A paper-first reading field guide
Record Unfamiliar Names Without Losing Reading Momentum
Use three linked fields: name and page, immediate relation, and why return. Keep each field brief and attach the page or chapter landmark that supports it.
Keep a compact name trail for a large cast without pausing to build a full character encyclopedia. A compact three-anchor trail keeps the note useful when you return later or discuss it with someone using another edition.
Step 1
Anchor the location
Record the page or chapter before interpreting the moment. Add the current reading boundary when later knowledge could change the note.
Step 2
Name and page
Save the first useful page for the name.
Step 3
Immediate relation
Add only the relationship visible there.
Step 4
Why return
Note the question that would make this person worth revisiting.