I read. A lot. Like more than a book a week. Usually, I have two or three books going at a time. I borrow books and audiobooks from the Libby library app and purchase audiobooks through Libro.fm, which supports my local indie bookstore.

But recently, I’ve been wondering about my reading habits. I started a book that seemed somehow familiar. Lots of déjà vu until I got more than halfway through, and then nothing seemed familiar. Did I start it and not finish it? Did I read it and not remember it? It was definitely a book I normally would read, in a genre parallel to time travel. (Time travel is my go-to genre. I can’t help myself.)

Because of the volume I read, I don’t remember details about books I’ve finished. I can’t hold all of that in my head.

I read because I enjoy it. I like entering other worlds, sharing other experiences. But most of them I don’t hold onto. There’s too much. Rarely – very rarely – do I reread a book. Usually, it’s because I really enjoyed it.

My favorite books fall into the same state. I remember I really liked it, but I don’t retain the details. Don’t ask me names or settings. I might be able to pull out a general description. “That’s the one about the octopus, right?” “Big-ass spiders?” “Time travel with the great gay love story?”

Other readers seem to keep many more details intact.

Many of the books I read are about bibliophiles and are set in bookstores and libraries. The characters can quote their favorite books and talk specific details with other people who also are well-versed in these same novels. In one recent book I read, the protagonist knows in which chapter certain events happen in her favorite books. This allows her to visit them specifically in her quest to save a special library. (Yes, I know it’s fiction and the author likely looked it up, but she still wrote it that way. Like this random reader knows her favorite books inside and out.)

Then there’s me. Um, I *think* I read this book.

At least Libby tells me when I checked out a book. And I can see my purchases in Libro.fm, so I can usually figure out if I’ve read a particular book.

But still. I feel like I’m voracious but somehow missing out if I can’t recall the details. I guess it only matters if I want to discuss the book with someone. Or if I need to rescue a magical library. Ha.

What’s your take? Like book characters, do you recall details of your favorite books? Do you reread them? Or are you, like me, looking for something new to pass the time? Please share in the comments.