How to keep track of characters in a book

Check the front of the book first

Many long novels come with a list of characters, a family tree or a map at the beginning. If yours has one, put a bookmark there and flip to it whenever a name rings no bell. Editions differ, so it is worth checking before you start.

Keep your own character list

If there is no list, make one as you read. For each new character, write the name, one or two words about who they are and the page where they first appear: “Natasha, younger Rostov daughter, p. 41”. For a big family, a quick sketch of who is related to whom helps more than a list.

Keep it short. You need just enough to recognize someone when they return two hundred pages later.

Watch out for different names

In some books, one person goes by several names: a first name, a surname, a title, a nickname. Russian novels are famous for this, but they are not alone. When you meet a new form of a name, add it next to the one you already have.

Recap before you continue

If you put the book down for a week or more, read your character list and the last page you read before you go on. Two minutes of reminding yourself saves twenty minutes of confusion. The guide on how to remember what you read explains why recalling works.

Look things up without spoilers

Searching a character’s name online is the quickest way to find out how the book ends. Wikis and summaries often reveal deaths, marriages and twists in the first line. If you must search, look for a list “by chapter” or stick to your own notes.

Use Pagetime for the list and the questions

In Pagetime, save each character as a Thought with its page. Later, the search in the Notes tab finds a name across all your notes, together with the book and the page.

The free version holds up to 5 books and includes 20 page scans with text recognition in total. Deleting a note does not restore a used scan. Notes and the timer work offline without an account; sync is free after signing in. A subscription removes the book and scan limits and unlocks your full stats history, year in review and folder export. Pagetime is coming to iPhone and Android; you can leave your email below to hear when it is available. Until then, a bookmark with a list of names is all you need.

This independent guide is published by Pagetime and is not authorized, sponsored or endorsed by Apple Inc. or Google LLC.