Infinite Summer

On my first read, I didn't make any notes in my book. This is my second and I find it helpful to mark up the margins a bit so I can refer back, etc. I normally do not mark in books so my notations are kind of sketchy. Does anyone take notes in the margins of books regularly and have a good, systematic, approach to it they'd like to share? Or any simple ideas you may have found useful for making margin notes?

For me it was pretty easy, since I had the hardback, but was distant from it when the paperback version came out and I felt the need to read it again, so the paperback is my markup copy. That said, I mostly mark things to help me find my way, like by writing quick scene-title-like things that let me find significant scenes that can end up difficult to find due to the crazy use of time ("Orin and Swiss Hand Model","First scene with Joelle at Ennett House"). I also mark obviously odd details that turn out to be important or discussable, like the weird telescope in the middle of nowhere during Mario's encounter with S.S. Millicent Kent. I also circle footnote numbers. For longer stuff, like trying to work out the timeline of something (Orin's career as a punter, the dissemination of the entertainment, etc,) I go to separate paper, which in my case means sheets of printer paper folded in half so I can shove them inside the book and not lose them.

I didn't want to mark up my book, so I printed out the IJ page-by-page blog (http://dfw-ij.blogspot.com/) and make my notes on that as I go along; I also found that reviewing the blog summaries for each section after I read it helps with retention of key points, and sometimes calls my attention to things I may have overlooked.

I'm rereading. I didn't make any marginal notes my first time through, but I did underline a few passages in blue pencil. It's odd to come across those passages now because I can't remember the significance. I'm underlining passages of significance in green during this read.

This time through, I'm also making a few marginal notes. If I find something exceptionally funny, I draw a simple smiley (as in, a samizdat "have a nice day" smiley). If I notice a link to another section of the book, or possible a narrator lie/omission...I note it in the margin. I've also made a few notes on certain themes.

Kindle!Kindle!Kindle!
I.J. is the ultimate Kindle book. I started off reading IJ with a hardcover. Between the bulk, footnotes (which navigate SOoooo easy on he Kindle), in-line dictionary, and notes, my
decision to buy a Kindle was hastened by this book.