How to Annotate Books

Published by Esther Fung, Oct. 12, 2023


The practice of annotating—that is writing your own notes, ideas, and thoughts in the margins of a book—is about as old as the invention of the book itself. Look in any historic archive, and you’ll find books dating back centuries, complete with augmentations, marginalia, and other additions. Some annotations are made for academic reasons, with generations of students using those notes to prep for that midterm. Others are more casual, like a home chef leaving reminders to their future self on the edges of a favorite cookbook. In recent years, the drive to annotate fiction in particular has found a growing community online. Plenty of passionate readers are annotating while they read for pleasure and showing off their styles and annotated texts on social media. Some of these folks have even taken to selling their annotated copies on platforms like Pango, creating a fascinating market of readers exchanging their unique ideas along with their books.  If you’re interested in joining this world, you’ll find all the information on why people annotate books, how you can annotate your books, and what to do with annotated books once you’re done in this guide.

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What is annotating?

Book annotating is the act of adding marks or notes to a text while you’re reading. An annotation can be as simple as circling a single word or as complex as writing a paragraph in the margins of a page or in the blank space at the end of a chapter. 


Why should I annotate a book?

There are many benefits to annotating a book. Here are just some of the most common reasons why people annotate their books:


  • To gain a deeper understanding of the text.
  • To remember the characters and plot points better after reading. 
  • To have a place to vent while reading. 
  • To be able to revisit your thoughts and feelings when rereading.

How do I annotate books?

Because reading is such a personal experience, there is no one right way to annotate. However, if you’d like some guidance on how to get started or you want to try a different approach from the one you’ve been doing, we’ve compiled three common book annotation strategies below.


1. Annotating for Literary Analysis

If you’ve ever analyzed a piece of literature in an English class, then this approach will be familiar to you. As you read, look for recurring themes and imagery, and make note of them each time they appear. For example, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, highlight or underline every reference to clocks and time. Doing so will encourage you to pay closer attention to how often and when these references appear and dive deeper into the characters’ struggles with their changing world. Some readers even assign a different color to each theme and mark each reference with an annotation tab of the same color. The level of detail is completely up to you. 


We also want to note that you do not have to stick to classics or literary fiction to annotate a book in this way. Looking for an enemies-to-lovers romance? Look at how Nora adopts and then rejects character archetypes in Beach Read by Emily Henry. Love scammer stories? Examine how Kirstin Chen dismantles the model minority myth without ever referencing it in Counterfeit. Are you a fantasy lover? Analyze the way Tracy Deonn uses magic as a vehicle to talk about privilege and power in Legendborn. Any fiction book can be read and annotated this way.

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2. Annotate from a Writer’s Perspective

In The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion talks about how her husband, the writer John Gregory Dunne, would often read a single text multiple times to figure out how it worked. If you are a writer, then you might enjoy annotating from this perspective. Take note of how and when characters are introduced, how the plot is advanced, and how themes are conveyed and explored. 


For example, if you are reading The Secret History, ask yourself why Donna Tartt gives away the climax of the novel in the very first paragraph and look for clues as you annotate. When reading She Would Be King, a magical realism account of the creation of Liberia, take note of how Wayetu Moore’s writing style shifts as we get different characters’ perspectives. Reading The Bluest Eye? Analyze how Toni Morrison mimics the voice and thought patterns of a child while still writing a mature, devastating story targeted for adults. Even if you aren’t a writer, there’s a lot to be gained from reading and annotating books from this perspective. 

3. Annotate Your Vibes and Thoughts

The last way and the most common way to annotate a book is to let your own thoughts and experience guide you. Does a particular line move you? Underline it. Did a plot twist blow your mind? Mark it with exclamation marks. Does a character annoy you every time they speak? (Looking at you, Dain from Fourth Wing). Let it all out on the page. Books annotated in this way become time capsules for the reader and person you are in that time, and when you pick up that book again five or fifteen years later, you’ll love getting to step back into your mind.


While this strategy is perhaps the most fun, it can also be the most daunting to some readers. Those who are intimidated by this “vibes only” approach often worry that their feelings toward characters will change, that their theories about the ending will be wrong, and that their thoughts will appear silly or frivolous. If this is you, let us assure you that it is okay. Your thoughts deserve to take up space. 

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Where can I buy annotated books?

In recent years, there has been an increase in demand for annotated books from readers who love the look of these well-loved texts and enjoy reading someone else’s thoughts. If you are looking for an annotated version of your favorite book, there are a few places to try.


First is your local used bookstore. Some used bookstores will have annotated copies, although most won’t because they prefer to stock only unmarked books. PangoBooks also carries a wide selection of annotated books. Simply search annotated in our website or on our app and filter results by genre, hashtags, shipping origin state, price, and condition. If you have any questions about a particular listing, it’s also extremely easy to contact the seller and get some answers before you buy. 

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Frequently Asked Questions About Annotating Books:

Q: How do I annotate a book?

A: There is no one right way to annotate. Some common ways are to focus on literary analysis, to annotate from a writer’s perspective, and to let yourself be guided by personal thoughts and feelings. We recommend trying a few different options until you find the approach that feels right for you. 


Q: What supplies do I need to annotate a book?

A: Annotating can be as simple or as complex as you’d like. At the very least, you need a pen or pencil. Some people also use highlighters, annotation tabs, and rulers. For those who want to annotate but do not want to actually write on the pages of their books, sticky notes are used as well. 


Q: I want to start annotating but I’m scared of ruining my book. Can you help?

A: This is a very understandable worry, but it also has an easy solution. Rather than annotating your favorite book, buy a second copy from PangoBooks. Because our listings are preowned and affordable, buying a copy from our website or app lowers the stakes and eliminates the fear of ruining a book.


Q: Can I sell annotated books on Pango?

A: Absolutely! If you are selling an annotated copy, we ask that you disclose that in the title and description, so buyers looking for an annotated book will be able to find your listing.


Ready to get started? Use this link to download the Pango app to buy a copy to annotate or sell your annotated copy today!