer.
It's all about thinking deeply,finding your own meaning.

Speaker 2 (05:46):
Exactly, it's about being curious, asking questions,
having a conversation with thebook and, as we've been saying,
those conversations can keepgoing even after you've finished
reading.

Speaker 1 (05:56):
I like that.
So before we go, one last thingfor all you listeners out there
Remember that last questionfrom Lestallion's post, the one
about your future reading goals.
Think about it.
What kind of book are youreally craving right now?
What have you always wanted toexplore but haven't gotten
around to?
Maybe it's time to dust offthat classic novel you've been
putting off, or try a genrethat's totally new.

(06:18):
Whatever it is, embrace it, becurious and let these prompts
guide you as you discover yournext favorite read.

Speaker 2 (06:25):
Don't forget, it's not about just getting to the
end.
It's about enjoying the journey, those connections we make, the
stuff we learn.
That stays with us long afterwe close the book.

Speaker 1 (06:35):
So well said.
Happy reading everyone.